Concerned by the growing number of abandoned public assets and their impact on economic growth, the Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the State Government to resuscitate, modernise and commercially revamp the moribund Gateway Hotel, Ota, as part of efforts to boost tourism, generate revenue and create jobs.
The resolution followed extensive deliberations on a motion titled “Urgent Need for the Resuscitation, Modernisation and Commercial Revamp of the Moribund Gateway Hotel, Ota as a Strategic Economic and Tourism Asset of the State”, during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, at the Assembly Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Leading the debate, the sponsor of the motion and Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Yusuf Sheriff, said the abandoned hospitality facility remained a viable economic asset capable of stimulating local commercial activities if properly rehabilitated. He noted that the hotel, if repositioned, could attract private investment, increase internally generated revenue and provide employment opportunities for residents of the state.
Contributing to the debate, the Chief Whip, Hon. Omolola Bakare, the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, and other lawmakers, including Honourables Musefiu Lamidi, Adebisi Oyedele, Oluseun Adesanya, Wahab Haruna and Babatunde Tella, supported the motion. They called for a focused rehabilitation and modernisation of the hotel to reposition it as a key player in the state’s hospitality and tourism sector.
The lawmakers described the resolution as a step towards improving the public image of Ogun State, stressing that a revitalised Gateway Hotel would complement the state’s status as one of the nation’s leading industrial and investment destinations. They also raised concerns about security risks associated with the abandoned facility, noting reports of criminal activities in and around the premises.
They urged the state government to redevelop the hotel through a public private partnership arrangement that would reflect the standards, values and aspirations of Ogun State as a forward looking destination for business and tourism.
The Majority Leader later moved the motion for the adoption of the resolution, which was seconded by Hon. Bakare. The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, subsequently moved the motion converting the debate into a House resolution, seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Adeleye, and supported by all members present.
In his response, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elemide, commended lawmakers for their robust contributions and directed that copies of the resolution be forwarded to relevant government agencies and stakeholders for necessary action.
In a related development, the House also took the first reading of a bill titled “Ogun State Agricultural Land Management Agency Bill”. The bill, listed as H.B. No. 029/OG/2025, was read for the first time by the Clerk and Head of Legislative Service, Mr. Sakiru Adebakin, before the lawmakers.
