The Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has assured that his administration will invest in the tourism sector of the state to attract local and international investors to drive post-coronavirus (COVID-19) economic recovery.
Obaseki gave the assurance on the occasion of the World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27, each year.
The governor said his government is determined to reposition the state’s tourism sector with its huge potential to drive the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
“The state government is collaborating with the Benin Dialogue Group, the Benin Royal Court, top museums in Europe, among other stakeholders in fine-tuning plans to raise $100 million for the iconic Benin Royal Museum, a project being developed to hold restituted Benin artefacts,” Obaseki said.
He explained that “the $100 million for the project will be expended in building a world-class museum and urban regeneration work to reclaim the Benin Moat, which will provide gainful means of employment for youth and women”.
He added that the project will consolidate the efforts being made by the state government and other stakeholders in calling for restitution of Benin artefacts.
On this year’s theme “Tourism and Rural Development”, Obaseki said his administration’s plans “to reclaim the moat which is our heritage as well as other sites will open more rural areas to tourists as the plan includes building a walkway which will take tourists round the moat to see how deep it is and walk to all the landmarks in the city”.
“This will also encourage tourists to visit Ibiwe, Igbesanmwan and other places and by so doing contribute to the growth of the economy,” he said.
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