Questions have emerged over the development of Oyo State’s Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake, seven years after Governor Seyi Makinde pledged to use public-private partnerships to transform the tourist attraction into a revenue-generating asset.

Makinde made the commitment during his 2019 governorship campaign, promising to explore partnerships in the tourism sector to attract investment, generate income for the state and create employment opportunities for residents.

The promise specifically identified the Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake, located in Oke Ogun, as one of the tourist destinations that could benefit from private sector involvement.

Concerns have now been raised over the extent to which the commitment has translated into tangible development, with questions being asked about revenue generated, jobs created and investments attracted to the site.

A recent public post revisiting the governor’s campaign pledge called on the Oyo State Government to provide details of the progress made, particularly regarding the economic benefits expected from the attraction.

Government records indicate that efforts to attract private investors have continued over the years. In 2021, Makinde disclosed that his administration was discussing the development of the lake with private sector operators.

In February 2023, the governor renewed his commitment, promising to make Ado-Awaye a tourism hub for the South-West and develop a world-class resort at the location.

More recently, the state government included the attraction among six tourism destinations presented to investors for rehabilitation and redevelopment through public-private partnerships at the 2025 International Tourism Summit.

However, an investment document published by the state government in July 2025 acknowledged that the site remained underdeveloped, with limited visitor facilities, inadequate infrastructure and no formal ticketing structure.

In March 2026, the government also entered into a temporary management agreement with Araromi Local Council Development Area following the expiration of the previous management’s two-year tenure, pending the securing of a new investor.

While these developments indicate ongoing government activity, publicly available information has yet to establish the actual revenue generated by the attraction, the number of jobs created or the total private investment secured since the 2019 pledge.

Residents and stakeholders will therefore be looking for clearer figures and timelines to determine how far the promises have translated into economic benefits for the host community and Oyo State.