Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says his government will create out of the present Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism a separate ministry for Culture and Tourism.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital.

Mr Makinde said the new ministry would help his government focus on tourism as a key sector driving the state’s economy.

“The Ministry of Information will be headed by one commissioner, while another commissioner will head the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

“This will bring the number of ministries in the state to 18, as against the 17 that existed during my first tenure,” Mr Makinde said.

He explained that the decision was likely to set tongues wagging as to why the government was adding more to its financial obligations.

“But, after due consideration, we believe that the benefits of these adjustments far outweigh the costs, and Oyo State will be better for it.

“With this, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism will be better able to oversee the Tourism Board and extract the value trapped in the agency.

“On the other hand, the Commissioner for Information will focus on communicating the activities of government to the people through the various channels we have made available,” the governor said.

Mr Makinde further disclosed that he would put his cabinet in place in the next two weeks.

“Names of the other commissioner-nominees will soon be sent to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.”

He charged all residents of Oyo state to keep praying for the state and the entire country, saying he believed that Nigerians would overcome the trying times.

(NAN)