Premier Hotel Reopens as 154-Room Five-Star Facility as Tinubu Commissions Redeveloped Ibadan Landmark

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has commissioned the newly redeveloped Premier Hotel in Ibadan, marking a significant milestone in the revival of one of Nigeria’s most historic hospitality landmarks .

The iconic hotel, perched on Mokola Hill, has been transformed from an 87-room facility into a 154-room ultra-modern five-star hotel, retaining its historic name while introducing a range of new amenities . The redevelopment includes Ibadan’s first multi-level car park with 250 parking spaces, a 1,000-capacity banquet centre, nine dining outlets, five swimming pools, a spa, and a gymnasium .

President Tinubu described the project as a landmark achievement that underscores the commercial, cultural, and strategic importance of Ibadan and Oyo State within the Nigerian federation. “Today, what we are celebrating is not just the reopening of a hotel, but the restoration of a treasured national asset and identity,” he said .

The hotel, originally established in 1963 as the WNTV/WTBS Hotel under the Western Nigeria Development Corporation, was conceived as part of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s industrialisation and economic development agenda . It was built alongside sister properties such as Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna for the Northern Region and Hotel Presidential in Enugu for the Eastern Region .

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, which jointly owns the hotel with the six South-West states, explained that Mokola Hill was deliberately chosen for its cool climate, panoramic view of Ibadan, and its symbolic status as a beacon of hospitality in Western Nigeria . For decades, the hotel hosted heads of state, royal families, diplomats, and business leaders from across the world .

The redevelopment, which cost over N20 billion, was executed in two phases over 48 months through Premier Legacy Limited, a joint venture company incorporated in 2022 . The facility is expected to provide direct employment for 600 people and indirect jobs for 2,500 people when it becomes fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2026 .

Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musbau Babatunde, described the project as a major milestone in restoring one of Nigeria’s most iconic hospitality establishments, noting that Premier Hotel has played a central role in the social, economic, and cultural development of Oyo State and the South-West for decades .

Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, led other governors from the region to the ceremony, including Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State .