Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, says the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta was temporarily shut down and refurbished to reposition it for improved tourism value and higher revenue generation.
Abiodun described the historic landmark as one of Nigeria’s top tourist attractions, noting that the rehabilitation has significantly increased its earnings and overall performance.
He made the remarks on Thursday during the commissioning of the 5.5-kilometre Elega–Miliki–Saje–Bode-Olude–Alhaji Sugar Road in Abeokuta, which connects parts of Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas.
According to the governor, the site was previously underperforming before the intervention, generating minimal revenue compared to its current earnings after the upgrade.
“When I shut it down and I did the refurbishment of Olumo, Olumo began to generate about 10 million a week, about 40 million a month, compared to 3 million a year,” he said.
He added that the tourist centre has now become one of the most visited attractions in the country, claiming it ranks among Nigeria’s top one or two tourism sites.
“If you Google tourist sites in Nigeria, Olumo Rock will be the first to appear,” Abiodun said.
The governor explained that before the refurbishment, the site generated only about N3–4 million annually, a figure he said reflected its poor condition at the time.
He said the intervention was part of broader efforts to reposition tourism assets in the state for economic growth and improved public revenue.
Following the renovation, the state government briefly introduced a free-entry policy to encourage visitation and promote cultural tourism, which led to a surge in visitors.
However, the policy was later discontinued due to overcrowding and safety concerns, prompting authorities to tighten access controls.
The government has since moved to concession the facility to a private operator to ensure more efficient management and sustained revenue growth.
Olumo Rock remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent cultural landmarks and continues to play a key role in Ogun State’s tourism development strategy.
