Ogun state
Susan Abayomi
Governor Dapo Abiodun said the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta was shut down, refurbished, and reopened to reposition it for improved tourism value and revenue generation. Speaking at the commissioning of the 5.5-kilometre Elega–Miliki–Saje–Bode-Olude–Alhaji Sugar Road, he explained that the site was underperforming before the upgrade and that the revenue figures then reflected its poor condition. “When I shut it down and I did the refurbishment of Olumo, Olumo began to generate about 10 million a week as about 40 million a month compared to 3 million a year.
The refurbishment turned a site that once brought in ₦3 million annually into a facility earning roughly ₦40 million monthly, or about ₦10 million weekly. Abiodun described Olumo Rock as having become “probably number one or number two tourist site in Nigeria,” noting that if you Google tourist sites in Nigeria, “Olumo Rock will be the first to appear”. The upgrade was part of a broader push to leverage culture and heritage for economic growth.
By June 2025, the governor disclosed even higher numbers: the newly renovated Olumo Rock now generates about ₦20 million weekly. Before renovation, turnover stood at ₦20 million per annum; after the facelift, weekly earnings matched the old yearly total. Other reports confirmed the jump from ₦20 million a year to ₦20 million a week, attributing it to increased tourist traffic after the renovation.
To manage the surge, the state introduced online registration and capped daily visitors to avoid stampedes. The renovated complex includes a galleria with pictures of eminent Nigerians, a gazebo, a restaurant serving local and continental dishes, adire fabric shops, elevators powered by a standby generator, and both online and onsite ticketing. Entry was declared free for all visitors from the July 31, 2025 reopening until the end of September 2025 as an incentive to boost local tourism and commerce.
Abiodun tied the tourism revival to Ogun’s wider economic expansion. He said the state’s economy grew from ₦3.5 trillion in 2019 to ₦16 trillion in 2025, making it one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing. “This growth reflects our deliberate efforts in infrastructure, basic amenities, and the revitalization of tourism, with Olumo Rock now generating about ₦20 million weekly after its renovation”. The state plans further investment in recreation centres, game villages, and state-of-the-art hotels for residents and visitors from neighbouring states.
The turnaround attracted private investment. MAG Group told the governor it was ready to invest $1.8 billion to $2.5 billion in hospitality and entertainment in Ogun, including Africa’s first Disneyland-style resort, hotels, and water parks. The government also concessioned the renovated Olumo Rock to Whatadeal Africa to ensure better management and reposition it as a global destination. Before renovation, the site generated less than ₦50m-₦60m annually; after renovation, revenue rose significantly.
Background pressure for the upgrade came from cultural leaders. In 2023, Aare Onakakanfo Iba Gani Adams urged Abiodun to “unleash the tourism potentials of Olumo rock and breathe life into it like his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel,” arguing that a facelift would attract global tourists and boost state revenue. Adams called Olumo Rock “a special heritage and global tourism destination” with historical value for the Egba people.
So the “₦10 million weekly” figure Abiodun first cited marks the initial post-renovation baseline — a 170x jump from ₦3 million a year to ₦40 million a month. Within months, that climbed to about ₦20 million weekly as visitor numbers grew and operations stabilized. For Abiodun, Olumo Rock now exemplifies how infrastructure plus culture can convert dormant heritage into a cash-generating asset for Ogun State.
