Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, says the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta was shut down and refurbished to reposition it for improved tourism value and revenue generation.
Abiodun said the iconic site, which he described as one of Nigeria’s top tourist destinations, has since recorded a major increase in earnings following its rehabilitation.
The governor spoke on Thursday, at the commissioning of the 5.5-kilometre Elega–Miliki–Saje–Bode-Olude–Alhaji Sugar Road in Abeokuta, which spans Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas.
He explained that the site’s revenue performance before the intervention was low, but improved significantly after the refurbishment.
Abiodun said that the site was underperforming before the upgrade, adding that the revenue figures at the time reflected its poor condition before rehabilitation.
“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.”
He also said the tourist centre has grown in prominence and now ranks among the country’s most visited attractions.
“I restored Olumo Rock that has become probably number one or number two tourist site in Nigeria.
“If you Google tourist sites in Nigeria, Olumo Rock will be the first to appear.
“When I assumed office, Olumo Rock was generating probably about 3–4 million naira annually.
“That 3–4 million naira annually was the revenue generated by Olumo Rock when I became governor.
“When I shut it down and carried out the refurbishment of Olumo Rock, it began to generate about 10 million a week, about 40 million a month, compared to 3 million a year,” he said.
The development comes months after the state government first reopened the facility following renovation and introduced a temporary free-entry policy to encourage visitation and promote cultural tourism.
According to earlier government statements, the initiative was also aimed at allowing the public to rediscover the historical significance of the site and boost local commerce around the tourist centre before normal access procedures resumed.
The government later announced the end of the free-entry window due to overcrowding and safety concerns, saying the surge of visitors had created risks that required stricter access management.
Subsequently, the state moved to concession the tourist centre to a private operator to ensure improved management and sustained revenue generation.
Olumo Rock, one of Nigeria’s most visited cultural landmarks, has since remained a key focus of the state’s tourism drive.
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