Abeokuta

Abeokuta is the state capital of Ogun State in South West Nigeria. The city was home to about 450,000 people in 2006, and the metro area to over 1.1 million. Some ruins remain of the 30-km wall that used to surround the city.

It has a very rich history as it's home to major areas such as Agbomeji, Ago-oko, Asero, GRA, Ibara/GRA, Iberekodo/Akomoje, Idiaba, Ikopa, Isabo, Itoko, Jemo, Kuto, Obantoko, Ojokodo, Oke Oko, Olomore, Oluwo,Onikolobo, Quarry, Totoro and many more.

Abeokuta as the name implies is coined from Yoruba phrase "Abé òkúta"￼ which means under the rock solely because of the presence of Giant rocks, the most notable been Olumo rock which is one of the major tourists attraction in the city.

Understand
Abeokuta is one of the most progressive areas of present-day Nigeria, although it has had its fair share of trials. After having been settled by members of the Egba nation who had emigrated out of the restive Oyo Empire, then inhabited by Chief Sodeke and his people trying to flee Dahomey and Ibadan slavehunters, it saw a period of prominence as a center for palm oil cultivation. King Gezo and the Dahomey, being not just a little pinched with jealousy by this, invaded to start the Battle of Abeokuta in 1851 which the local inhabitants won.

The British also began infiltrating at this time, first missionaries, and then colonial interests. To gain protection during the Yoruba Civil Wars, the king or alake of the Egba signed an alliance with the British which consummated in British imperialism. There were a couple of uprisings over this new period, namely the Adubi War and Abeokuta Woman's Revolt, but Abeokuta rolled with the punches until Nigerian independence, then became home to a number of reputable universities and considerable industry.

Get in
Abeokuta is halfway between Lagos and Ibadan, high-speed Lagos-Ibadan Railway trains takes about one hour from both cities and there several departures every day. Additionally, there are much slower long-distance trains on the old narrow gauge route from Kano via Kaduna and Ibadan, continuing to Lagos. These long-distace trains runs a few times per week, but are subject to frequent cancellations.

Driving from Lagos takes about two hours, along highway A5.



Get around
Probably your best bet is to drive or be driven.

See

 * Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State-Nigeria.jpg
 * Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State-Nigeria.jpg

Do
Explore the rock dome at Olumo Rock, where the Egba peoples used to take shelter in the crooks and crannies to hide from slavehunters and other hostile people.



Drink

 * *BarCode lounge* 1, Folarin street, off quarry road. Dine in, night club (updated Mar, 2022)
 * Chaise Lounge, Mercy Road. Dine in (updated mar, 2022)
 * Orange lounge and bar. Obada road. Dine in, take away. Opens 9am on Friday (updated Mar, 2022)
 * ￼Tezars lounge. Jaguna, Leme, Moshood Abiola way. Dine in (updated Mar, 2022)
 * Quench club and Pool. Night club, poolside, quarry imperial hotel. Opens Friday noon. Dine in, take away (updated Mar, 2022)
 * ￼Bside lounge, quarry road. It's a fast rising nightlife hangout in abeokuta. Dine in, take away. (Updated Mar, 2022)
 * *BarCode lounge* 1, Folarin street, off quarry road. Dine in, night club (updated Mar, 2022)
 * Chaise Lounge, Mercy Road. Dine in (updated mar, 2022)
 * Orange lounge and bar. Obada road. Dine in, take away. Opens 9am on Friday (updated Mar, 2022)
 * ￼Tezars lounge. Jaguna, Leme, Moshood Abiola way. Dine in (updated Mar, 2022)
 * Quench club and Pool. Night club, poolside, quarry imperial hotel. Opens Friday noon. Dine in, take away (updated Mar, 2022)
 * ￼Bside lounge, quarry road. It's a fast rising nightlife hangout in abeokuta. Dine in, take away. (Updated Mar, 2022)

Radio

 * OGBC II 90.5 FM
 * Paramount 94.5 FM
 * Rockcity FM 101.9
 * Sweet 107.1 FM
 * Family FM 88.5
 * Funaab 89.5 FM
 * Cowrie 97.5FM
 * Smash 88.1FM
 * FRESH 107.9 FM
 * Rootsfm 97.1
 * Splash FM 106.7

Go next

 * Sango Otta
 * Lagos
 * Ifo
 * Ijebu Ode