Emotions ran high when the sad state of Olumirin Water Falls, Erin-Ijesa, was brought to the attention of the world by a concerned visitor.
In a brief yet powerful one-minute, 43-second video shared on social media, the beauty of the waterfall, with its cascading waters crashing onto the rocks below, was starkly contrasted by an unsettling sight.
At the base of the falls, where tourists were seen enjoying a refreshing dip, two large heaps of garbage—plastic containers and papers—sat like unwelcome guests in the serene landscape.The tourist, visibly distressed, raised his voice in frustration, charging the state government and other relevant stakeholders to act before the site succumbed to further degradation.
His words were raw with emotion, as he spoke out against the disrespect shown to this cultural gem, a vital part of Nigeria’s heritage.
“I am sorry to be very emotional about this. I think it is a real shame that people will come here and disrespect our heritage like this,” the visitor’s voice trembled.
“They are literally defecating on us, urinating on us. They are literally destroying our heritage, and we look on because we collect peanuts. I think it’s a real shame,” he added, his words resonating with the urgency of the situation.
The video, which quickly garnered attention, sparked an outpouring of reactions from different quarters.
It also shone a harsh light on the infrastructural deficits plaguing the Erin-Ijesa community.The neglected state of the falls reflects the broader challenges faced by this once-pristine tourist destination.Oluminrin Water Falls, a majestic seven-step waterfall, is believed to be as old as Erin-Ijesa itself.
The town, located about 31 kilometres southeast of Ilesa along the Ilesa-Akure Expressway, shares borders with Efon-Alaye to the north, Ipetu-Ijesa to the south, Ipole-Ekiti to the east, and Erinmo/Odo to the west. Despite its historical and natural significance, the falls now face the very real threat of being lost to neglect and degradation, unless urgent action is taken to preserve it for future generations.
The history of Oluminrin Water Falls is deeply intertwined with the founding of Erin-Ijesa, as narrated by the Akinla of Erin Ijesa, Oba Isaac Adeyeba.He explained that the falls were discovered by the town’s founder, Akinla, who migrated from Ile-Ife with her husband, a retinue of aides, and hunters.
According to him, after a long search, they came upon a ceaseless waterfall flowing from the hills.The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, leading the group to describe it as ‘Olumirin’ or ‘Oluwa miran’, meaning another goddess, as they were struck by its mysterious and majestic presence.
The waterfall quickly became central to the community’s beliefs. The people worshipped it as a goddess, separate from their worship of Iro, believing it bestowed protection, rain, purity of mind and soul, and freedom from disease.
Oba Adeyeba elaborated on the falls’ unique features: a cliff along the waterfall’s course forms the spectacular Oluminrin Waterfalls, a major tourist attraction that draws visitors from across Nigeria and around the world.
However, despite its rich history and cultural significance, the current state of Oluminrin Waterfall is in stark contrast to the reverence it once commanded.
A recent visit by Saturday PUNCH revealed the poor state of infrastructure leading to the falls.The road from Ilesa/Akure Expressway to Erin-Ijesa is in disrepair, though it is still passable.
The T-junction in the heart of the town, where the road to the falls begins, is particularly problematic, with the road becoming almost impassable as one nears the tourist site.
The road stretches for approximately four kilometres from the expressway, but the deteriorating condition of the final stretch makes it a difficult journey for visitors.
As one approaches the falls, the lush, thick forest that surrounds the cliffs forms a picturesque frame, with the clear, almost snow-white water flowing down seductively inviting visitors.
Yet, the beauty is marred by the litter scattered around the area. Just a few meters from the entrance, before the staircase leading to the base of the falls, piles of discarded plastic containers and papers create an eyesore, detracting from the natural wonder.
At the base of the falls, where the sound of the water crashing onto the rocks echoes through the dense forest and the cool breeze offers a soothing respite, the sight of dirt generated by tourists stands in stark contrast to the serenity the location once offered.
The waterfall is clearly in a state of neglect, left to deteriorate amidst the ruins of what was once a majestic site.
Compounding the problem is the lack of security around the falls. No security presence was observed either at the fall or at the entrance, leaving the site vulnerable to further neglect and misuse.
This absence of a security network and the lack of proper maintenance contribute to the growing concerns of residents and visitors alike.
Residents have long expressed their displeasure with the state of the waterfall. Despite its potential as a major tourist attraction, the site has allegedly suffered consistent neglect from the state government.
A letter from the immediate past monarch of the town, Oba Stephen Adeosun, dated June 24, 1984, and addressed to the Oyo State Government, urged the authorities to provide an access road and other necessary amenities to improve the site.Yet, decades later, the Oluminrin waterfall remains in a dire state, with little to show for the pleas of the community and the historical significance of the place.
Following the creation of Osun State, there were numerous efforts by the Erin-Ijesa community to attract government attention to the Oluminrin Waterfall, yet all their attempts yielded little to no results.
Displeased residents of Erin-Ijesa, during an interview, expressed their frustration over the successive administrations’ neglect of the tourist site, which they believed had great potential for both the local economy and cultural heritage.
One indigene, who wished to be identified only as Omotara, to avoid punitive measures, shared his personal experience of performing traditional music for visitors to the Oluminrin Waterfall during festive periods.
Despite the site’s deteriorating state, he noted that it still attracted a reasonable number of visitors.
Omotara attributed this to the state government’s failure to improve the site’s infrastructure and make it more appealing to tourists.
“As a farmer and former musician who entertained visitors at the falls, I can tell you that people are still visiting, but the government has done nothing to enhance the site or make it more attractive. The state government collects money from tourists almost daily, but it hasn’t made any real investments into improving the site,” he explained.
The local artiste further revealed that, in 2022, the frustration with the government’s inaction led the youth of Erin-Ijesa to take control of the site.
“The youth took over the management of the falls in December 2022 because the government was only interested in collecting gate fees, not in developing the site,” he recounted.
Similarly, a food vendor in the area, Mrs Tosin Oyasope, expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, noting that while officers of the state government collected sums ranging from N500 for children to N1,000 for adults from tourists daily, there was little to show in terms of improved facilities or services at the site.
She noted that the community felt neglected, and this created further resentment.
Oba Adeyeba, while still speaking with Saturday PUNCH, confirmed the community’s takeover of the site in December 2022.
He explained that several letters had been written to the government over the years to address the urgent needs of the site, but nothing was done.
The traditional ruler noted that it was only after the video highlighting the waste management issues at Oluminrin Waterfall went viral that the government began to feel pressured.
“The video exposed the glaring gaps in the maintenance of the site and made the government appear ineffective,” he said.
“The community leaders and youth met with the present government twice to resolve the situation. The government has continued to ignore our demands until the recent video went viral, putting pressure on them. The Tourism Commissioner has never visited the falls since he was appointed, not until the day Governor Ademola Adeleke visited the resort.”
He further pointed out that the money generated from the site was being used by the community to build a fence around his dilapidated palace, highlighting the disparity between the funds generated from the falls and the lack of investment in the site’s maintenance.
In response to the growing concerns raised by the video, Osun State’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, acknowledged the community’s takeover of the Oluminrin Waterfalls.
He, however, assured the public that the state government was committed to fast-tracking efforts to improve the infrastructure at Oluminrin and other major tourist sites across Osun State.
Alimi outlined the state’s tourism infrastructure upgrade plan, which included sites such as the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Owala Inland Beach Resort, Sango Timi Shrine, and Ayunkunnugba Waterfall.
He explained that the management of Oluminrin Waterfall was now under the jurisdiction of the Erin-Ijesa community, a decision made to ensure local ownership and enhance the cultural and tourism industries in the area.
The commissioner also revealed that the governor had directed a tripartite meeting to be held between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, and the leaders of the Erin-Ijesa community.
The aim of the meeting, he told Saturday PUNCH, was to devise a plan to improve the site’s upkeep and create an arrangement that would benefit all parties involved.
“I want to assure the general public that the Osun State government, under Governor Ademola Adeleke, has a comprehensive tourism agenda which covers all our cultural and tourism sites. This meeting will increase the pace of reforms to satisfy the aspirations of the community and the broader tourism sector,” Alimi stated.
In response to the earlier assurances from the commissioner, Governor Adeleke, who had also visited the Oluminrin Waterfalls, called for interested investors to come forward with proposals for potential collaborations aimed at developing the site.
Weighing in on how to rejuvenate the Oluminrin Waterfall, a traditionalist and former Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Felix Omidire, called for a comprehensive approach, beginning with cleaning up of the site, improving security, and providing lodging facilities to accommodate tourists.
The don, who has extensive knowledge of cultural heritage, emphasised the importance of making the resort appealing to both local and international visitors.
He said, “The first step is to clean up the place and make it attractive. After that, we need to invest in the community itself, improving access roads, providing hotels, and other facilities that will make tourists comfortable.
“But above all, the issue of security cannot be overstated. No one wants to visit a place where they do not feel safe. We need to create a secure environment for tourists.”
Drawing inspiration from international best practices, Omidire pointed to Brazil’s ‘Tourist Police’, a specialised force that ensures the safety of tourists by addressing issues such as overcharging and other related concerns.
He stressed that establishing a similar security system at Oluminrin would instil confidence in potential visitors.
“If we want to attract tourists, we must make sure they feel safe,” Omidire asserted. “We also need to give our cultural sites the respect and dignity they deserve by placing them in environments that are worthy of them.”
Omidire called for action from both the community leaders and scholars and underscored the urgent need for a holistic and sustained effort to revive Oluminrin Waterfall.
The don added, “This is not only to preserve the heritage but also to unlock its full potential as a thriving tourist destination. The eyes of Erin-Ijesa and beyond remain fixed on the government to deliver on its promises.”
PUNCH
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