President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established a high-level presidential committee to address the ongoing controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Edo State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the move follows the revocation of the museum’s certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday, a decision prompted by public outcry and objections from Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, over the demolition of the Central Hospital to accommodate the museum.
The tensions escalated when a preview exhibition at the museum was disrupted by protesters loyal to the palace, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue. In response, President Tinubu appointed Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, to chair the committee.
The panel comprises representatives from the federal ministry of art, culture, tourism, and creative economy, the presidency, National Council for Art and Culture, Edo State government, the palace of the Oba of Benin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, German and French embassies, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, and MOWAA itself.
According to Chindaya Ahmadu, director of press for the ministry, the committee is tasked with conducting thorough consultations, fact-finding, and proposing actionable recommendations that protect Nigeria’s cultural interests while accommodating international partnerships.
Musawa emphasised that the presidential intervention saying, “demonstrates our unwavering dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through peaceful means and within established legal frameworks.”
“Cultural institutions are pillars of our national identity and must be protected through collaborative approaches that reflect both traditional custodianship and modern institutional structures.”
She noted that the Tlcommittee will submit its findings and recommendations directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to ensure the swift implementation of sustainable solutions that uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem.
The federal government reiterated that while constitutional freedoms are guaranteed, their exercise carries responsibility, and Nigeria’s cultural spaces and artifacts represent a shared heritage deserving of protection under both moral and legal statutes.
