President Bola Tinubu has constituted a high-level presidential committee to address recent issues surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, the capital of Edo state.
On Tuesday, Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo state, revoked the certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) previously granted to MOWAA.
The revocation came after growing public discontent and objections from Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, over the demolition of the Central Hospital in Benin City to make way for the museum.
The decision was announced barely 24 hours after tensions escalated at a preview exhibition at the museum, where protesters pledging loyalty to the palace disrupted the event.
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In a move to resolve the matter, the president has set a committee, chaired by Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture, tourism, and creative economy.
The committee includes 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 a statement by Chindaya Ahmadu, director of press for the ministry, the committee’s mandate is to conduct extensive consultations, undertake fact-finding on all relevant issues, and formulate actionable recommendations that balance Nigeria’s sovereign cultural interests with international partnerships and diplomatic considerations.
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Musawa said the presidential intervention “demonstrates our unwavering dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through peaceful means and within established legal frameworks”.
She described cultural institutions as “pillars of our national identity” that require protection through collaborative approaches blending traditional custodianship and modern institutional structures.
The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations directly to Tinubu to ensure swift implementation of sustainable solutions that uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem.
“This Presidential intervention demonstrates our unwavering dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through peaceful means and within established legal framework.Cultural institutions are pillars of our national identity and must be protected through collaborative approaches that reflect both traditional custodianship and modern institutional structures,” the statement reads.
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“The committee will submit it’s 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 reaffirms that while the constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms it equally demands responsibility in their exercise. Nigeria’s cultural spaces and artifacts represent our shared inheritance and therefore deserve special protection under both moral and legal statues.”
