Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo has revoked the certificate of occupancy previously issued to the Museum of West African Art,MOWAA, ordering that the 6.21-hectare property be returned to public health use.
The decision marks the latest turn in a long-running controversy surrounding the museum project, its governance, its origins, and its relationship with the Benin Palace.
Public unease over the demolition of the historic Central Hospital, which had served Benin City for over a century, has simmered since the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki approved the site for the ambitious cultural project.
The tension escalated sharply when Oba Ewuare II openly questioned the lack of clarity surrounding the museum’s evolution, insisting that the palace had not been properly consulted.
The matter reached a boiling point on Sunday, when a preview exhibition at MOWAA was abruptly disrupted by palace loyalists.
The event, which had drawn top foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors of Germany and the European Union, was forced to shut down as security personnel evacuated guests amid protests.
Barely 24 hours later, Okpebholo issued a revocation order dated October 21, 2025, formally reclaiming the land in the “overriding public interest.”
The governor argued that the museum project has been shadowed by opacity from inception, including questions about funding, mandate, and institutional identity.
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In a statement signed by his aide, Fred Itua, the governor said he was not informed about the presence of the foreign delegation in Edo, describing the situation as another sign of the “lack of transparency” that has dogged the project.
The governor highlighted the confusing evolution of the museum’s identity—first described as the Benin Royal Museum, then renamed the Edo Museum of West African Art, and later pared down to MOWAA.
According to him, the shifts occurred without adequate consultation with the Benin Palace, which sparked public suspicion and accusations that the museum sought to leverage the Benin Bronzes—world-famous artifacts looted in 1897—for credibility and donor confidence.
Amid growing backlash, the museum’s management issued a statement denying any attempt to appropriate the identity or authority of the Oba of Benin.
It insisted that it had never sought funding under the name “Benin Royal Museum” and reiterated its respect for the Benin Throne.
MOWAA director Phillip Ihenacho expressed disappointment over the protest but said he hoped it would open the door to renewed dialogue and clarity.
The Okpebholo administration has now set up a committee to investigate all aspects of the project—from land allocation and funding transparency to institutional representation and community engagement.
For now, the state government says the reclaimed land will revert to its original public health purpose, restoring what was once one of Edo’s most important medical facilities.
