Edo spent N3.8bn on MOWAA under Obaseki, Oshiomhole-led panel reveals

n n

The Special Committee on the Museum of West African Art on Thursday submitted its report to the Edo State Government, noting that the state invested N3.8bn in the project.

n

The committee, headed by a former governor of Edo State and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was given the mandate to verify the ownership status of MOWAA.

n

In the report, Oshiomhole noted that the Edo State Government under the administration of Godwin Obaseki spent a total of N3.8bn of taxpayers’ money on the MOWAA project, changing the name of the museum several times for personal reasons.

n

In a statement on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, the committee chairman said the sustained efforts and campaign by the Oba of Benin for the return of the stolen Benin artefacts led to an agreement to return the artefacts, noting that it opened discussions on building a Royal Museum to house them.

n

He added, “The Edo State Government under Obaseki agreed to provide the funding to build the Benin Royal Museum at the space provided by the Oba of Benin. It was well announced to the delight of all Edo people.

n

“The Obaseki administration took different steps, demolished Central Hospital and decided to change the original name of the museum to Edo Museum of West Africa Art (EMOWA) and later to the Museum for West Africa Art (MOWAA).”

n

He noted that N800m in seed money was raised by the Edo State Government and donations continued to trickle in.

n

“The German government donated four million euros, Leventis $1.5m and more.

n

“Five days before the expiration of the Obaseki-led administration, the governor approved and released N1bn. This brought the payment of the Edo State Government to N3.8bn,” he added.

n

Oshiomhole said the several changes of name made it a completely private enterprise, as MOWAA management agreed to have received over $18m, which they claimed had been used in acquiring land and engaging in archaeological excavation.

n

He noted that the investigation revealed that all the claims were false, while putting forward a series of recommendations to ensure the facility begins operation.

n

He said, “The facility should not be demolished because it can’t be remodelled, the museum is allowed to stay and the facility given a proper name that will reflect its true ownership.

n

“The name be changed to Benin Royal Museum of Africa Art. The governor can use the same instrument of government to revert the name. This will attract artefacts from across the globe.

n

“The museum should be returned to the Oba of Benin to manage it henceforth, as the government comes and goes but the Benin Monarch remains and the artefacts can be protected better by the institutions that own it.”

n

While receiving the report from the committee, the governor commended the committee, vowing to take steps to implement its recommendations.

n

“I thank the committee for an excellent job and a comprehensive report submitted today. The quality of the job shows the fairness and seriousness of the job.

n

“At this point I will set up another committee to enable us to have a white paper on the issue and the committee will liaise with the Ministry of Justice so that the recommendation will be turned into a white paper.

n

“I watched in a video clip where Obaseki promised to build a Royal Museum to celebrate our Royal father but dramatically changed to MOWAA. You have done a great job and our ancestors will bless you all.”

n

In the audience were the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa; Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor,; the Attorney General, Prof. Roland Otaru; and other senior government officials.

n

Recall that the ownership of MOWAA has come under scrutiny since the emergence of Governor Okpebholo.

n

The present administration said the funds used to build the museum and the land on which it was built were provided by the state government and that it should therefore belong to the state under the care of the Oba of Benin.

n

However, the immediate past administration has insisted that it is wholly a private institution.

n

In November 2025, residents and socio-cultural groups in Benin City protested and disrupted the preview opening of MOWAA, forcing an indefinite suspension of the launch.

n

The demonstrators claimed the private institution undermined the authority of the Benin Royal Palace and sought to seize control of the returned artefacts and the Benin Bronzes instead of deferring to the Oba of Benin.

n n