Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has revoked the Certificate of Occupancy for the 5.6-hectare site designated for the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, reclaiming the land for the Benin Central Hospital.

The decision, made on October 21, has sparked national debate over the balance between public health and cultural preservation.

The governor’s office justified the move as serving an “overriding public interest,” citing the land’s original 1974 allocation for hospital use and alleging improper reassignment under the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki. “The land was gazetted for the hospital in 1974 – its diversion lacked due process. Public health trumps all; we'll collaborate on relocation,” said Kingsley Osunde, spokesperson for Governor Okpebholo.

The revocation halts construction on the $75 million MOWAA project, which had attracted over $100 million in international funding and was envisioned as a world-class repository for West African artifacts, including repatriated Benin Bronzes. Under Obaseki’s leadership since 2018, the museum had positioned Benin as a rising cultural hub.

The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture condemned the action as “short-sighted,” urging dialogue and reversal. “Cultural preservation is national security – dialogue must prevail,” the ministry stated.

Critics, including Obaseki, labeled the move “cultural vandalism,” warning of reputational damage and loss of global partnerships. However, supporters of the revocation praised the prioritization of healthcare in a state grappling with a 40% under-five mortality rate.

Governor Okpebholo’s administration has pledged consultations to identify an alternative site for MOWAA, but the dispute underscores broader tensions over politics, land use and heritage protection in Edo State.