Governor Monday Okpebholo revokes MOWAA’s Certificate of Occupancy, returning the land to State Central Hospital for public interest in Benin City

The ongoing controversy over the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City escalated on Monday as Governor Monday Okpebholo officially revoked its Certificate of Occupancy.

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In a letter dated October 21, 2025, titled “Land Use Decree 1978: Revocation of Statutory Rights of Occupancy pursuant to Sections 28 and 38”, Governor Okpebholo cited overriding public interest as the basis for his action.

The land is to be returned to the State Central Hospital, a heritage institution that has served Edo State for over a century. The letter read in part:

“Notice is hereby given that in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Sections 28(1) and 38 of the Land Use Decree No. 6 of 1978, and by virtue of all other enabling laws, I, SEN. MONDAY OKPEBHOLO, Governor of Edo State, hereby revoke the Statutory Right of Occupancy granted to Edo Museum of West Africa Art Trust (EMOWAA) Ltd/GTE for overriding public interest, to be returned to Central Hospital, a heritage of the state for over 100 years.”

The revoked property, designated as Digital Plot No. 61977, Zone HI/A12/Ogboka, Benin City, covers approximately 6.210 hectares within the Oredo Local Government Area.

Its boundaries are detailed in the survey attached to the original Certificate of Occupancy issued on 28 November 2022, registered as No. 169, Page 3, Volume 45 at the EDOGIS Lands Registry in Benin City.

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The decision marks a significant development in the long-running debate over the museum’s location and its use of heritage land, raising questions about the future of MOWAA and the preservation of Edo State’s cultural assets.