Land Grabbers Target Enugu National Museum: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Demands Action

In a petition addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Prince Richard Ozobu, a prominent member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, raised alarm over an alleged attempt to sell plots of land belonging to the National Museum in Enugu.

As a former board member of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Ozobu revealed that he had previously notified the Enugu museum authorities of the situation, but his complaints were disregarded.

According to Ozobu, land grabbers have resorted to using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to demolish buildings, stalls, and historical artifacts on the property, which is owned by the federal government.

He expressed concern that the motive of these land grabbers is to unlawfully appropriate the museum land at Ogui junction, Enugu, for their personal enrichment, disregarding the interests of the museum, the federal government, and future generations.

Having received numerous calls and visits from concerned citizens of Enugu State, Ozobu decided to take legal action on behalf of those who are aggrieved and apprehensive about the misappropriation of the Enugu Museum land. He reached out to the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Isa Tijani, but was disappointed by the response, as it failed to address the gravity of the situation. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of awareness among the directors of the NCMM regarding the alleged transaction.

The curator of the Enugu museum, in an attempt to counter Ozobu’s pre-action, issued a press release claiming that the federal government had already concessioned the Enugu museum land for 25 years. However, this claim remains unverified.

In light of these serious allegations, the Ohanaeze chieftain has called on President Tinubu to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged parcellation of the Enugu museum land and, if substantiated, take appropriate measures to revoke the purported acquisition. The preservation of the museum’s historical and cultural heritage for future generations should remain a top priority, and any attempts at encroachment and misappropriation must be addressed swiftly and decisively.