FG warns against encroaching on national monuments

The Federal Government has warned property developers and other Nigerians against encroaching on national monuments in the country.

The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, gave the warning in an interview with Daily Trust.

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Tijani, who noted that many communities were unaware of the values and importance of museums and monuments in the country, said: “There’s this growing neglect of this sector. This is a serious problem. That’s why we have so much encroachment on our monuments across the country.

“For example, on the Kano City Wall which is a national monument. I can say that 70% of that place has completely been encroached on and destroyed. New structures are being constructed in those areas.

“Also, recently, when I took over, there was this issue of Olujoba national monument in Lagos that was completely brought down by property developers in conjunction with some family members who own the Olujoba monument.

“So, we had to go to court and later we settled out of court and it was agreed that the place was going to be reconstructed. We have these encroachments across the country on our national monuments.”

The NCMM boss said many foreign countries had started, through the commission, returning artifacts stolen from the country’s museums in the past.