The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, one of Nigeria’s most revered cultural landmarks, may lose its status as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Site due to increasing encroachment by land grabbers and unregulated development activities in the area.
The sacred grove, located in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2005 following its acquisition and gazetting by the Federal Government as a site of cultural and spiritual significance. The grove is not only a symbol of Yoruba heritage but also a sanctuary for traditional religious practices and biodiversity.
However, recent unchecked encroachments have sparked fears that the site may be delisted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
According to Vanguard, numerous residential buildings have been observed along the buffer zone of the grove. Previously untouched lands, considered sacred and vital to the ecosystem and cultural integrity of the grove, have reportedly been sold off to private developers.
At the southern entrance of the grove, a hotel construction project is already at an advanced stage. When approached for comments, workers at the site declined to speak, and a man who identified himself as the site engineer refused to provide any statement.
Reacting to the developments, a prominent traditionalist in Osogbo, Mr Ogundeji Elebuibon, expressed deep concern over the deterioration of the sacred site’s status and blamed government agencies for their inaction.
Elebuibon stated, “The situation at the grove is very unfortunate and one fears that the development, if not checked, would not lead to the delisting of the grove as a UNESCO heritage site.
“The South entrance has been encroached completely with residential buildings springing up in the areas. More areas are being cleared for new structures to emerge. Yet, government at various levels, including local, state and federal government are just watching without taking any action.”
He criticised the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and other relevant authorities for failing to act swiftly and decisively to preserve the grove from desecration.
In response to the allegations, the Curator and Site Manager of the National Museum and Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Mr Aworeni Joseph, refuted claims of neglect and stated that the agency is aware of the situation and is taking steps to address it.
“We are not lackadaisical about it. We are aware of the development, especially in the buffer zones around the grove; steps are being taken to bring those involved to book. I was there to inspect the development but we faced a lot of legal impediments to stop construction work ongoing at the areas,” Aworeni said.
The situation has raised urgent concerns among cultural conservationists, traditional leaders, and the international community. If no concrete action is taken to halt the ongoing encroachments, Nigeria may lose one of its few UNESCO-recognised heritage treasures, which holds immense historical, cultural, and spiritual value.
