The Edo State Government has commenced the rehabilitation of the centuries-old Benin Moat, identifying seven locations for restoration as part of efforts to preserve the historic monument and develop its tourism potential.
The Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Tourism, Dr Munirat Antoinette Lecky, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP while outlining the administration’s Benin Moats Rehabilitation Project.
She said the initiative was designed to address encroachment, indiscriminate waste disposal and environmental degradation threatening the ancient defensive system.
Lecky said the government was committed to restoring the heritage site, noting that years of neglect had left several sections covered by vegetation, refuse and buildings.
“Currently, yes, the condition of the moat is not in its best form. Most of the moats are either covered in grass, covered in people’s property, or covered in waste,” she said.
The Benin Moat, also known as the Benin Iya or Walls of Benin, is a historic earthwork believed to have been constructed around 1460 AD to protect the ancient Benin Kingdom against invaders.
However, sections of the monument now face encroachment, erosion and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, raising concerns about the preservation of the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
According to Lecky, the Edo State Tourism Agency is leading the rehabilitation project in collaboration with EdoGIS, the waste management agency and Edo Parks and Gardens.
She said the agencies were working to identify authentic sections of the moat, remove accumulated waste, prevent further encroachment and sensitise residents to the importance of protecting the historic site.
“We have identified about seven spots that we could potentially turn into something,” she said.
Lecky disclosed that the intervention had commenced at the Mission Road section, where fencing on one side had helped discourage residents from dumping refuse.
She added that manual excavation had begun to remove accumulated waste, while awareness campaigns were being conducted in surrounding communities.
Describing the moat as a heritage asset rather than a dumpsite, the tourism adviser said its proper maintenance could attract visitors from within and outside Nigeria.
“It is actually a heritage site. If you maintain it well, you see that people from all over the world want to come to your community,” she said.
Lecky explained that EdoGIS was helping the government distinguish original sections of the moat from channels created by erosion and years of environmental degradation.
On the restoration plan, she said the government would not reconstruct the entire defensive system but would introduce features to help visitors recognise and appreciate the preserved sections as historic sites.
“The first step is to clean up and prevent it from being used for waste. The next step would be to figure out what we can put there to resemble something. Obviously, we don’t rebuild the whole walls, but some elements that will help people know that this is a historic site,” she said.
