Osun-Osogbo grove risks losing UNESCO heritage status over land encroachment

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Osogbo, Osun State, is under threat of being delisted due to unchecked land encroachment by developers.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 after being acquired and gazetted by the Federal Government, the Grove is now facing significant threats as residential developments continue to expand within and around the site.

Reports indicate that numerous residential buildings have already been erected close to the grove, and large portions of its untouched land have allegedly been sold to developers.

At the south entrance of the grove, construction of a hotel is currently underway, with the project already at an advanced stage.

Fasina Elebuibon, a traditionalist from Osogbo, expressed grave concerns over the situation. He criticized both the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and prominent local leaders for their lack of action in addressing the encroachment.

He stated, “The situation at the grove is alarming, and if not stopped, it could lead to the delisting of the grove as a UNESCO heritage site. The south entrance has already been fully encroached, with new residential buildings sprouting up. Every day, more areas are being cleared for new constructions. Yet, the local, state, and federal governments are doing nothing to intervene.”

In response, Mr. Aworeni Joseph, the Curator and Site Manager of the National Museum and Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, described the situation as dire, but assured that the agency is taking steps to combat the activities of land grabbers in the area.

“We are not ignoring the issue,” he said. “We are aware of the ongoing developments, particularly in the buffer zones around the grove, and we are taking action to hold those responsible accountable. I visited the site personally to assess the situation, but we have encountered several legal challenges in halting the construction.”