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Claim: Nigeria is the only country without a museum in its capital city.
Verdict: Findings showed that there are several museums in the FCT. The claim is false.
Full Text
On Feb. 29, 2024, President Bola Tinubu embarked on an official trip to Qatar. Together with his entourage, the president also extended his visit to the Qatar Museum as part of his itinerary. Shortly before the return of Mr Tinubu, a former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, made a series of statements X. Notable was a claim stating that Nigeria is the only country without a museum in its capital.
His post read: “I saw the President in the Qatar Museum. If the Emir of Qatar visits Abuja, there is no Museum to take him to. Budget after budget, Nigeria is the only country in the World without a Museum in its capital city. Since the termination of the former DG of the National Museum, the new one is yet to take over.”
Mr Sani is a public figure with a large follower base across X and Facebook. Aside from the fact that this post has been shared on Facebook, his social media activities can influence public opinion. Considering his status and level of influence, DUBAWA decided to verify his assertion.
Verification
We conducted keyword searches on Google, revealing multiple private museums scattered across different places within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
One such is the Discovery Museum located at Wuse 2 in Abuja. Described as Nigeria’s first digital museum, the attraction hub was founded in July 2021, featuring physical artefacts, virtual reality, and a digital art gallery.
Another is the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, a central meeting point for artists, art lovers, and the wider community. It allows people to explore various forms of artistic expression, including visual arts, performances, excursions, and other events. Like the Discovery Museum, it is located at Wuse 2, Abuja.
The Orisun Art Gallery in the Central Business District, Reto Africa, Asokoro, and the Nike Art Gallery at Piwoyi, Federal Capital Territory, are others on the list.
Conclusion
Contrary to Mr Sani’s claim, several museums are in the FCT. This renders the former senator’s statement false.
