Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, has told The Guardian that Mega Hub in Irhirhi Road, Benin City, was sealed for security reason.

The event centre was sealed by the state government on April 7, 2026, after an event

While the government did not invite the management of the centre or give reasons before the closure, it was alleged that  Governor Monday Okpebholo ordered the sealing for the calling out the government by Nigerian artiste, Eedris Abdulkareem.

Abdulkareem had lamented during the show that there as suffering in the land and asking President Bola Tinubu to act.

After the show, the government sealed the centre without explanation.

After the incident, many Nigerians criticised the state government and threatened protests over the closure.

A Nigerian author, King Joel Agho, described the action as disturbing.

He said: “The government did this without communicating with the owner of the place. This a government that does not want anyone to complain about the reality on the ground. This wouldn’t have happened if the event was held in Lagos, the home of President Tinubu; but he’s acting this way in Edo.”

But a group under the aegis of Tinubu-Okpebholo-Nigeria said while freedom of expression remains a fundamental right, it does not extend to inciting the public to violence or disorder.

The group, in the statement by its National Coordinator, Precious Topa, however, dismissed the claims as false and misleading, insisting that it is untrue that Nigerians began committing suicide under the administration of President Tinubu.

Topa accused the singer of deliberately attempting to incite hatred and misinform the public.

Describing the comments as uncharitable and unbecoming, the group stressed that no individual or organisation should allow their platform or property to be used to undermine constituted authority or promote public disorder.

The group said attempts to provoke unrest or manipulate public sentiment for chaos would only endanger lives, damage communities and undermine national stability, adding that constructive dialogue, lawful engagement and responsible expression remain the only viable paths to sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Afegbua disclosed that the centre had been unsealed, “so, there is no problem.”

On what actually transpired, hee said: “They called to tell me what happened and it has to do with security.”

When pressed further on the nature of security, he said: “They only told me and I will have to find out.”