In addition to the 1130 looted artefacts expected from Germany, the Federal Government says it will take possession of other stolen antiquities from U.S. and Scotland in October.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos at a media briefing on the efforts by the federal government to repatriate looted smuggled artefacts from around the world.
“In March 2021, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland agreed to return a Benin Bronze from its collections.
“We shall take possession of this in October this year.
“We have also secured a date in October 2021 for the repatriation of antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
“These antiquities consist of two important Benin Bronzes and an exquisite Ife Bronze head,’’ he said.
The minister said the development formed parts of the successes recorded by the campaign he launched in Nov. 2019 for the return and restitution of Nigeria’s looted/smuggled artefacts from around the world.
Mohammed recalled that in October 2020, the Netherlands returned a highly-valued 600-year-old Ife Terracotta while Mexico returned a bronze piece in April 2021.
“The University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom has also agreed to return a disputed Benin artefact.
“We will soon commence the procedure for the repatriation of this highly-valued piece,’’ he said.
Mohammed said the country is currently before the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to it Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP) in Paris.
He said a claim was instituted before the committee against a Belgian who wanted to auction an Ife Bronze head valued at 5 million Dollars.
The minister said that the Ife Bronze antiquity had been seized by the London Metropolitan Police, pending the decision on who the true owner was.
According to the minister, the most remarkable progress in the quest to repatriate looted artefacts was recorded in Germany on the repatriation of 1,130 Benin Bronzes to the country.
“As you are aware, I recently led a high-level Nigerian delegation to Berlin, Germany, to iron out the modalities for the repatriation.
“The negotiations were tough but fruitful and have agreed that there is no going back on the issue of returning the Benin Bronzes,’’ he said.
The minister said the agreement for repatriation of the artefacts should be signed in December while the repatriation should be concluded by Aug. 2022.
He said it was also agreed that the release would neither be attached with any conditional nor be staggered.
According to the minister, with less than two years after he launched the campaign the efforts at repatriating Nigeria’s looted artefacts were achieving positive results.
“The work ahead remains tough and daunting, but we will not relent until we have repatriated all our stolen and smuggled antiquities.
“These artefacts are so cherished all over the world.
“We realise that if they are returned to Nigeria and properly exhibited within and outside the country under our control, they stand to increase the influx of tourists to our nation and earn us good money.
“Of course, these timeless and priceless pieces of work are an important part of our past, our history, our heritage resource, and allowing them to sit in the museums of other nations robs us of our history.
He stressed that, though not everyone in possession of the artefacts was willing to return them, the government remained undeterred in repatriating them and would continue to deploy all legal and diplomatic means.
Mohammed also said in line with operative conventions and laws, the Federal Government will take possession of the 1,130 looted Benin bronzes being expected from Germany.
He was reacting to the controversy that had trailed who will take the possession of the expected artefact between the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
While the Oba wanted the artefacts stolen from Benin Palace in 1987 to be returned to a museum to be built within the Palace premises, the governor showed preference for a private trust to take custody and manage the artefacts,
The Minister, however, said the federal government was the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from the country.
“The Federal Government is aware of the widely-reported controversy when on who will take possession of the Benin Bronzes when they are returned from Germany.
“Let me state clearly here that, in line with international best practice and the operative Conventions and laws, the return of the artefacts is being negotiated bilaterally between the national governments of Nigeria and Germany.
“Nigeria is the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from Nigeria.
“The relevant international Conventions treat heritage properties as properties belonging to the nation and not to individuals or subnational groups,’’ he said.
The minister cited the 1970 UNESCO Convention, in its Article 1 which defines cultural property as property specifically designated by that nation.
He said the provision allows individual nations to determine what it regards as its cultural property.
He, however, noted that the provision notwithstanding, his ministry had been working over the past years to repatriate looted artefacts in partnership with traditional institutions and state governments
“What we are saying in essence is that the federal government will take possession of these antiquities, because it is its duty to do so, in line with the extant laws.
“We have always exercised this right in cognisance of that culture that produced the art works.
“That is why the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments have always involved both the Edo State government and the Royal Benin Palace in discussions and negotiations that have now resulted in the impending return of these antiquities,’’ he said.
The minister said the federal government was not just involved in the repatriation of Benin artefacts.
He said his ministry was also working on repatriating Ife Bronzes and Terracotta, Nok Terracotta, Owo Terracotta, the arts of the Benue River Valley, the Igbo Ukwu and the arts of Bida, Igala, Jukun etc.
Mohammed commended the Government of Germany for taking the lead in the global efforts to repatriate all artefacts that were looted from Nigeria and from the African continent.
“As I said during the meeting in Berlin, we see Germany as a leader in the efforts to take practical steps to repatriate our stolen artefacts, and we hope Germany will sustain that lead.
He also applauded the development that the repatriation of the artefacts would be the beginning of a new vista of stronger relations and cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and Germany.
He disclosed that there would be archaeological training for Nigerians among other benefits accruing from the ongoing talks.
“The Nigerian side and the German side agreed to Nigeria’s proposal to use the repatriated artefacts and other works of art to inspire Nigeria’s Creative Industry towards realising its high potential.
“For this and other purposes, it was agreed that the Germans will facilitate the establishment of an academy in Nigeria,’’ he said.
The minister equally thanked Obaseki for his commitment as well as the Oba for sending the Benin Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ezelekhae Ewuare, to be a part of the Nigerian delegation to Berlin.
