Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidential spokesman, said the Nigerian leader appealed to nations, institutions and bodies, both private and public, to return artefacts belonging to Nigeria in the statement on Monday in Abuja the aftermath of the return of two important Nigerian artefacts from Britain.
On Saturday, the president appreciated the official handover of the Okwukor and the Oba Benin bronzes to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
These are unprecedented moves worth emulating by others,” he said.
After 125 years, They were taken back to their territory Nigeria from the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom.
President Buhari pledged that the Federal Government would follow vigorously repatriate Nigerian artefacts.
Buhari also said that with the help of royal Families and kingdoms that lose their artefact, we would ensure that they are put to good and proper use on their return in museums and the other facilities.
The President thanked the Government of the United Kingdom, the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen for returning artefacts to Nigeria and issuing the requirement Export Permits to Nigeria at no cost.
Buhari also took a moment to thank Germany that 1,130 Benin Bronzes would be repatriated from Germany’s public museums to Nigeria. The returns will take place this year.
Sarafa Ishola, the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdome and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), was also appreciated by the President for their collaboration works that led to the repatriation of these artefacts.
The president said the process of returning other artefacts is ongoing while the discussion of repatriating more artefacts is under process.
Buhari recalled that in 1897 when the British army attacked the ancient Benin Kindom and took many artefacts away, now that the artefacts will now be returned to the Oba of Benin.
