By Ochogwu Sunday The Federal Government says the British authority has taken care of its looted artefacts for so long and it is tim...
By Ochogwu Sunday
The Federal Government says the British authority has taken
care of its looted artefacts for so long and it is time for the cultural and
historical works of art to return home.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, stated this in London during a working visit to the British Museum.
Speaking after a meeting with officials of the museum,
Mohammed, who was taken round the gallery and strong room, thanked them for
their passion and for taking care of the artefacts for so long.
NAN reports the minister met with Sam Nixon, Curator, and
Head of Africa Section, British Museum, and Lissan Bolton, Keeper of the
Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas in the Museum.
“Before now, they said we did not make a demand, but in
October last year, almost nine months ago we made a formal request for the
return of the artefacts, especially the Benin bronzes for which we have not got
any response.
“We made them understand that our quest and clamour is for
the return of the Benin bronzes and all other artefacts that were stolen and
looted to their origin.
“I said they should take a cue from Germany which was
neither our coloniser nor the one that looted the artefacts but which has
yielded to pressure and signed an agreement to return 1,130 Benin bronzes to
us.
“We also made it clear to them that they cannot hide under
legislation and no Act of Parliament will make what you have stolen become
yours,” he said
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