Nigeria Joins Hands With Germany To Repatriate Benin Bronzes

Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed reports,

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, has announced that it has signed an agreement which will allow Nigeria to repatriate about 1,130 Benin bronzes from Berlin in Germany.

While speaking at the inauguration of The Art Hotel in Lagos, Min. Lai told Track News Nigeria that the bronzes were looted from the old city of Benin in 1897, 125 years ago.

He claimed that the Federal Government’s commitment toward recovering the nation’s priceless works of art.

“Let me restate our commitment to recovering our priceless works of art which were looted from our country.

“Our efforts in this regard have started to yield fruits. Last week, in Berlin, Germany, we signed the agreement for the repatriation of 1,130 Benin bronzes which were looted from the ancient city of Benin kingdom in 1897.

“This number represents the single largest repatriation of looted works of art anywhere in the world.

He added: “There is no doubt that the return of the most coveted Benin bronzes to Nigeria will help to stimulate domestic tourism in our country”.