Nigeria’s museum to oversee return of Benin bronzes

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria will oversee the recovery and preservation of the Benin Bronzes, with the permission of the Oba of Benin, who is the rightful owner of the artifacts.

The bronzes, taken by British soldiers in 1897 from the former Kingdom of Benin, are still largely on display in European museums. A 2023 decree by former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged the Oba's ownership, but NCMM Director General Olugbile Holloway stated that the royal palace lacks the facilities to care for them.

With the Oba's approval, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments will now oversee the conservation and negotiations for their return. Discussions with Cambridge University, which had previously put on hold plans to return over 100 bronzes, are currently ongoing.

"The return of these objects is about restoring dignity and rectifying the wrongs of 1897," Holloway said.