In a joint statement issued by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, both parties hailed the return as the result of years of diplomatic collaboration and a shared commitment to restorative justice.
NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway said the return represents a turning point: “This represents the largest physical return to Nigeria and the people of Benin since the looting of the Benin Royal Palace by the British in 1897. The symbolism cannot be overemphasised—for the pride and dignity of not just the Benin people, but the whole of Nigeria.”
He also thanked His Royal Majesty the Oba of Benin for entrusting the NCMM with the artefacts, promising they will be preserved and displayed “with the utmost attention to detail.”
The NCMM also announced a partnership with Coronation Group Limited to establish a world class gallery within the NCMM Oba Ovonramwen storage facility in Benin.
Curator of the National Museum in Lagos, Nkechi Adedeji, also expressed joy over the development, describing it as a landmark victory in the fight to reclaim Nigeria’s looted cultural heritage:
“We want to lay to rest the myth that we can’t preserve our objects, we can’t take care of our objects. And then, you know, from time to time we’ve proved them wrong. And I’m glad that the Netherlands government deemed it fit, you know, to return 119 bronze objects. Four of them will be here in the museum, while the rest of them will go to the Oba’s Palace in Benin.”
Prior to the return-ceremony, the Netherlands and Nigeria have jointly convened an expert workshop on digital heritage, bringing together experts from both countries and the wider West African region.
In commemoration of the handover, young contemporary artists from Benin City have developed an exhibition on “Reclaiming heritage: new narratives”, which is on display in the National Museum in Lagos.
At the occasion, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, stated: “We fought a running battle to stop those bent on re-looting. I would rather the artefacts remained abroad than be re-looted under my reign.”
