British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, says the United Kingdom is actively encouraging institutions and facilities in possession of the Benin artefacts to return them to Nigeria.
Laing made this known on Sunday in Abuja to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The envoy said that the UK government had facilitated the return of many of the artefacts and was also in talks with Nigerian authorities on how they could reach an agreement to protect the beautiful Benin bronzes.
“I visited Benin last November and I met the Oba of Benin and His Excellency, Gov. Obaseki and so many of the wonderful people who are producing the wonderful Benin bronzes.
“In terms of the returns, in the UK, we have a slightly different system in some countries. So it is the individual Museum, the trustees of that museum who decide on whether they can return or want to return artefacts.
“So for example, the Horniman Museum in the UK recently returned 72 Benin artefacts; Cambridge University returned the Cockcrow, beautiful cultural artefact; that was just before I went actually.
“So we are encouraging them to think actively about this; they are obviously. When something is returned, it has to obviously be put into a place where we can ensure that it will be well protected.
“So what they’re doing in Benin City is building a beautiful new museum under the guidance of the famous Scanian architect, but it will be a wonderful museum.
“I think another idea that is being considered, and this is what the governor is thinking about, is that the ownership can transfer to the Government of Nigeria, but they will then lend back to say the British Museum, the artefacts that Nigeria now own.
“So you flip it around because, obviously, there are so many of these artefacts and you would not have the ability to accommodate all of them.
“That can be a win-win because lots of people could still see the artefacts, whether here or in London, but the ownership could transfer; that’s an idea that’s been discussed.
“Well, there’s been a proposition from the governor; so it’s an ongoing debate.
“But I know Germany and many other countries are now really moving quite fast to return a number of these beautiful Benin bronzes,” Laing said.
