The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has officially informed the Netherlands Government about Nigeria's Government Gazette, which recognizes and grants custody and management of repatriated looted Benin artefacts to the Oba of Benin. The Chief Press Secretary to Oba Ewuare II, Mr Iguobaro Osaigbovo, released a statement in Benin, providing these details.
During a courtesy visit to the Palace, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Wouter Pomp, was briefed by Oba Ewuare II on the significance of the gazette and the Presidential declaration. The gazette outlines the future of the Benin Bronzes and artefacts, explicitly specifying the ownership, custody, and management vested in the Oba as an institution, thus making it legally binding.
Oba Ewuare II also confirmed the ongoing plans for the construction of the Benin Royal Museum, which is a Federal Government project that has been progressing steadily.
Referring to Notice No. 25 in the official Gazette No. 57, Volume 110, dated March 23, 2023, the Oba recalled that the Federal Republic of Nigeria settled the longstanding dispute between the Palace and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo over the custodianship of the artefacts.
See Official Gazette Below
During the discussion, Ambassador Pomp praised the Oba for positively impacting history and assured the Nigerian Government of the Netherlands' support in areas like employment, migration, and cultural diplomacy. He mentioned that talks were ongoing between the Netherlands Commission for Monuments and the Commission for Monuments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding the future of the Benin Bronzes, some of which are currently in the Netherlands.
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