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FG receives Benin bronzes repatriated from US

Published

5 months ago

November 18, 2025

The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy on Monday received two Benin bronzes, a bronze relief plaque and a commemorative head, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage.

The artifacts, looted during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom, were repatriated from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, United States.

The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, thanked Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar for facilitating the return.

She described the moment as historic, saying, “This is a historic moment for Nigeria, the ministry, and the good people of the Benin Kingdom. We are still in conversation with several other institutions that hold these artifacts, and soon the process of returning them all to their rightful owners will begin.”

The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, also expressed gratitude to all facilitators, including NCMM staff and His Royal Highness Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, who led the struggle to recover the pieces.

He noted, “What we are witnessing today is the return of a huge part of Nigeria’s history. While this occasion is symbolic to Benin, it is also symbolic to Nigeria’s broader restitution struggle. We also have objects from Ife, so this event is historic, irrespective of the small gathering.”

The symbolic handover took place in the presence of three high chiefs representing the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Nneka Anibeze.

According to the Arts Newspapers in the United States, the MFA, Boston returned the stolen artifacts in a ceremony at the Nigeria House in New York in June 2025.

“I am pleased to deliver these two works of art to Prince Aghatise Erediuwa on behalf of His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II,” Matthew Teitelbaum, the MFA’s director, Matthew Teitelbaum, was quoted to have said in a statement by the newspaper.

“As custodians of these exceptional objects for the past 12 years, it is deeply gratifying to see them returned to their rightful owner,” he added.

The Benin bronzes—a collection of over 2,000 brass and bronze plaques and sculptures—were seized by British forces in 1897 and dispersed to museums worldwide.

In recent years, Nigeria has intensified diplomatic efforts to secure their return, entering agreements with institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe.

This latest repatriation follows a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the United States, aimed at returning looted artifacts and strengthening cultural cooperation.

The handover underscores Nigeria’s renewed push under President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda to restore cultural heritage and promote national identity.

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News

Senate names new minority whip as two more senators defect to APC

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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The Senate on Wednesday appointed Senator Tony Nwoye as the new Minority Whip, following a fresh wave of defections that has further boosted the numerical strength of the All Progressives Congress in the upper chamber.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously selected by the Senate minority caucus to fill the vacancy created by the exit of his predecessor.

His emergence comes on the heels of the defection of former Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on Wednesday, one of several high-profile crossovers that altered the balance within the opposition ranks.

In a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ngwu said his decision was driven by the need to align with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.

He also described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country.

Nwoye was elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting to the African Democratic Congress in late 2025, positioning him within the opposition bloc prior to his new leadership role.

The reshuffle in minority leadership came amid a broader pattern of defections that has steadily eroded the strength of opposition parties in the Senate since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing internal crises within the opposition party.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, formally announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the APC.

Wadada, who has also been endorsed as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, said he had previously aligned with the ruling party but completed the formal procedures of his defection on Wednesday.

Reacting to the developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers, describing their defections as voluntary and consistent with constitutional provisions.

He said the increasing movement of legislators into the APC reflects growing confidence in the party’s leadership and the administration of President Tinubu.

With the latest defections, the APC’s strength in the Senate has risen to 91 lawmakers—further consolidating its dominance and tightening its grip on legislative proceedings as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Lagos clarifies sanitation modalities, warns defaulters ahead of April 25

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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The Lagos State Government has provided further details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said, “The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am.

During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.”

He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance,” warning that “defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.”

Wahab also stated, “LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise,” noting that “there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.”

He urged residents to cooperate with the initiative, saying, “We urge all residents to take ownership of this exercise and join hands with the government in building a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Lagos.”

The clarification follows the symbolic flag-off of the exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14, ahead of its full implementation later this month.

The state government had earlier announced in March that the sanitation exercise would resume nearly a decade after it was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the programme.

While some residents have welcomed the move, saying it could curb indiscriminate waste disposal and reduce flooding, others have raised concerns about enforcement, warning that movement restrictions could be abused and calling for sustained public education on proper waste management.

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News

Court remands suspected coup plotters in DSS custody

Published

7 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services after they were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism.

At the sitting, which commenced at about 1:46pm, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that the charge was ready and sought leave to have it read to the defendants.

Proceedings were briefly stalled after the third defendant informed the court that his counsel was indisposed, while counsel to the sixth defendant said his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the matter to secure an interpreter.

When the court reconvened at about 2:18 pm, all six defendants took their pleas and denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to the 13 counts.

Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for their remand in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case, a request that was not opposed by most defence counsel, although the first defendant’s lawyer indicated an intention to file a bail application.

Ruling, the trial judge ordered an accelerated hearing, directed that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers, and adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.