The federal government is to accelerate action on the construction of a royal palace museum where the Benin bronze artefacts that were repatriated from Germany would be kept.

The director-general, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Abba Tijani, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday.

Mr Tijani explained that more cooperation from stakeholders was needed for the return of more artefacts.

”Everyone, especially the youths should be encouraged to visit museums to see our past and understand our culture which also determines who we really are.

“Many social vices going on now are due to lack of understanding of our culture and history,” he said.

Mr Tijani explained that Nigeria took possession of the artefacts in 2021 but could not bring it home then due to lack of export permit.

He added that since then, arrangements were made with Benin city on ways to get export permits to return the artefacts to the country.

Artefacts worth £2.5 million have been handed over to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, 125 years after they were looted by British troops during the invasion of Benin Kingdom.

(NAN)