“This number represents the single largest repatriation of looted works of art anywhere in the world.
The minister recalled that the artefacts were looted from the ancient Benin Kingdom during the Benin Expedition of 1897 by the British force.
The Egyptian government has offered to assist Nigeria in preserving the 1,130 looted Benin bronzes expected from Germany.
No fewer than 7,000 artefacts plundered from the Benin Kingdom are expected to be repatriated by Germany to Nigeria not later than October.
Mr Mohammed’s disclosure comes in the aftermath of the controversy about who will take possession of the expected artefacts between the Oba of Benin and Edo state governor.
The university released a statement on Thursday saying that the bronze sculpture left the country in an “extremely immoral” fashion.
