President Bola Tinubu has pledged to protect Benin artefacts returned to the country from different parts of the world to archive the people’s history.

Mr Tinubu pledged on Friday in Abuja when he received the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, and other traditional leaders from Edo.

The president assured them that his administration would support the Benin Royal Council to establish a museum to house the artefacts.

Mr Tinubu congratulated the Benin paramount ruler for retrieving the stolen artefacts.

He commended the Oba’s effort in ensuring that a befitting museum was built to archive the rich history and traditions of the Benin Kingdom.

“They are in protective custody. It is a matter of history, over a hundred years. We will work on the museum,” the president said.

Mr Tinubu said the federal government was undertaking an audit of its infrastructure projects, promising to ensure that roads in Edo are considered in line with a request made by the traditional ruler.

In his address, Oba Ewuare II commended the president for the giant strides of his administration within its first weeks.

“We’ve predicted that you would hit the ground running, and you have done so even faster than we thought,” the royal father said.

He said the steps taken by the president since his inauguration had renewed the hope of Nigerians and put the country on the path to progress and development.

The Oba appealed to Mr Tinubu to help the Benin Palace to ensure that the artefacts returned were not stolen or taken over from the Benin Royal House.

(NAN)