The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, has congratulated Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, on the return of stolen artefacts to the state.

Agba, in congratulatory letter dated May 10 and made available to The Star on Friday, May 12, said the return of all the artefacts, when completed, would be a great relief to the people of Edo State.

The minister said the returned artefacts, which would be domiciled in a new museum, would elevate Benin, the state capital, into a global destination for art and culture.

He stated: “I wish to felicitate His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Government of Edo State, and the good people of Benin Kingdom on the historic formal decision of the Federal Government via an official gazette to domicile repatriated Benin artefacts at the royal palace of the great Benin Kingdom, thus affirming His Royal Majesty as the legitimate custodian of royal Benin arts.

“The return of all the artefacts, when completed, will be a great balm and relief to everyone as historically, Benin had no formal system of writing other than the stories told in cast brass and carved ivory.

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“Art was the kingdom’s culture, its wealth, its literature, and its memory. When these artefacts were pillaged, it left behind only ashes where palaces and temples had stood for centuries.

“I am also elated that the returned artefacts will be domiciled in a new museum on the premises of the great Benin palace which will elevate Benin City into a global destination for art and culture, much as Frank Gehry’s spectacular museum helped revive the fading industrial city of Bilbao, Spain.

“New hotels would rise; new businesses would flourish. Underemployed young people would discover productive futures in art, archaeology, tourism, and other services and the trauma of the past would be converted into resources for the glory of all Edo people and the entire citizens of Nigeria.”

Agba further commended the monarch for his “genuine love, commitment, and total dedication to the welfare” to the good people of Edo State, which the minister said has brought great honour to the people.

“I wish to affirm that His Royal Majesty, over the period of my assignment as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, has been a great pillar of support, and his majesty’s wise counsel and prayers have given me strength and inspiration, leading the country into a sure path of greatness under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“His majesty has not only shown full support and total commitment to the progress of our country but has also demonstrated his fatherly role by providing us with the needed guidance and royal blessings at all times, while giving us unhindered access to his Palace,” he added.

Meanwhile, Agba, while speaking with journalists on what the Federal Government was doing about the housing of the artefacts, said the FG, through the National Commission on Museums and Monuments, had made provisions in the 2023 budget to the tune of N1.9 billion for housing the artefacts in the Royal museum.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government, having put it in the gazette that the Oba is the custodian of the artefacts, enjoined the commission, in consultation with the Oba of Benin, to determine where the Royal Museum would be built.

The Star