I’ve forgiven dad for abandoning me since childhood –Lagos amputee water hawker turned landlady by Afeez Hanafi

The story of Mary Daniel, 27-year-old single mum amputee who hawked bottled water on the highways in Oshodi, Lagos, has seemingly ended happily as she opened a N17.5m storey building she bought from donations made by generous donors within and outside Nigeria. On the expansive premises of the house in the Igando area of the state, a sachet water factory belonging to Daniel is also nearing completion. The house comprises four apartments of two bedrooms each. The house-warming held on Saturday in the presence of Daniel’s kinsmen led by Onu Igala in Lagos, Sanni Yakubu. This is just as the elated landlady said she had forgiven her father for allegedly abandoning her. Daniel came to the limelight in March after Saturday PUNCH reported her uncommon courage to eke out a living by hawking water in traffic. She had told our correspondent that her parents died in an accident where she also lost her leg. Dropping out at Junior Secondary School 3, she took to the streets in Onitsha, Anambra State, selling sachet water to cater to herself and her aged grandmother. She was impregnated in 2018 by her fiancé who she said denied responsibility for the pregnancy, forcing her to relocate to Delta State out of shame. The native of Kogi State continued the taxing trade in the oil-rich state even after giving birth. She relocated to Lagos in March, hawking bottled water in chaotic traffic and passing the night on the balcony of a building on Suwebatu Street, Oshodi. She received N25m in donations but in the heat of solidarity her story attracted, her family disclosed that her father is alive and that her mother died from sickness. They stated that her leg was crushed by a tyre rim at a tender age while she was playing around the vicinity. Speaking to Sunday PUNCH during the ceremony, Daniel said she claimed her father was dead because he abandoned her from childhood. She explained that she changed her name from Ojonuga Blessing Onu to Mary Daniel out of annoyance against her father, adding that she twisted the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death and the amputation of her leg to curry favour from the public. Daniel stated, “I am happy for the house and the factory. I decided to settle for water business because it is the source of my success. I have bought the equipment and generator; it remains fixing doors and a vehicle for distributing the water. “I said my father was dead because he did not take care of me. He said he didn’t want a one-legged person in his family. He disowned me so I decided to change my name from Ojonuga Blessing Onu to Mary Daniel. “After people donated money to me, his family begged him to reunite with me but he refused. I have forgiven him for what he did to me but I can’t accept him as my father.” She said her daughter now lives with her and has been enrolled in a school. “I thank Nigerians and everyone for helping me. I am also grateful to the Lagos State Government,” she added. Daniel’s cousin, Seidu Amuna, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on Saturday, confirmed that the father disowned her. He said, “Her father is my uncle. He and his late wife (Daniel’s mother) were not on good terms before she had the accident when she was playing. As of the time she was carrying her (Daniel’s) pregnancy, they had a misunderstanding and parted ways. When she gave birth, the issue was resolved and she accepted Blessing as his child. “Blessing was about five years old when she and her mother travelled. The accident happened where they went. After her leg was amputated, he said she did not belong to him. We asked him if it was because of her condition but he said no. Up till now, he never explained what happened between him and Blessing’s late mother. I personally begged him after fortune found Blessing to accept her but he said ‘over his dead body’.” When contacted, Mary’s father, Onu, outright disowned her, saying, “I don’t have any amputee daughter. I am not her father.” The Onu of Igala in Lagos, Sanni Yakubu, said the property was verified from the Lagos State Government before it was paid for. He said, “We informed the Ministry of Justice and invited a surveyor who verified the property at Alausa. She bought the house for N17.5m and did some repairs. She resides in one of the four apartments and let out the remaining three. There are also three shops in front of the house. With about N1.5m, the sachet water factory will be ready and she can start the business.” PUNCH.

Why APC, PDP senators voted against e-transmission of results -Lawan by Sodiq Oyeleke

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has given reasons to justify the position taken by the Senate on the electronic transmission of election results. The Senate on Thursday, while considering the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, voted that “The Commission (INEC) may consider electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.” Lawan explained that the Upper Chamber voted the way it did in defence of about half of the Nigerian voters whose votes may not be counted with immediate deployment or application of electronic transmission of election results. A statement on Sunday quoted the Senate President as saying this while responding to questions from journalists on the passage of the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, during a constituency visit to his Yobe North Senatorial District. The statement titled, ‘Why we voted for e-transmission of results with conditions – Senate President …Says not only APC but some PDP Senators too voted for it’, was signed by Ola Awoniyi, Special Adviser (Media) to President of the Senate. Lawan said, “I’m happy that we have been able to pass the amendment even though some people are complaining of what we have passed in the Senate and probably what the House of Representatives has also passed. “When the majority of Senators voted against immediate application or deployment of electronic transmission of results from the polling units, to the ward, to the local government, states and federal, they didn’t say they do not believe in electronic transmission (of election results). “All of us in the Senate, 109 of us, believe that at one point, our electoral process must deploy electronic transmission so that it eases and enhances the electoral process and give it more credibility and integrity. “But you see, when you have not reached that stage where you could deploy the electronic transmission from every part of the country, then you have to be very careful. And no matter what anybody may say, you cannot have about 50 percent of Nigerian voters not participating or not getting their votes counted in elections and say it doesn’t matter, that we have to start the electronic transmission. “We know the evils of not transmitting results electronically but compare the evils of electronically transmitting just half of the electoral votes from Nigerians and say you have elected a President with 50 percent only. “And others have voted but their results or their votes could not be electronically transmitted. This is disenfranchising Nigerians and we are not going to support this kind of thing because essentially, we are supposed to be fair to every part of Nigeria and when we voted, every part of Nigeria voted for and against(the amendment). “What I mean here is that, you have Senators from northern part of Nigeria who voted for electronic transmission. Maybe that is their belief or their environment is ready for electronic transmission. And you have Senators from southern part of Nigeria who voted against the immediate deployment of electronic transmission but they support that the electronic transmission of results should be allowed after certain conditions are met and the conditions are simple: The National Communication Commission had provided the technical information that only NCC could give – that only about 50 percent of the Nigerian environment, the polling units, in the country could possibly have their results electronically transmitted. “So what happens to the other 50 percent. So we believe that all of us in the Senate were aiming at the same target but chose to go through different routes and that is why in my concluded remarks in the Senate after the debate and voting, I said there was no Victor, no Vanquish because we all meant well. “And for those Nigerians who still feel that the electronic transmission should have just been allowed to take effect, I said well, this is how democracy works. Democracy is to allow those minority views to be expressed and democracy provides that the majority views will always prevail.” The Senate President faulted some media reports that insinuated that only the APC Senators voted against the immediate application of the electronic transmission of results. He said the votes cast on either side of the subject matter cut across party lines and regional divides. “In this respect, it was not just APC. I have seen it reported in the media that only APC Senators voted against the immediate deployment of electronic transmission. “There are PDP Senators who voted against that but it appears that some people want to target at APC Senators. There were PDP Senators who voted against immediate deployment. I’m using the word ‘immediate’ with an emphasis. “Nobody said don’t use electronic transmission at all. You use it when we reach there and only NCC can give you information. That is the main reason why, in the Senate version, clause 52(3), there is that provision to contact the NCC because INEC will not know until they go to NCC. “So NCC will be the only institution to give that information because they are competent and it’s within their jurisdiction. And we say the National Assembly should approve of it. “It is not when they want to do transmission that they will have to go to National Assembly that we want to do transmission. No. That once NCC has told INEC is now ready. INEC should come to the National Assembly with the NCC and say we are now ready. “There is no way any National Assembly, not even this Ninth National Assembly will deny INEC the use of electronic transmission as part of our electoral process when we are ready for it,” Lawan said. The Senate President said it was wrong to conclude that Senators who voted for electronic transmission with conditions did not like the results transmitted electronically. “I want to take this opportunity to debunk that insinuation or outright castigation of Senators that voted against immediate deployment of electronic transmission that they don’t like electronic transmission. It is not true. “Even though I didn’t vote. But I believe that what my colleagues did is binding on all of us in the Senate. 28 against 52…l believe that what we have done requires that the Senate and the House will each constitute a conference committee. What we call harmonisation for the two sides. When we harmonise, then we will send it to Mr President,” Lawan said.

Bandits on the rampage in Zamfara over leader’s father arrest by Maiharaji Altine

Bandits are currently on the rampage in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, following the arrest of the father of their leader by the security agents. An indigene of the area, Malam Ahmed Shinkafi, told The PUNCH that the security agents in Jigawa State arrested the father of a bandits’ leader called Turji. Shinkafi said, “Turji gave an ultimatum to the security agents to release his arrested father before Eid-el-Kabir or he would terrorise the whole area.” According to Shinkafi, the bandits have since started unleashing mayhem on the people of the area since the bandit father’s arrest. He claimed that they have already kidnapped many people. He stressed that more than 23 villages were deserted by their inhabitants due to fear of the bandits’ attack. Shinkafi said more than 6,000 people have fled to Shinkafi town for safety, lamenting that most of them were in a terrible situation. “The villagers are in a terrible situation because of lack of food and shelter as many of them are squatting at Shinkafi local government secretariat. The spokesperson of the police command, Mohammed Shehu, said the father of the bandits’ leader was not arrested in Zamfara State. Shehu however maintained that the police command has since drafted security personnel to restore peace in the area.

Row over Buhari’s cash for Katsina ranch By Uja Emmanuel, Jide Orintunsin and Damian Duruiheoma.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and a coalition of civil society groups at the weekend differed with the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Director-General Osita Okechukwu on President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of fund for the establishment of a ranch in Katsina State. While Ortom and the coalition, Workers and Human Rights Defenders and Mass Movement For True Democracy, Integral Development and Good Governance described Buhari’s action as hypocritical and misuse of public funds, Okechukwu said it was a welcome development. Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari had on Thursday announced that the President had approved N6.25 billion for the state to embark on social development projects, including ranching. “This is the first direct intervention through the state government about Federal Government’s ranch development initiative,” Masari disclosed, adding that N5 billion out of the N6.25, billion was already in the state government’s account. But in his reaction to the development, Ortom said if Katsina, the President home state, could be handed fund for ranch development, other states should be entitled to the same largesse. He demanded that N100 billion be extended to Benue State, the epicentre of farmer-herder clashes to also commence its own ranch. The governor also demanded an apology from Buhari for apparently accepting ranching, an idea he (Ortom) said he had trumpeted for long even when the President continued to talk about grazing routes. Ortom, said: “It is hypocrisy for the Federal Government to approve money for ranching in a state and leave others out. ”In fact, the governor of (Katsina) State(Aminu Masari) in his remarks said N5 billion had already been remitted to their coffers. So, I begin to wonder, where are we headed. “If the President has approved N6.25billion for Katsina State, they should also approve N100billion for Benue State with an apology to me because we started it (the call for ranching)” The governor also stated that Nigerians were suffering and smiling today because the All Progressives Congress (APC) led-Federal Government had failed the country. He recalled a song, ‘Suffering and Smiling,’ by the late famous Afrobeat exponent, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, saying he (Fela) spoke prophetically. His words: ”I appreciate the late Fela Anikulakpo Kuti. He foresaw what is happening today in the country. His song titled ‘suffering and smiling’. is exactly what we are going through in Nigeria under the APC-led Federal Government. “Today, Nigerians are truly suffering and smiling. I feel so sad because we have failed our country but I pray God helps us.” “Tell me where we are economically, security wise and politically? Where is Nigeria? So, when I hear people say that they are decamping from one political party to the APC, one wonders what they are going there to do.” Also, Workers and Human Rights Defenders and Mass Movement For True Democracy, Integral Development and Good Governance said the release of fund to Katsina State “cast serious doubts as to its legality, due process of the approval and real motive, purpose, and would-be beneficiary.” “It is quite illegal and indeed highly immoral for the president to use the opportunity of his being the president to divert the tax payers money to establish and develop private business of selected people from his own tribe to the neglect and disadvantage of the other members of Nigeria people,” the group said in a statement yesterday by its President Jerry Chukwuokolo and Deputy, Zulu Ofoelue. It added that “the way and manner of such approval, the speedy manner of release of fund and the purpose leave no conscious being in doubt as to the personal interest of the President is known to be a notable cattle owner..” But VON DG Okechukwu stoutly defended the President for releasing fund for the Kaduna ranch which he described as the “poster boy of the National Livestock Transformation Plan.,” Okechukwu, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, urged Buhari to fast-forward ranch development nationwide because it would herald an end to herder-farmer clashes He pledged to donate his community land for ranch development. and counseled other states to queue behind Kastina State by providing land for the establishment of ranches.

Return of Benin Artefacts: Deal straight with the Oba! By Monday Oviawe.

A Publication in The Navigator Newspaper Return of Benin Artefacts: Deal straight with the Oba! *Edosomwan admonishes Obaseki Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been advised to “deal straight” with the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II N’Ogidigan, The Oba of Benin on the sensitive and raging issue of the expected return of the looted artefacts of the ancient Benin Kingdom back to the kingdom, and “not to attempt to change positions” on the issue of which institution should take custody of the artefacts, “especially now that the issue of ownership is not in doubts.” Giving the advice in an exclusive interview with The Navigator last week, a Benin-based public affairs’ commentator, Elder Solomon Edosomwan, emphasized that the governor “should exhibit conscious firmness and unwavering allegiance to decisions he earlier reached with the Palace of the Oba of Benin and desist from taking unilateral decisions in a matter as sensitively volatile as to who should take custody of the artefacts when they are eventually returned.” Elder Edosomwan maintained that with the Omo N’Oba’s declaration, penultimate week, in a Press Statement, that the governor had completely deviated from the initial understanding they had on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum and the governor’s expression of his readiness to work with the palace to actualize the laudable plan to domicile the artefacts, when finally returned, in the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the precinct of the Palace of the Benin Monarch from where they were looted, “it is apparent that the governor has stoked the fires of distrust and erred elaborately on that score.” The public affairs’ commentator recalled Governor Obaseki’s reechoed landmark commitment to work with the monarch to build the Benin Royal Museum in the precinct of the Oba Palace in Benin City, when the governor, sometime ago, hosted Nicholas Thomas of Cambridge University and Annie Coombes of the University of London, both renowned experts in Benin History, to a dinner, at the Government House in Benin City. Elder Edosomwan recalled that the governor was sumptuously quoted on that occasion by a cross section of the media as saying that “The decision to establish a world-class museum at the Oba’s Palace, one of the safest places in the world, will encourage curators across Europe and in other parts of the world, to be confident and support the advocacy for the safe return of stolen artefacts of Benin Kingdom.” He now gave the poser: “If the governor had all along worked with the Oba of Benin with such commitment, at what point then did he now unilaterally veer off from that status quo to create and incorporate the company called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd to take delivery of the expected artefacts with the purported Edo Museum of West African Arts, EMOWAA?” The public affairs’ commentator, therefore, charged governor Obaseki “to tread softly and conscientiously with the Benin Palace and desist from playing politics with the things of the Benin Palace, which are expressly the things of the Benin people. Agreeing with the Oba on one hand and veering off that understanding to take a different action, to me, does not appropriately define and underscore ‘respect and reasoned loyalty’ to the revered throne of the kingdom in a matter such as this.” Elder Edosomwan further drew attention to the governor’s new standpoint in the state government’s response to the Omo N’Oba’s press statement of 9th July, 2021. In his words, “The Edo State Government, in its response, titled Benin artefacts: Obaseki will continue to engage His Royal Majesty to secure final return, dated 12th July 2021 and signed by Secretary to the State Government Osarodion Ogie Esq., however, insisted, in the last paragraph that ‘the Governor assures that he will continue to work assiduously with all local and international stakeholders for the eventual and final return of these valued records of our great and glorious heritage back to Benin City for the benefit of ALL Edo people, Nigerians and the black race.’ (Emphasis on ALL is the state government’s). “The Edo State Government should not hide under diplomatic sematic to deal with the Oba. Oba Ewuare II has clarified, and this has never been in doubts, that the looted artifacts awaiting repatriation from Europe are the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom created by our ancestors and forefathers within the traditional norms and rites of the kingdom. They are not property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin kingdom. The right and only legitimate destination for the artifacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that will be sited within the precinct of the Palace of the Oba of Benin from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom. Let the governor not walk or work alone in this matter; he should conscientiously reason with the Benin Palace every step of the way. I do not think that is too difficult to do.” Here is a reproduction of the Benin Palace Statement of 9th July, 2021 at the meeting of His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Ewuare II, Oba of Benin with Palace Chiefs and Enigie on the Repatriation of the looted Benin Artefacts: “In the name of God and our Ancestors, I welcome you all and thank you all for honouring our invitation. I have called this meeting today to intimate you of the matter of the Benin Artifacts in Europe at the verge of being repatriated which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks. You may also have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd. “It has become germane to note that the advocacy and demands for the return of the artifacts looted from the Benin Kingdom in 1897 have been going on for decades before the emergence of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. I must sincerely thank the Governor for joining the struggle and showing commitment to retrieve our stolen cultural heritage from Europe. While anticipating the return of the looted artifacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artifacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom to whom the Palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership. The looted artifacts awaiting repatriation from Europe are the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom created by our ancestors and forefathers within the traditional norms and rites of the kingdom. “They are not property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin kingdom. The right and only legitimate destination for the artifacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that will be sited within the precinct of the Palace of the Oba of Benin from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom. The Palace, therefore, strongly advises that anyone, group, organization, or government – national and international that is dealing with any organization or artificial group in the process of returning the looted artifacts from the Benin Kingdom would be doing so at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom. “There is no alternative native authority and custodian of the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom outside the Oba of Benin as constituted by the Royal Palace. I do not believe that the move by a privately registered company, the Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd. and the purported establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA) are in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom. It is pertinent to note that shortly after my ascension to the throne I had several discussions with the Governor on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum and he expressed his readiness to work with the Palace to actualize this laudable wish of my father. I made efforts and acquired additional plots of land from different families within the Adesogbe area near the present day palace for this purpose. “I was however surprised to read from the Governor's letter to the Palace where reference was being made to the fact that a new Museum to be known as EMOWAA is now being proposed, which will be funded and executed through the vehicle of another body now referred to as Legacy Restoration Trust. When Governor Godwin Obaseki informed me in his correspondence of another implementation framework using the so-called Legacy Restoration Trust and the Edo Museum of West Africa Arts (EMOWAA), my response was that the setting up of another organization or legal entity in whatever form or guise will not be necessary nor acceptable. “I informed him that Oba Ewuare II Foundation has been registered with the CAC and has worked out a framework for not only receiving the artifacts but also building a modern structure - The Benin Royal Museum – within the precincts of the Palace and that land has been secured for the building of the Benin Royal Museum under the supervision of the traditional institution. But for reasons best known to him the Governor has gone against the understanding, given recent events. As a matter of fact, the people of Benin kingdom and other stakeholders especially Benin Dialogue Group, had at different meetings endorsed the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the Palace, as well as endorsing the Oba Ewuare II Foundation for fund raising and other requisite administration processes. We wish to use this medium to call on the Federal Government to take custody of these artifacts on behalf of the Palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection. Under no circumstances should custody of our age old artifacts be handed to any privately contrived entity like the Legacy Restoration Trust. “Thankfully, just yesterday, I spoke with the Hon. Minister for information and culture who is presently in Germany over the negotiation with the German Government over the plans for the repatriation of our artifacts he assured me that the Federal government remain committed to get unconditional return of our artifacts and will guarantee its full custody for their onward transmission to Benin kingdom to the exclusion of any unauthorized private entities or third parties, we once again thank the federal government for this commitment. It now behooves the Federal Government to be the only level of government that can take custody of the artifacts with a view to transferring them to their original owner and their original place of abode, more so that there exist international treaties and laws guiding these processes. “The Palace of the Oba of Benin wishes to advise His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State to review his approach of using the private vehicle of the Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd and the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) and to see how he can genuinely collaborate with the Oba Palace in accordance with our original understanding. We thank the German Government for their interest and willingness to return the Benin artifacts. “We pray to God and our ancestors for a fruitful resolution of this issue. Thank you.”

CBN says only Dangote, BUA, Golden sugar can import sugar into the country by Chike Olisah

CBN forex restrictions on food itemsCBN approves new cheque standard for banks The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the restriction of the importation of sugar into the country to only 3 companies. The apex bank said only BUA Sugar Refinery Limited, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and Golden Sugar Company can be allowed to import sugar into the country through any of the official foreign exchange sources. The decision by the CBN is because of the reasonable progress made by the 3 firms in achieving backward integration, a programme introduced by the Federal Government, in the sector. This disclosure is contained in a circular with reference number TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/01/006, issued on Friday, July 16, 2021, and signed by CBN’s Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr Ozoemena Nnaji. The CBN in the circular to all authorized dealers said that henceforth, no company outside the aforementioned 3 firms should be allowed to open Form M or allowed to access foreign exchange from the foreign exchange market to import sugar into the country without its prior or express approval. What the CBN Circular is saying The circular from the CBN reads, “The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the National Sugar Development Council, established the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan to encourage and incentivise sugar refining companies in their Backward Integration Programme for local sugar production. “Accordingly, the underlisted three companies, who have made reasonable progress in achieving backward integration in the sector, shall only be allowed to import sugar into the country: BUA Sugar Refinery Limited, Dangote Sugar Refinery Pic and Golden Sugar Company. “In view of the foregoing, authorised dealers shall not open Forms M or access foreign exchange in the Nigerian foreign exchange market for any company including the three listed above for the importation of sugar without the prior and express approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria as the bank is charged with the mandate of monitoring the implementation of the backward integration programmes of all the companies.” What you should know It can be recalled in April 2021, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced plans to include sugar and wheat in the foreign exchange restriction list as part of measures to conserve foreign exchange and boost local production of these items. Also, in April 2021, the Federal Government through a letter issued by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), banned the importation of refined sugar and its derivatives from the country’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs). The action of the Federal Government is part of its efforts to protect the sugar industry which is governed by the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP). Nigeria is reported to currently spend between $600 million to $1 billion on sugar importation every year.

FG’ll take possession of looted Benin artefacts when returned —Lai Mohammed by Kayode Oyero

The Federal Government will take possession of 1,130 looted Benin Bronzes when returned by Germany, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said. The minister stated this on Saturday at a press conference in Lagos State. Mohammed; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; and some government officials had visited Germany recently to further talks on the repatriation of the artefacts allegedly looted during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British led by Captain Philip. The Benin Palace and the Edo State Government have been at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts. Oba of Benin, Ewuare II insisted that the right and only legitimate destination of the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts was the Benin Royal Museum. However, the Government House had also quoted Obaseki as saying in Germany that a “transformational” museum would be built in Benin to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city. Speaking on Saturday about the controversy surrounding the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts, the minister said, “The Federal Government is aware of the widely-reported controversy on who will take possession of the Benin Bronzes when they are returned from Germany. “Let me state clearly here that, in line with international best practice and the operative Conventions and laws, the return of the artefacts is being negotiated bilaterally between the national governments of Nigeria and Germany. Nigeria is the entity recognized by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from Nigeria. “The relevant international Conventions treat heritage properties as properties belonging to the nation and not to individuals or subnational groups. For example, the 1970 UNESCO Convention, in its Article 1, defines cultural property as property specifically designated by that nation. “This allows individual nations to determine what it regards as its cultural property. Nevertheless, the Nigerian state – through the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments – has in working assiduously over the past years to repatriate our looted artefacts carried along with our important traditional institutions and state governments “What we are saying in essence is that the Federal government will take possession of these antiquities, because it is its duty to do so, in line with the extant laws. But we have always exercised this right in cognisance of that culture that produced the artworks. “That is why the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments have always involved both the Edo State government and the Royal Benin Palace in discussions and negotiations that have now resulted in the impending return of these antiquities. “Please note that we are not just involved in the repatriation of Benin artefacts. We are also working on repatriating Ife Bronzes and Terracotta, Nok Terracotta, Owo Terracotta, the arts of the Benue River Valley, the Igbo Ukwu, the arts of Bida, the arts of Igala, Jukun etc.”