His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has described the return of 40 looted Benin artefacts from a Swedish museum as another significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to reclaim the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
The announcement was made during a royal audience at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City, Edo State, where the monarch hosted Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who visited the palace during an assessment tour of the agency’s state command and an engagement at the Nigerian Army’s Second Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention.
​Highlighting the historic nature of the restitution, Oba Ewuare II noted that the upcoming handover marks a major shift from previous protocols. Unlike earlier arrangements where legal ownership was transferred prior to physical delivery, the forthcoming exercise in Sweden will combine both the legal transfer of ownership and the physical delivery of the 40 cultural treasures simultaneously.
​The monarch recalled his prior diplomatic initiatives proposing presentations of Benin artworks to royal families across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark to raise awareness for the kingdom’s heritage and drive global restitution efforts.
Reflecting on the impact of these efforts, Oba Ewuare II stated that years of perseverance are finally yielding results, adding that reclaiming these treasures goes beyond regaining physical items, it restores the history, identity, and cultural dignity of the Benin people.
He expressed profound gratitude to God Almighty, his ancestors, the Federal Government of Nigeria, traditional institutions, and international partners for supporting the campaign, pledging to sustain momentum until all remaining heritage pieces held abroad are returned.
​Visiting NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa praised the rich heritage of the Benin Palace, describing it as the “eighth wonder of the world” while stressing the vital importance of preserving its historical legacy for future generations.
