Director of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Abba Tijani, has said Nigeria has agreed with Germany for hundreds of artefacts stolen during colonial times to be returned from July 2022.

Tijani said Nigeria s also negotiating with other museums to repatriate more

Thousands of pieces of Nigeria’s so-called Benin Bronzes, 16th to 18th century metal plaques and sculptures, were stolen from the palace of the ancient Benin Kingdom only to end up in museums across the US and Europe.

Nigeria plans to build a museum in Benin City Edo State where it hopes to house the bronzes, seen as among the most highly regarded works of African art.

“We have agreed on a timeline that actual return will start next year, 2022, which is going to be around July, August"  Tijani said.