Benin Artifacts Dispute Threatens US-Nigeria Treaty

The ownership and custody of Nigeria’s returned Benin artefacts have escalated into a significant issue, threatening the bilateral cultural-property agreement between the United States and Nigeria, signed on January 20, 2022. This agreement aims to protect Nigerian heritage from illicit trafficking and allows the U.S. to impose import restrictions on specific categories of Nigerian archaeological and ethnological material.

The controversy intensified following a protest in November 2025 at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, which disrupted a preview event and forced the evacuation of visitors. The protest stemmed from disputes regarding the museum's relationship with the Oba of Benin and the custody and display of the returned artefacts.

The situation has raised critical questions about ownership, custody, and accountability for the artefacts' safety, posing a credibility crisis for Nigeria as it seeks continued cooperation from the U.S. in cultural heritage protection.