Adedokun Waliyu 
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to facilitate the return of Nigeria’s assets in form of artefacts and cash taken out of the shores of the country.
He made the pledge on Thursday against the backdrop of 72 Benin Bronzes expected to be returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
In a message personally penned by the President and made available to the media, Buhari said Nigerians were delighted by the news this summer that 72 artefacts, known as the Benin Bronzes, held by the Horniman Museum in London were returning home, 125 years after being plundered by British troops.
The clamour for the repatriation of looted treasures is becoming irresistible.
According to him, there was once a similar clamour for the return of Africa’s stolen assets, and I see both as part of the same struggle to bring back to Nigeria what is rightfully ours.
Siphoned from the continent by corrupt former leaders, countless billions remain stashed in western bank accounts.
Although Nigeria has arguably been the most successful among African nations in securing the return of stolen money, it has recovered only a fraction of what remains in the west.
Earlier this year, Nigeria was forced to take legal action against the UK National Crime Agency, after repeated delays to the return of money taken out of the country in the 1990s by former dictator General Sani Abacha.
