France returns stolen artefact to Nigeria

Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, Ambassador of France to Nigeria

France, on Sunday, 14th July, returned a stolen artefact to Nigeria. The about 900-year-old statute was recovered by French customs at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris from the luggage of a man whose name was not mentioned.

Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, handed over the statute of Kwara origin and the restitution documents to the Director General of the National Council for Museum and Monument, Dr. Abdalla Usman, at a reception to commemorate the French National Day in Abuja.

Labriolle described the statue as of great artistic and anthropologic value.

He recalled that five items of Nok origin were returned to Nigeria in February this year by the French government.

Speaking on bilateral issues between Nigeria and France, the envoy explained that the trade volume between the two nations reached at least $6bn annually.

“French businessmen would visit Nigeria in October this year to access the potentials for their business. I have no doubt they will be interested provided the appropriate environment is guaranteed,” he said.

Labriolle said no fewer than 200 African troops including 18 from Nigeria took part in the marching ceremony to mark the national day in Paris on Sunday.