Biafra group urges US to reject renewal of cultural property deal with Nigeria

The Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) has called on the United States government to withhold approval for the extension of its cultural property agreement with Nigeria, citing alleged human rights concerns involving Christians and pro-Biafra groups.

The group made the appeal through its Prime Minister, Ogechukwu Nkere, during a hearing before the US State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee. The session was convened to consider Nigeria’s request for the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cultural property and the continuation of restrictions on the importation of certain Nigerian archaeological and ethnological materials into the United States.

Nkere urged the committee to consider what he described as Nigeria’s treatment of religious communities and Biafra activists before recommending any extension of the agreement.

He also referred to the US government’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in presenting the group’s position.

“Unless the Federal Government of Nigeria ends its persecution of Biafrans and Nigerian Christians, the MOU should be suspended until Nigeria is in alignment with broader US government priorities,” Nkere said.

He added that agreements with the United States were privileges that came with expectations of compliance with wider policy objectives.

The BRGIE described Nkere’s appearance before the committee as a significant milestone, claiming it was the first time a Biafran independence advocate had testified before the US State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

The committee advises the US government on cultural property agreements and related import restrictions under international conventions.

The development comes amid renewed attention on US-Nigeria relations following a recent letter from President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu, which has generated reactions from political figures and commentators.

Former All Progressives Congress deputy national publicity secretary, Timi Frank, had called on the Nigerian government to make the contents of the letter public.