Planning to take artworks or cultural items out of Nigeria? Think again. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments says no antiquity or artwork—old or new—can leave the country without official clearance.
Curator of the National Museum of Unity, Mrs. Oriyomi Otuka, explained that the law empowers museums to vet all cultural objects, from paintings and sculptures to replicas, before issuing a Clearance Permit. Even modern artworks must be assessed to confirm they’re not antiquities.
In 2025 alone, 350 people were cleared to export contemporary artworks, with museums charging 10% of the item’s value as government revenue. However, items like ivory, animal skins, certain stones and antiquities are strictly banned from export.
For exhibitions or research, special Export Permits may be granted—on the condition the items return to Nigeria. Museums are now teaming up with Customs and Immigration to clamp down on illegal exports and protect the nation’s heritage.
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