Biafra group urges US to reject cultural property MOU renewal with Nigeria
The Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) urged the United States government to reject the renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria on cultural property, citing alleged persecution of Christians and pro‑Biafra groups. Speaking on behalf of BRGIE, Prime Minister Ogechukwu Nkere testified before the US State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee during a hearing on Nigeria’s request to extend the MOU and continue US import restrictions on Nigerian archaeological and ethnological materials. Nkere argued that Nigeria’s treatment of Christians and pro‑Biafra organisations should be considered before any decision is made, stating, "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." He added that an MOU with the US government, even on cultural property matters, is a privilege, not a right. BRGIE described the appearance as a historic first for a Biafran independence leader testifying before the committee. The appeal comes amid recent correspondence from US President Donald Trump to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the contents of which have raised concerns among opposition figures, including former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank, who called for the full text of Trump’s letter to be published. The outcome of the MOU renewal could affect the flow of Nigerian cultural artefacts into the United States and reflects broader tensions over ethnic and religious rights in the country.