National
Commission for Museum and Monuments
The National Commission controls the registration and
clearance for export of antiquities as well as arts and
crafts (even newly made) for Museums and Monuments. There
are severe penalties for attempting to export antiquities
without a permit issued by the National Commission for
Museum and Monuments. Export permits can be obtained at
any of the National Museums in the country. The clearance
permit serves as a conclusive part that an object is not
an antiquity. Permits for export of antiquities should be
directed, and with as much notice as possible, to the
Director-General, National Commission for Museums and
Monuments, National Museum, Lagos or to the
Director-general, through the Curator and head of station
of the National Museum in the state in which the applicant
is located.
Walls
and Ancient Buildings
City Wall and Moat, Benin City
These are the most impressive city walls and moats in
southern Nigeria. At their highest point, the walls were
nine metros high and the moat (ditch) nine metros deep,
making a total incline of 18 metros. Unfortunately in the
past few years, the walls and moats has been the victim of
extensive soil excavation used as a source of building
materials.
City Wall, Zaria
The Zaria City wall perhaps remains the best preserved
among the cities of northern Nigeria. The need for
defensive walls has disappeared since the occupation by
the British of the Western Sudan at the beginning of this
century. Moreover, the rains of over 50 wet seasons have
battered down the tall mud walls rampant in this part of
the country. The walls of Zaria, which circumnavigate the
city, are between 14 and 16 kilometers long and are
pierced by eight gates.
Gobirau Minaret, Katsina
This imposing minaret, or tower which originally is said
to be some 120 metros tall and which was built of mud and
palm timbers, is all that remains of the mosque
constructed in Habe times, before the holy wars of Sheik
Unman Dan Fodio. Parts of the 15.25-meter tower are
thought to be about 250 years old.
Chief Ogiamen's House,
Benin City
This building is protected under the Antiquities Act of
1953 principally because of its architectural eminence as
a fine example of Benin traditional architecture. It has
an elaborate system of court yards and altars. It is a
chief's house and was probably built before the 1897
British expedition against Benin. The big fire that gutted
the city following the British invasion did not affect the
building.
Foot Bridge, Kaduna
This is an interesting example of indigenous engineering
before the advent of roads and railways in Nigeria. The
bridge was originally erected by Lord Lugard at Zungeru in
1904 and re-erected in 1954 in the Kaduna Gardens.
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