Customs officials can”t tell antiquities from crafts they seize

A sculptor, Funmilola Olofinjana, has alleged Customs officials can’t tell the difference between antiquities and handmade arts and crafts.

Olofinjana said officials at airports usually seized handmade arts and crafts works bought by foreign tourists and dispossessed them of it.

“The Customs officers at the airports should be told the difference between antiquities, antics and handmade crafts.

“Any form of craft they see; they seized them, claiming they were antiquties. I do not know if it was a way of extorting money from people,’’ she said.

She said that this was frustrating a good number of artists who believed that their works had been taken out of the country but later discovered the works had been seized at the airport.

The sculptor said that this act was affecting the growth of arts and craft sub- sector in the country.

Olofinjana said exporting arts and crafts would boost the country’s revenue base.

Olofinjana suggested that the National Museum should have an office at the airport where clearance could be issued for any form of art works that a foreign tourist wants to take out of the country.

She said that the staff in such an office would work with the Customs officers to ensure that Nigerian-made crafts were allowed to move out of the country.

“The National Commission for Museums and Monuments should have an office within the airport where clearance can be issued for any form of art work.

“They can work with the Customs officers there,’’ she said. (NAN)