The Biafra Republic Government in Exile, BRGIE, has urged the United States government to reject the renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding, MOU with Nigeria on cultural property, citing the alleged persecution of Christians and pro-Biafra groups.

The pro-Biafra group made the appeal in a statement on Thursday, through Ogechukwu Nkere, who replaced Simon Ekpa as the group’s Prime Minister.

Nkere testified before the US State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee during a hearing on Nigeria’s request for an extension of the MOU and the continuation of 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 on the agreement.

He also referenced the US government’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” as part of his submission to the committee.

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:

“An MOU with the US government, even on cultural property matters, is a privilege and not a right.”

The BRGIE described the appearance as a historic development, claiming it was the first time a Biafran independence leader had participated in a US State Department hearing or provided testimony before the Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

The committee is responsible for advising the US government on matters relating to cultural property agreements and import restrictions under relevant international conventions.

The development comes amid the recent letter from US President Donald Trump to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The content of the letter has stirred concerns, especially among opposition figures, including former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank. Frank had called on Tinubu’s administration to publish a full copy of Trump’s letter.