History notes that art collecting began with the earliest civilisations; the Chinese, Indian, Sumerian, Egyptian, Cretan, Babylonian and Persian.
It is seen, therefore, that the Greeks were the first to collect art on a large scale; the Romans followed them. Then subsequently other nations followed and for our purposes, came the British who exhibited the arts and crafts of colonial subjects in the British Museum. Its principal objective set out by law, therefore, includes, collection, preservation, presentation, and administration of art objects of unique and antique nature.
It is also in this regard that this topical issue is of immense interest to us as an institution which is the sole national agency under the law responsibilities for not only the mission stated in this paper but also for the control of their movement, ownership as well as building the necessary international contact in theses areas.
It is common knowledge that in cultural policy for Nigeria, the government did not prohibit private invest in the arts. Although government established the National Commission for Museums and Monuments as its agent to collect through purchase and preserve its artistic and cultural heritage, yet it is true that this Commission cannot even pay for the art object sized let alone involve itself in direct purchases.