Section 19: Restrictions on excavations

(1) No person shall by means of excavation or similar operations search for any antiquities unless authorised by permit issued by the Commission and with the consent of the Government of a State in whose territory the search is to be carried out.
(2)
The Commission shall before issuing a permit under this section satisfy itself that the applicant is competent by training and experience to carry out the operations for which the permit was required and may in its discretion require to be satisfied that he has the financial means or the financial or other support of an archaeological or scientific society or institution of good repute.
(3)
A permit issued under this section-
(a) may be made subject to such conditions as the Commission may think fit to impose;
(b) may at any time be revoked by the Commission without any reason being assigned;
(c) shall not of itself confer any right to enter upon any land without the consent of the holder or occupier of the land or of any other person entitled to grant such consent.
(4) Notwithstanding the issue of a permit under this section, the person to whom the permit was issued and all persons engaged in any excavation or other operations to which the permit relates shall, if so required by any person duly authorised in writing by the Commission, suspend such operations until notified by the Commission that they may be resumed.
(5) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) or (4) of this section or fails to comply with any conditions of a permit granted to him under this section, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N500 or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.