1) Nigeria: Violence
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of escalating Islamist-related violence in (1) South-western, and (2) South-eastern Nigeria; and in particular the impact on food security. Asked 21 June 2021
Answered 5 July 2021 by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative, Life peer)
The Government condemns all incidents of violence in Nigeria. We are following with concern the increased insecurity in the South West, where there has been a rise in both criminal violence and distinct clashes between farmers and herders. We are also concerned by the increasing vigilantism in response. Narratives that define the violence by ethnic groups risk fueling tensions and further violence, as well as undermining efforts to address the complex root causes, which include competition for resources and rapid population growth.
The Government is also concerned by the increasing levels of violence in the South East. We are working in Nigeria to promote intercommunal and interfaith dialogue, and continue to call for solutions that address the complex underlying causes of violence. Officials at the British High Commission regularly meet faith and community leaders and civil society organisations in both the South East and South West. During his visit to Nigeria in April, the Minister for Africa met the President's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, and the Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, to discuss insecurity. The Minister raised the importance of protecting all communities across Nigeria. Across Nigeria, the UK is also concerned about the plight of the estimated one million civilians living in inaccessible areas to humanitarian workers, of whom 880,000 have very limited access to food and to basic services such as healthcare. Original Source: HL1232
2) Nigeria: Twitter
Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons for, and (2) the impact of, the decision by the government of Nigeria to ban Twitter. Asked 21 June 2021
Answered 5 July 2021 by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative, Life peer)
We are concerned that the Nigerian Government has suspended Twitter in Nigeria. The Minister for Africa has publicly reiterated the importance of all Nigerians being able to enjoy their right to freedom of expression responsibly. Our High Commission in Abuja has issued a statement with other diplomatic missions conveying disappointment over the suspension and affirming our strong support for freedom of expression.
In his statement of 4 June, the Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed argued that the suspension had been imposed because the platform was being persistently used "for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence". On 7 June, our Acting Head of Mission in Abuja, along with senior representatives from other diplomatic missions, met the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, to discuss the suspension and statement, and to reiterate our position. Our diplomats continue to discuss the suspension with the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders, with a view to encouraging a resolution soon. Freedom of expression and the media are essential elements of a democracy.
Original source: UIN HL1234
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of escalating Islamist-related violence in (1) South-western, and (2) South-eastern Nigeria; and in particular the impact on food security. Asked 21 June 2021
Answered 5 July 2021 by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative, Life peer)
The Government condemns all incidents of violence in Nigeria. We are following with concern the increased insecurity in the South West, where there has been a rise in both criminal violence and distinct clashes between farmers and herders. We are also concerned by the increasing vigilantism in response. Narratives that define the violence by ethnic groups risk fueling tensions and further violence, as well as undermining efforts to address the complex root causes, which include competition for resources and rapid population growth.
The Government is also concerned by the increasing levels of violence in the South East. We are working in Nigeria to promote intercommunal and interfaith dialogue, and continue to call for solutions that address the complex underlying causes of violence. Officials at the British High Commission regularly meet faith and community leaders and civil society organisations in both the South East and South West. During his visit to Nigeria in April, the Minister for Africa met the President's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, and the Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, to discuss insecurity. The Minister raised the importance of protecting all communities across Nigeria. Across Nigeria, the UK is also concerned about the plight of the estimated one million civilians living in inaccessible areas to humanitarian workers, of whom 880,000 have very limited access to food and to basic services such as healthcare. Original Source: HL1232
2) Nigeria: Twitter
Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons for, and (2) the impact of, the decision by the government of Nigeria to ban Twitter. Asked 21 June 2021
Answered 5 July 2021 by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative, Life peer)
We are concerned that the Nigerian Government has suspended Twitter in Nigeria. The Minister for Africa has publicly reiterated the importance of all Nigerians being able to enjoy their right to freedom of expression responsibly. Our High Commission in Abuja has issued a statement with other diplomatic missions conveying disappointment over the suspension and affirming our strong support for freedom of expression.
In his statement of 4 June, the Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed argued that the suspension had been imposed because the platform was being persistently used "for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence". On 7 June, our Acting Head of Mission in Abuja, along with senior representatives from other diplomatic missions, met the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, to discuss the suspension and statement, and to reiterate our position. Our diplomats continue to discuss the suspension with the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders, with a view to encouraging a resolution soon. Freedom of expression and the media are essential elements of a democracy.
Original source: UIN HL1234
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