NIGERIA (Hansard, 6 June 1967)

§ The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Herbert Bowden)
I am in continuous touch with our High Commissioner about the situation in Nigeria. There have been no incidents involving British lives or property. Up until today it has not been necessary to advise any United Kingdom citizens to leave the country, although some families are moving away from the border between the Northern and Eastern Regions, which seems the most dangerous area if fighting should break out and it may well be necessary to arrange for further movement at short notice.
We still hope that this trouble can be settled peacefully, and I am sure that the House will support me in this earnest desire.

§ Mr. Tilney
In view of the large number of Britons in Nigeria and the substantial British capital investment there, can the Secretary of State say what effect the evacuation of United States personnel is having, what advice he is giving to British shipping companies faced with the Federal blockade and what action should be taken by British business companies which have commitments to the Government of the Eastern Region of Nigeria or with companies in what is now known as Biafra?

§ Mr. Bowden
As to the evacuation of British citizens from Nigeria, the only danger spot at the moment is the Northern area of Eastern Nigeria. While there has been some movement of British nationals across the bridge into other parts of Nigeria, there has not been a great deal of this.
On the other hand, our High Commissioner has been instructed to make facilities available to those women and children, and any men—the number is about 2,000 in the Northern area of Eastern Nigeria—who may wish to leave that area. Ships are available at Port Harcourt, an airlift is available and some of them can get out by road. Our 811 experience so far has been that the British nationals are rather more concerned about staying there and keeping their heads down.
We are in close consultation with the shipping interests in this country. They understand the situation. It is not thought to be necessary to issue any particular directive to them, but they know that a blockade is going on in the Eastern area.
We appreciate that British business firms are facing serious difficulties, but we are doing what is possible through our High Commission there to make the position easier. It cannot be made very much easier for business interests or normal trade until peace returns to the area, but we are doing what we can.

§ Mr. John Lee
While appreciating that my right hon. Friend is faced with an extremely difficult problem, can he say anything about the position of the payment of oil royalties, because I am sure that he will agree that nothing should be done to imply that we give any recognition to the so-called break-away State of Biafra?

§ Mr. Bowden
I understand that oil supplies are normal at the moment. I hope that that will continue to be the position and that any oil royalties will be paid into a suspense account, if necessary, for a temporary period. However, payments are not yet due.

§ Mr. David Steel
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether effective de facto diplomatic contact with the break-away State is continuing, in the interests of British nationals there?

§ Mr. Bowden
There is some association between our representatives in Enugu and the break-away régime, but at this stage there can be no recognition of the Eastern Region by ourselves, and nor has any other country recognised it.

§ Mr. Costain
Has the right hon. Gentleman any further details about the case of British subjects in the other regions? If he has, can he give them to the House, or publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

§ Mr. Bowden
There is a considerable number in other parts of Nigeria, but they are extremely spread out. At this stage, we feel the only danger to be the 812 result of sporadic fighting in the northern part of Eastern Nigeria, and that that would affect something like 2,000 of the total figure.

§ Mr. Hector Hughes
As the problems out of which these differences in Nigeria have arisen are largely of a constitutional and juridical character, will my right hon. Friend say whether he is taking any steps to bring about a conference of properly constituted and qualified persons to consider those problems?

§ Mr. Bowden
Nigeria is an independent country, and constitutional changes are a matter for her. If she wished to have advice in this direction, we should be glad to supply what is necessary.