§ 15. Mr. Bob Blizzard (Waveney)If he will make a statement on the readmission of Nigeria to the Commonwealth. [86588]
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Robin Cook)I visited President Obasanjo after his election to congratulate him on Nigeria's return to democracy. I pledged Britain's support for the return of Nigeria to the Commonwealth, and I am delighted that we were able to secure that in time for his inauguration last month.
An immense task remains to be done in repairing the damage done to Nigeria's economy and society in the dark days of General Abacha, a tragic case from which time affects one of my hon. Friend's constituents. However, the new Government have made a good start, and they will have a firm ally in Britain.
§ Mr. BlizzardI thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Does he consider it acceptable that a Commonwealth country should continue to fail to communicate properly with the UK high commission? My constituent was murdered in Nigeria more than a year ago. Despite requests at the highest level for the release of the police report and promises by the Nigerian authorities that that would be done by a certain date, the report, which exists—I saw it on the police commissioner's desk when I visited Nigeria—remains unforthcoming. Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that Nigeria should observe the basic consular decencies expected of a Commonwealth country in this case and in others?
§ Mr. CookI congratulate my hon. Friend on his resolve and determination in pursuing his constituent's case, even to the extent of visiting Nigeria. I do not believe it acceptable that any country should fail to respond, whether or not it is in the Commonwealth. President Obasanjo faces the major task of reforming and modernising the Nigerian police. He has begun by appointing a new inspector-general, on whom our consul 924 called last Wednesday to raise my hon. Friend's constituent's case. I hope that we may soon receive the response that we have been seeking for some time.
§ Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South)I welcome the Secretary of State's positive endorsement of the new Government in Nigeria. We wish them well because we understand their difficulties. At the same time, I believe that they already have support right across the community, which I trust will develop strongly so as to restore Nigeria to its proper place in the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. CookWhen I discussed his plans for the future with President Obasanjo, when he was elected but not yet in office, I was impressed by the stress that he placed on reconciliation among the many communities that make up the state of Nigeria. Since then, he has carried that forward, particularly by his work in the Delta region, meeting community leaders and seeking a positive understanding. That is an alternative to the random violence in the Delta, and he will have our full support in his efforts, which will also enable us to welcome Nigeria to its rightful place as a leading African nation in the international community.
§ Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex)While welcoming the progress in Nigeria, will the Foreign Secretary when he next talks to the Nigerian Government mention our great concern about the amount of financial fraud involving our countries? I have two constituents who have been terribly defrauded—one of them bankrupted—by major Nigerian fraud for which there is no recourse and no possibility of ever recovering the money. Will he ask the Nigerians what they can do to tighten the regulations that allow such fraud to be so commonplace?
§ Mr. CookI am pleased to assure the hon. Gentleman that we have already raised that issue with the Government of Nigeria and will continue to work them. I am well aware of the scale of the problem. It is a striking example of how after a break-down in a country's law and order and a failure to have a functioning central Government, as happened under General Abacha, the ripple effects spread around the international community. We hope that we can work with the new Government at least to reduce, and perhaps eliminate, the problem.