§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards Nigeria in the light of the failure of the military government to transfer power to democratically elected political leadership.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 1 July at column589.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nigerian authorities about the detention without charges of the author Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are extremely concerned by the detention of Mr. Saro-Wiwa on charges of sedition and treason, and by reports that he has been denied proper medical treatment. The detention of Mr. Saro-Wiwa is only one of a number of recent detentions of civil and human rights activists by the Nigerian military authorities. These arrests have been carried out under military decrees. This is one of the reasons why we attach so much importance to the military handing over power to democratic civilian rule by 27 August.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria about their decision to hold fresh elections on 31 July.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe new national electoral commission has proposed the holding of fresh elections on 575W 14 August. We have repeatedly made clear our wish to see a transfer to a democratic civilian administration by 27 August.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the high commission in Nigeria about the outbreak of violence since the election; and what measures he is taking to ensure the safety of United Kingdom citizens in Nigeria.
§ Mr. Lennox BoydOur high commission reported widespread unrest and disorder in south-west Nigeria in late June and early July, from which a number of deaths resulted. We deeply regret the loss of life and very much hope that the current political crisis can be resolved without further bloodshed.
The British community in Nigeria has been advised, through the warden system, to exercise caution, and that residents without essential business, especially dependants, should consider advancing their summer leave plans and postponing school children's holiday visits to Nigeria.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action with other countries and with international organisations including the World bank and the International Monetary Fund to encourage General Babangida to implement the democratically expressed wish of the Nigerian people.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThroughout the current political crisis in Nigeria, caused by the annulment of the 12 June election results by the federal military Government, we have consulted closely with our partners and allies. The European Council and the United States have issued statements expressing their concern at the cancellation of the elections and the hope that the transition to democratic civilian rule will take place by 27 August, and have announced measures aimed at the Nigerian military similar to those taken by the United Kingdom on 24 June. The Commonwealth Secretary General and many other countries have also issued similar statements of concern, including Japan, Russia, Australia, Norway and Canada.