§ Q25. Mr. Aitkenasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Nigeria.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so. However, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has just returned from Lagos, where he had two meetings with the Nigerian Commissioner for External Affairs. My hon. Friend delivered my reply to the Nigerian Head of State's letter of 22nd March requesting Her Majesty's Government's co-operation in securing the return of Yakubu Gowon to Nigeria to answer allegations of complicity in the abortive coup of 13th February. My letter explained that for reasons fundamental to the rule of law in Britain Her Majesty's Government were unable to meet the Nigerian request. I naturally hope that this issue will not be allowed to affect adversely the traditionally friendly relations between Britain and Nigeria.