HC Deb 01 July 1993 vol 227 cc587-8W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria following General Babangida's decision to overrule the results of the presidential election on 12 June.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Nigerian High Commissioner was summoned to meet my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 24 June. She informed him that we deplored the decision to annul the 12 June presidential election, and had decided to take a number of immediate measures to curtail military co-operation and the issue of visas to the Nigerian armed forces, and to review our aid programme. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also met the Nigerian Secretary for External Affairs on 30 June. He informed him of the United Kingdom's current policy in respect of Nigeria and restated the great importance we attach to the commitment to return to democratic civilian rule by 27 August.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on United Kingdom policy in respect of Nigeria following the presidential election of 12 June and subsequent developments.

Mr. Hurd

We greatly regret that the outcome of the democratic elections on 12 June has not been respected and that conditions have been imposed which would bar candidates who ran in those elections from participating in a fresh electoral system. We note that President Babangida has promised that the return to democratic civilian rule will take place on 27 August.

The United Kingdom will not lift the measures announced on 24 June until a democratic civilian regime has been installed and is working unhindered. Meanwhile no new aid commitments for Nigeria will be made.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts he has had, or proposes to have, with Moshood Abiola following his success in the presidential election in Nigeria on 12 June.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The British high commissioner in Nigeria, and his staff, have been in contact with a wide range of political leaders in Nigeria, including Chief Abiola.

Mr. Hain

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nigerian military regime about the annulment of the presidential elections; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 28 June 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the House on 24 June at column 442, and a statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 24 June, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The Nigerian high commissioner in London was summoned to meet my right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister for Overseas Development, on 24 June.

Baroness Chalker made it clear that we deplored the suspension of the programme for a transition to civilian rule and that we had, as a consequence, decided to announce a series of measures curtailing our bilateral co-operation, particularly in the defence field.