§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are currently taken by diplomatic personnel in Nigeria positively to promote the interests of British industry in that country; and what plans he has to improve such representation in the immediate future.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office has commercial officers in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Port Harcourt—the latter two were opened in late 1993. They are there to seek out export opportunities, advise British companies on the business to be won in the market, lobby on their behalf for major contracts and against discrimination, and to organise inward and outward trade missions. A programme of promotional activity agreed by the tropical Africa advisory group, Department of Trade and Industry and the FCO is underway with a view to increasing our market share.
The level of commercial representation in Nigeria was reviewed and adjusted by a team of inspectors in February and March 1994. The staffing requirement will be kept under review.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the number of British citizens who are currently resident in Nigeria.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere are 7,000 British citizens registered with British diplomatic missions in Nigeria. In addition, the high commission in Lagos estimates that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 British citizens who are not registered. The total is therefore about 10,000.
408WSimilar information on contracts let to the named companies in the periods 1980–83, 1984–87 and 1988–91 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement setting out Her Majesty's Government's policy on relations with Nigeria.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd:We value our relations with Nigeria. We hope to see firm progress soon towards a restoration of democratic civilian rule.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the extent to which release from custody has now been granted for those human and civil rights activists arrested in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 1993 presidential election; and what response he has made to such releases.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThose arrested immediately after the annulment of the June 1993 election were released shortly afterwards. We welcomed these releases.
In the last few weeks however there have been fresh detentions, including Chief Abiola, presumed winner of the 1993 election. We strongly regret those arrests and call on the Nigerian Government to engage all sides in political dialogue.