Nigeria (Hansard, 27 March 2003)

§ Alistair Burt
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning attacks upon Christians and animists by militant Muslims in the central and northern states of Nigeria, with particular reference to Plateau state; and what representations he will make to the Nigerian authorities concerning these attacks. [104735]
360W

§ Mr. Rammell
The British High Commission in Abuja systematically reports the violent clashes between Christian and Muslim communities in northern Nigeria, although we are not aware of attacks on animists.
In July last year, a British Government team specialising in conflict prevention visited Plateau state to see what help the UK could offer. The team convened a round-table discussion for Christians and Muslims. We also support the efforts of Coventry Cathedral's Centre for Reconciliation, who have been trying to build trust between the religious communities in Kaduna over the last year. They plan to extend their work to Plateau State.
As I told my hon. Friend, the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 357W, we remain in close touch with the Nigerian authorities on the issue of violence in northern Nigeria. Officials from the British High Commission in Abuja regularly visit the northern states, where the majority of religious violence takes place, and raise the matter of violence with the governors of the states concerned.

§ Alistair Burt
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the declared aim of militant Muslims in Nigeria to have Sharia law imposed on a majority of the states, in order to mount a challenge to the country's constitution. [104736]

§ Mr. Rammell
Some political commentators in Nigeria have claimed that militant Moslems in the north are working towards the adoption of Sharia law by a majority of states in the Federation, with the aim of eventually altering the constitution to make Nigeria an Islamic state. But there is no indication that the majority of Moslems in the country support these moves.