Written question asked by Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Non-affiliated) on Wednesday, 27 January 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 February 2021. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 February 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Nigeria: Politics and Government

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their most recent assessment of the (1) economic situation, and (2) political situation, in Nigeria.

Answer: As Africa's largest economy and most populous country, Nigeria's success matters to the UK and to the continent as a whole. We want to see Nigeria thrive, delivering jobs and opportunities for its people, and creating opportunities for British business to invest through reform. We were deeply concerned by violence during protests in Lagos and other major cities in Nigeria in October 2020, which tragically claimed lives. We remain concerned about security issues elsewhere, particularly the situation in the North East, where terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa continue to conduct attacks, causing immense suffering to all communities. The FCDO also remains committed to supporting the democratic process in Nigeria, and continue to stress the importance of free and fair elections ahead of the 2023 presidential race.

Secondary information