Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL4616):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, as part of their Security and Defence Partnership with Nigeria, to assist in protecting farming communities in central Nigeria from ongoing violent attacks by armed non-state actors. (HL4616)
Tabled on: 03 February 2025
Answer:
Lord Collins of Highbury:
The UK Government is committed to supporting Nigeria to address security challenges, including intercommunal violence, through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). The UK-Nigeria SDP works with Nigeria’s security forces to tackle violence against civilian communities. Additionally, our Strengthening Peace and Resilience programme (‘SPRiNG’) is working to reduce rural violence in northwest and north-central Nigeria, including by supporting collaboration and productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists, and strengthening conflict early warning, management and response.
Date and time of answer: 12 Feb 2025 at 13:24.
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Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL4615):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by emerging jihadist groups in Nigeria following the resurgence of the Lakurawa terrorist faction. (HL4615)
Tabled on: 03 February 2025
Answer:
Lord Collins of Highbury:
Nigeria is witnessing rising conflict and insecurity, including violent extremism. This Government continues to monitor events in northern Nigeria closely and believes there remains a severe threat posed by terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa who target all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views.
Date and time of answer: 12 Feb 2025 at 13:23.
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Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL4614):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government when they last held discussions with the Nigerian authorities on the need to address the impunity surrounding blasphemy-related violence, including by ensuring justice in the cases of Deborah Emmanuel, Usman Buda and other victims. (HL4614)
Tabled on: 03 February 2025
Answer:
Lord Collins of Highbury:
Dialogue on human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), is a vital part of the UK’s partnership with Nigeria. The UK Government was an active participant in Nigeria’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in January 2024 and recommended that the Nigerian Government ensures that the human rights of those accused of blasphemy are protected and that those responsible for blasphemy related mob-killings are held accountable. The UK Government proactively raises cases where blasphemy legislation has been used to restrict human rights with the Nigerian authorities. More broadly, the UK Government funds the provision of legal and judicial expertise to make legislative changes to protect FoRB, including addressing blasphemy laws. The right of individuals to express their beliefs or non-belief is essential to a free and open society.
Date and time of answer: 12 Feb 2025 at 13:22.
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Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL4613):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with Nigerian authorities about the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls; and what assistance they are offering to secure their safe return. (HL4613)
Tabled on: 03 February 2025
Answer:
Lord Collins of Highbury:
The UK Government strongly condemns the abduction and continued captivity of children by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in North East Nigeria, and has repeatedly called for their release. This includes the 2014 kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls, around 90 of whom are understood still to be missing, as well as Leah Sharibu, who has remained in Islamic State West Africa captivity since 2018. The UK Government has raised Leah’s case with the Government of Nigeria, and I will continue to raise this important issue in my future engagements with them. More broadly, we continue to support the Government of Nigeria to tackle insecurity and prevent further kidnappings, which includes support to Nigeria’s anti-kidnap cell, through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership.
Date and time of answer: 12 Feb 2025 at 13:21.
