Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme in defending the freedom of religion or belief of persecuted Christians.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Through the SPRiNG programme, we have convened workshops to explore the root causes of conflict, including religious dimensions, and to introduce tools that enable political and traditional leaders to apply a Freedom of Religion or Belief and conflict sensitivity lens in their decision making.

The programme has achieved encouraging results in its first full year of implementation. For example, in Nasawara State, the programme supported mediation efforts through the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) which resulted in a negotiated agreement between the Bassa and Egbura People, enabling the return and resettlement of 5000 internally displaced persons. As of September 2025, SPRiNG interventions have directly benefited over 18,875 people.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme in reducing violence and promoting factors that lead to peace; and what recent examples of progress they have.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Through the SPRiNG programme, we have convened workshops to explore the root causes of conflict, including religious dimensions, and to introduce tools that enable political and traditional leaders to apply a Freedom of Religion or Belief and conflict sensitivity lens in their decision making.

The programme has achieved encouraging results in its first full year of implementation. For example, in Nasawara State, the programme supported mediation efforts through the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) which resulted in a negotiated agreement between the Bassa and Egbura People, enabling the return and resettlement of 5000 internally displaced persons. As of September 2025, SPRiNG interventions have directly benefited over 18,875 people.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the persecution of Christians in Nigeria by radical religious groups as a priority country under their freedom of religion and belief strategy; and what steps they are taking to address other root causes of intercommunal violence.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 23 September to Question HL10250.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent examples they have of how the UK has supported Nigeria in accordance with the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in protecting Christian victims of religious violence in the region and promoting peace.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, continue to have a devastating effect across communities of different faiths and ethnicities, including Christians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a focus country under the new FoRB strategy.

Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to respond to these challenges while upholding human rights, including through training and capacity building for the Nigerian armed forces. At the Third UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in July 2025, the UK and Nigeria agreed a support programme to enhance the capacity of Nigeria's National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and other agencies, which will enhance Nigeria's ability to investigate violence and disrupt the financing of terrorist groups. The UK has also renewed its commitment to support Nigeria's Armed Forces in the development of the Defence Special Operations Force, which will help Nigeria to develop a professional, well-coordinated special operations capability to respond to security threats while protecting civilians and promoting stability.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in protecting and defending the freedom of religion or belief of Christian victims of religious violence in the region; and what examples they have of UK support for Nigerian efforts against religious violence.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, continue to have a devastating effect across communities of different faiths and ethnicities, including Christians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a focus country under the new FoRB strategy.

Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to respond to these challenges while upholding human rights, including through training and capacity building for the Nigerian armed forces. At the Third UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in July 2025, the UK and Nigeria agreed a support programme to enhance the capacity of Nigeria's National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and other agencies, which will enhance Nigeria's ability to investigate violence and disrupt the financing of terrorist groups. The UK has also renewed its commitment to support Nigeria's Armed Forces in the development of the Defence Special Operations Force, which will help Nigeria to develop a professional, well-coordinated special operations capability to respond to security threats while protecting civilians and promoting stability.