Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has made representations to the Government of Nigeria on the treatment of Biafrans living in the southern region of that country; and if he will make a statement.

The British Government is concerned by recent reports of violence in South East Nigeria and supports efforts to reduce tensions in the region. During my visit to Nigeria in June I raised the issue of community tensions with the Governor of Kaduna. The Government welcomes statements by the Governors of the Northern States of Nigeria, and by Vice President Osinbajo, then Acting President, condemning threats against the Igbo people.