Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 25 May (HL513), what assessment they have now made of the effectiveness of talks between the UK and the government of Nigeria in advancing the rights of the Nigerian people.

The UK Government is committed to promoting human rights for all Nigerians, and supporting efforts to respond to rising insecurity across Nigeria. We regularly raise these topics with the Nigerian Government and other Nigerian interlocutors including religious and community leaders. These discussions allow us to: demonstrate UK Government interest; push for progress; agree future cooperation; and understand what is proving effective in responding to negative developments. For example, in the Minister for Africa's meetings with religious and community leaders during her February visit, she heard about the importance of investment in dialogue, mediation and peacebuilding to tackle the drivers of conflict. The outcome of that discussion is helping to shape our future engagement and activity to respond to conflict and insecurity.

The UK Government has delivered programmes and projects in support of our commitment on promoting security and human rights. For example, we have funded projects in Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states, aimed at promoting tolerance and understanding, strengthening links and dialogue between civil society groups, religious leaders and religious (and non-religious) groups; and advocating for responsible journalism. At the first dialogue of our Security and Defence partnership in February, we agreed to continue working together to support long-term solutions to address the root causes of violence in Nigeria.