Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Irigwe Development Association that 24,000 voters from 16 communities in Plateau state, Nigeria, may not be able to vote in upcoming elections in the Bassa Local Government Area after being displaced by violence.

The UK Government remains concerned by insecurity across Nigeria. The Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean met with officials at the Independent National Electoral Commission, where she discussed the importance of free, fair and safe electoral process in Nigeria, including for the 2023 elections. The Minister also met with religious leaders and officials from the Plateau State peace-building agency, to discuss a range of issues, including social inclusion and the important of good governance and democracy. The Minister has asked officials to follow-up on the situation in the Bassa local government area.

We continue to raise insecurity and human rights in Nigeria with the Nigerian Government. Earlier this month, at the inaugural dialogue of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, the Minister for Africa held productive discussions with the Nigerian National Security Adviser on Nigeria's security situation. The Minister also raised rising insecurity and its impact on the Nigerian people during her recent visit with the Vice-President, Foreign Minister and several State Governors. Through our Security and Defence Partnership with Nigeria, the UK and Nigeria are working together to respond to shared threats, and to support Nigeria to tackle a range of security challenges.