Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, has said the threats of sanctions issued by the UK parliament over the killing of unarmed protesters do not represent the stance of the British government.
Mr Onyeama said this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with governors and leaders from the South-east region of the country on Wednesday.
Recall that there were reported calls from the UK parliament for the British government to commence an investigation into human rights abuses by the Nigerian government and security agencies on citizens.
The legislative arm also demanded the UK government to consider imposing sanctions on officials who are found culpable.
These sanctions range from visa bans to assets freezing as contained in an e-petition upon which the parliament’s Monday debate was based.
A total of 220,330 people had signed the e-petition with over 2,000 of the petitioners from the UK. In the petition, the people accused the Nigerian government and security officials of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings.
This was in particular reference to the #EndSARS protests held across the country last month and the attack on peaceful and unarmed protesters by the military at the Lekki toll gate.
‘We Have Reached Out’
However, after the meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Onyeama said the Nigerian government has reached out to the British government.
“Parliamentarians don’t speak for the UK government which acts for the United Kingdom (and) has also heard the side of the (Nigerian) government regarding everything that has happened.
“So, we have been in touch with them and engaging with them. And of course, as in any democracy, the members of parliament are able to air their views.”
The minister said, “what is important is that a balanced picture is made available to them before they take any decision.”
