#EndSARS: Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Onyeama Speaks on British Parliament’s Threat of Sanctions

Related stories

Anxieties as Ondo Govt Launches Probe into Akeredolu’s Death, Puts Widow Under Scrutiny

By Abiola Olawale The Ondo State Government has announced plans...

Trump Blasts Elon Musk Over Renewed Criticism of US Spending Bill

By Abiola Olawale The feud between United States President Donald...

In Saint Lucia, Tinubu Receives Highest National Honour

By Abiola Olawale President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria was...

Oil Prices Dip as OPEC+ Boosts Supply

Crude oil prices fell at the start of...

Ranked: The Biggest Currency Drops So Far in 2025

Key Takeaways The Venezuelan bolívar has fallen the most...

Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, has maintained that the threats of sanctions recently issued by the British parliament over the recent shooting, and killing of #EndSARS protesters, is not a true position of the government of the United Kingdom.

The foreign minister who  stated this  position while speaking with State House reporters after a scheduled meeting with governors and leaders from South-east region of the country at the presidential villa, Abuja explained that the action of the UK parliament should not be equated with that of the British government.

He said: “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.”

“What is important is that balanced picture is made available to them before they take any decision,” Onyeama added.

He explained further: “They are also to engage more systematically with the youths to address the agitations as a result of EndSARS and came up with a number of proposals in that context to see better funding of the police and other security agencies as a way to achieving the right goal in addressing the security offices.

“They were also very keen to ensure and guarantee the safety of all Nigerians living within the zone and also thanked the other parts of the country for assuring the safety of those from the South-east living in other parts of the country. They said they will set up a mechanism for constant dialogue with the youths and all the other stakeholders in the subregion.”

It would be recalled that media reports including The New Diplomat had reported requests from the UK parliament for the UK government to start extensive investigations into human rights abuses by  Nigerian government  officials and security agencies, especially by officials of the Nigeria Police Force.

The UK government  had also held  deliberations and debate on whether to recommend imposition of sanctions on Nigerian government officials whose culpability in these abuses could be established.

Typically, these sanctions varies in style and shape. They include  travel ban, visa restrictions and outright  seizure of assets belonging to Nigerian officials  in the UK by the British government.

It would also be recalled that a total of  about 220,330 persons endorsed  the e-petition with over 2,000 of the petitioners being residents or citizens of  the UK.

The petition had among other things  blamed  Nigerian government officials and security agencies  for  the escalating cases of human rights abuses  and extrajudicial killings in Nigeria.

But the foreign minister , Mr Onyeama said the Nigerian government has reached out to the UK government to explain the true state of things. He said: “We have reached out.”

However,   the  scheduled meeting which took place at the Villa with the governors  from the South-East zone reportedly indicated the zone’s resolve to establish a trust fund to take care of victims of violence in the aftermath of #EndSARS  protest.

The foreign minister who disclosed this said, “It is work in progress and it is all about building trust.

“The governors did address the issue of ethnicity in this whole situation and it was in that context that they committed to assuring the security of groups that are not from the zone of their protection and also reaching out beyond their zone to their counterparts to also ensure the security of South Easterners living in other parts of the country.”

Hamilton Nwosa(head, Polling, Research & Data Desk)
Hamilton Nwosa(head, Polling, Research & Data Desk)
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Anxieties as Ondo Govt Launches Probe into Akeredolu’s Death, Puts Widow Under ScrutinyTrump Blasts Elon Musk Over Renewed Criticism of US Spending BillIn Saint Lucia, Tinubu Receives Highest National HonourOil Prices Dip as OPEC+ Boosts SupplyRanked: The Biggest Currency Drops So Far in 2025Our Officers Deployed To Maintain Order Not To Prevent PDP NEC Meeting -- PoliceDon't Let Ganduje's Resignation Divide Us, Dalori Appeals To APC NWC Members, OthersAPC To Hold NEC Meeting On July 24Bode George Warns Tinubu, Decries Police Occupation Of PDP SecretariatClosing Ogoni wounds, opening old onesMy CFR National Honours Award, By Col Abubakar D. Umar (Retd)Chaos Escalate As PDP Shifts BoT Meeting to New Venue Amid Police Siege at Party SecretariatPDP Crisis Deepens As 11 NWC Members Ignore Damagum, Hold NEC MeetingNEC Meeting: Tension Mounts As Police Take Over PDP Secretariat In Abuja2027: Peter Obi Declares Readiness for One-Term Presidency in Atiku, El-Rufai-Led Coalition
X whatsapp