Seventh Report - Lagos calling: Nigeria and the Integrated Review

Select Committee

Foreign Affairs Committee HC 202 29 April 2022

Report Status Government responded

Conclusions & Recommendations 21 items (16 recs)

Source View on Parliament website

Government Response (AI assessment · 21 of 21 classified)

Accepted 5

Accepted in Part 11

Rejected 2

Recommendations

16 results

3 Accepted in Part

Para 8

The UK’s approach in Nigeria should be one that is defined by detailed and coherent...

Recommendation

The UK’s approach in Nigeria should be one that is defined by detailed and coherent long-term engagement. Yet it should be sufficiently agile to take advantage of new opportunities. As the FCDO makes difficult decisions on programme activities over the … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees with the benefit of a clear, long-term plan but will not publish a new integrated delivery plan within six months. An internal strategy exists until 2023, and they will refresh it post-election and develop One-HMG country plans in due course.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

4 Accepted

Para 11

Issues surrounding the colonial legacy of the UK in Nigeria should be delicately addressed through...

Recommendation

Issues surrounding the colonial legacy of the UK in Nigeria should be delicately addressed through meaningful dialogue. We recommend that the FCDO should be proactive in encouraging dialogue around any aspects of the UK’s colonial legacy, including the future of … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees to proactively encourage dialogue around the UK’s colonial legacy, including the Benin Bronzes. The FCDO's Diplomatic Academy has run staff training to enhance understanding of the colonial legacy. They will support museums and galleries in the UK in their ongoing dialogue with Nigerian authorities.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

5 Accepted in Part

The enthusiasm of the Nigerian community in the UK to engage with their country of...

Recommendation

The enthusiasm of the Nigerian community in the UK to engage with their country of origin provides an opportunity for the UK Government to trial initiatives to work with diaspora groups from other countries where there are overlapping interests. We … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially agrees with the recommendation and outlines existing engagement with the Nigerian diaspora through media outlets and social media influencers. It argues against diaspora engagement for peacebuilding, claiming resident Nigerians make a more meaningful contribution.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

6 Accepted in Part

Para 17

As an emerging science and technology hub in Africa, Nigeria presents opportunities for the UK...

Recommendation

As an emerging science and technology hub in Africa, Nigeria presents opportunities for the UK Government to make progress toward its priority of securing strategic advantage through science and technology. Investment in businesses and capacity development in the IT sector … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees on the need to engage proactively in the digital and IT sector but states that evidence does not support ODA spending on skills capacity building programmes in that sector. The FCDO will prioritize work on investment facilitation and proportionate regulation instead.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

7 Accepted in Part

Para 22

The UK Government should be more proactive in initiating programmes that build the capacity of...

Recommendation

The UK Government should be more proactive in initiating programmes that build the capacity of the Nigerian IT workforce. Such programmes have the potential to be beneficial to both countries. We recommend the FCDO lead a pilot skills development programme … Read more

Government Response Summary

The FCDO agrees on the need to engage proactively in the digital and IT sector and space, but it believes that evidence does not support ODA spend on narrowly focused skills capacity building programmes in that sector. Their IT sector interventions now seek to foster innovation and create an enabling environment in which innovators can thrive.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

8 Rejected

Para 23

The FCDO could support the Nigerian civil service by creating opportunities for the Nigerian Government...

Recommendation

The FCDO could support the Nigerian civil service by creating opportunities for the Nigerian Government to make the most of future skills development programmes: a) including a quota for trainees in the ICT skills development programme who will return to … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government does not agree to introducing specific quotas for the Nigerian civil service in skills programming. However, it has supported the Nigerian civil service to build capacity and effectiveness in niche, complex IT areas and highlights existing support through the Chevening Scholarship programme.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

10 Accepted in Part

Para 31

The UK Government, through the merger of DFID and the FCO, aims to use Official...

Recommendation

The UK Government, through the merger of DFID and the FCO, aims to use Official Development Assistance (ODA) more effectively to contribute toward wider foreign policy goals. This aim has been undermined by the cuts to research and Lagos calling: … Read more

Government Response Summary

The FCDO does not plan to publish an ‘integrated delivery plan’ at this time, however, their science and technology approach is, and will continue to be, reflected within internal strategic planning documents. This includes putting significant resources (£30m) into supporting multilevel interventions targeting stakeholders at the micro and macro levels in Nigeria to strengthen the country’s research and technology landscape.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

11 Accepted in Part

The UK-Nigeria Tech hub is an innovative solution that has the potential to benefit UK...

Recommendation

The UK-Nigeria Tech hub is an innovative solution that has the potential to benefit UK and Nigerian businesses through the exposure of entrepreneurs to would-be investors, peer mentoring and training. The lessons learnt here have the potential to be applied … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government recognises the value of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub but does not commit to ring-fencing funding. The Digital Access Programme will continue supporting and funding the Hub for Financial Year 2022–23, and potentially to March 2025. They will also work with incubators and the Climate Finance Accelerator.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

12 Accepted

Nigeria’s security matters to the UK.

Recommendation

Nigeria’s security matters to the UK. Evidence described four significant security situations which make daily life in many parts of the country dangerous and sap the resources of the security services. Some of these crises, we heard, have the potential … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agreed with the recommendation, stating it's a continuation of current work streams, detailing training and capacity building support provided to the Nigerian military under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), alongside broader programming to address the root causes of conflict.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

14 Accepted in Part

Para 40

We welcome the collaboration the Prince of Wales has given to the Great Green Wall...

Recommendation

We welcome the collaboration the Prince of Wales has given to the Great Green Wall initiative through the Sustainable Markets Initiative. The UK Government, however, is not as engaged as it could be in initiatives, such as the Great Green … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government partially agreed, stating it supports regional climate initiatives through multilateral institutions, but believes it can deliver more effective support through bilateral programming and will increase engagement with multilateral initiatives to share lessons learned.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

15 Acknowledged

We welcome the part the UK Government has played in involving the private sector in...

Recommendation

We welcome the part the UK Government has played in involving the private sector in climate finance. We also recognise the breadth of support it offers to those wishing to make sustainable investments in Nigeria. However, the picture of multiple … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees on the need to continue to assess how best to support investment and states this issue has been heavily studied by the FCDO’s International Financial Institutions Department and Private Sector Department, who work closely with DFIs such as the Private Infrastructure Development Group.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

17 Accepted

We welcome the innovative steps the UK Government has taken to support Nigeria’s transition to...

Recommendation

We welcome the innovative steps the UK Government has taken to support Nigeria’s transition to a low carbon economy. However, we believe there is scope for higher ambition in its goals and greater clarity in its approach. We recommend the … Read more

Government Response Summary

The UK Government is supportive of Nigeria’s transition to a low carbon economy and is working with international partners, supporting work to develop Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, and helping develop public-private partnership projects for Development Finance Institutions, as well as the private sector.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

18 Accepted in Part

Para 48

Investment in, and support for, Nigerian creative arts bring social and economic benefits for Nigerians.

Recommendation

Investment in, and support for, Nigerian creative arts bring social and economic benefits for Nigerians. Investment builds on the UK’s soft power as a champion of the arts, helping maintain its position as a leader in the worldwide music industry. … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government is supportive of efforts to connect artists in the UK and Nigeria, citing the UK Government-supported creatives trade mission to Nigeria. However, they feel enhancing practical co-ordination of existing work would be more effective rather than creating a new creative arts hub.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

19 Accepted in Part

Para 49

We applaud the important work undertaken by the British Council in promoting greater cultural ties...

Recommendation

We applaud the important work undertaken by the British Council in promoting greater cultural ties and building on soft power assets. Similarly, the BBC World Service provides both a voice into, and a voice out of Nigeria, communicating British and … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government does not agree with ring-fencing British Council programming, as the FCDO provides a block grant and the British Council's focus and programmes are aligned to HMG's priorities in Nigeria. The FCDO has agreed to provide £95.84m to the World Service, through the World 2020 programme, for 2022–23.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

20 Rejected

The Integrated Review defines the aspirations for Global Britain as being a force for good...

Recommendation

The Integrated Review defines the aspirations for Global Britain as being a force for good that supports open societies and defends human rights. We recognise that the understanding of these is one that is shared by the Buhari Government, which … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government rejects the recommendation to ring-fence support to human rights projects, stating that ODA budget allocations are designed to provide support across a wide range of projects, and they don't plan further ring-fencing of funding. They also state that they don't plan to publish an ‘integrated delivery plan’ at this time.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

21 Accepted

The Commonwealth presents a significant opportunity as the UK looks to strengthen ties with Nigeria...

Recommendation

The Commonwealth presents a significant opportunity as the UK looks to strengthen ties with Nigeria and other African partners. The foundation of common history and the desire for greater reciprocity should not be taken for granted nor be overlooked as … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agreed, stating Nigeria remains a prominent partner in the Commonwealth and outlined its leading role and funding for commitments made by Commonwealth Heads of State, including support for human trafficking legislation, girls' education, and women entrepreneurs.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Conclusions (5) Observations and findings — click to expand

1 Conclusion Acknowledged

Para 6

The Integrated Review is right in its identification of Nigeria as an important strategic partner for the UK. We would go further to assert that the success (or otherwise) of the UK’s engagement with Nigeria, and its ability to take opportunities which emerge in the four priority areas of the …

Government Response Summary

The Government is committed to building a strong partnership with Nigeria, to further our economic, security and people-to-people objectives and support Nigeria’s development.

2 Conclusion Accepted in Part

Para 6

Awareness of the interconnected nature of Nigeria’s business, governance, security and natural environments is vital at every stage of policy making. The FCDO is well placed to play an oversight role, ensuring UK Government initiatives in one area are not undermined by lack of attention in another.

Government Response Summary

The government agrees that there are benefits to a clear and realistic longer-term plan for our approach in Nigeria but does not agree that they should publish a new integrated delivery plan within the next six months as the result of next year’s election in Nigeria could see changes in priorities and our areas of mutual interest. The FCDO will also run a light touch process to develop One-HMG country plans in due course, including for our activity in Nigeria.

9 Conclusion Accepted

Para 24

Electricity provision is key to the development of Nigerian businesses. We recognise the priority the UK Government has put on this sector and encourage increased attention be paid here.

Government Response Summary

The government agrees with the recommendation and states that it aligns with its existing work in supporting Nigeria's transition to a low carbon economy, including support for the Energy Transition Plan and public-private partnership projects.

13 Conclusion Accepted in Part

Para 37

What is needed to support Nigeria in its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and adapt to its impacts is a package of targeted investment in both tangibles and intangibles which addresses multiple issues simultaneously. Interventions which will bear the most fruit for citizens of Nigeria and the UK will be …

Government Response Summary

The UK supports regional climate initiatives through institutions and bilateral programming. They will increase engagement with the multilateral initiatives working on regional multilateral climate programming to share lessons learned from our bilateral programming, and work closely with Nigeria-only programmes to increase its impact and synergises with our own programming.

16 Conclusion Acknowledged

Para 43

The record of UK Government returning embezzled funds from the City of London to Nigeria and in holding those responsible to account has been disappointing. The issues of London being used in the chain of corrupt wealth will be explored in more detail in our forthcoming inquiry on illicit finance.

Government Response Summary

The British High Commission in Abuja and Deputy High Commission in Lagos regularly engage with members of the diaspora, and the High Commission’s social media platforms are used to amplify messages to Nigerians both in the UK and in Nigeria. Participation by those who have direct knowledge of the impact of conflict and the context for peacebuilding is central to our programmes.