The Nigerian government has reacted to the deliberations on the recent #EndSARS protest by the United Kingdom parliament.
The government stated that while debates on all matters were allowed, the UK parliament does not speak for the British government.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, who made the position of the Federal Government known while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the Nigerian Government is in communication with the United Kingdom and has informed the British authorities of its side of the situation, especially as it relates to the shooting at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.
“On the issue of the UK parliament, yes, we have reached out to the UK government on this question.
“The meeting that took place was of parliamentarians, they don’t speak for the UK government and the UK government which acts for the United Kingdom has also heard the side of the (Nigerian) government regarding everything that happened,” Onyeama said.
“So we are in touch with them and engaging with them but, of course, as in any democracy, the members of parliament are able to also air their views but what is important is that a balanced picture is made available to them all before they take any decision.”
Mr Onyeama briefed State House correspondents at the end of the 25th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
He noted that he had recently paid a visit to his home state, Enugu, on the instruction of the President to engage with the youths and leaders on the #EndSARS protests, while governors of the South East were already reaching out to their contemporaries across the country to ensure that the lives and properties of the people of the region were protected during any crisis.
