The United Kingdom’s lawmakers are pressing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to address the ongoing violence against Nigerian Christians during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu. This visit, marking the first by a Nigerian president in 37 years, will see President Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle for a state banquet on November 1, 2023.
Following the banquet, President Tinubu will meet with Prime Minister Starmer at 10 Downing Street on November 2, 2023. The timing of this visit has prompted the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) to urge the UK government to advocate for human rights and the protection of Christians in Nigeria.
According to the Daily Mail UK, MPs from the APPG FoRB have expressed their concerns through a letter addressed to Baroness Jenny Chapman, the Development Minister. The letter emphasizes the need for the UK government to pressure President Tinubu to take decisive action against the alarming rate of killings and persecutions faced by Christians in Nigeria. The country ranks among the most dangerous places in the world for Christians, largely due to attacks orchestrated by groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Jim Shannon, a Member of Parliament from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and chair of the APPG FoRB, stated that Nigeria must implement “concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution, and killing of Christians” while ensuring that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable. The group of 209 MPs and peers articulated their worry that the Nigerian state has not addressed these attacks with the urgency they require.
The APPG FoRB also highlighted the ongoing case of Leah Sharibu, one of the 110 schoolgirls abducted in 2018, calling for transparency regarding her situation. The MPs urged that human rights obligations be integrated into all future diplomatic, security, and trade discussions with Nigeria.
In a related event, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, is expected to engage with Mrs. Tinubu during a prayer service at Lambeth Palace on November 2, 2023. Mrs. Tinubu, who is a Christian pastor, will be invited to preach at the service while her husband is Muslim. She will also attend a reception alongside representatives from the Church of England and faith charities, including Christian Aid, that have been active in supporting communities in Nigeria.
This visit and the discussions surrounding it reflect a growing awareness and concern regarding the treatment of religious minorities in Nigeria, as well as a call for international leaders to take a stand against human rights violations. The actions taken by UK lawmakers may influence the dialogue during President Tinubu’s visit, setting the stage for potential changes in the future.
