Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of inter-communal violence in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.

The UK recognises that security is fundamental to Nigeria's stability and growth, and we are committed to helping the Government of Nigeria to address insecurity across the country, including in the Middle Belt. In April 2023, we launched the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme to help Nigeria to tackle interlinked root causes of intercommunal conflict, including security, justice, and natural resource management challenges. The FCDO has also funded peacebuilding initiatives in the Middle Belt states of Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue. Our Security and Defence Partnership, which is refreshed annually, allows us to tailor our support to Nigeria's security needs and to monitor progress. At our 2022 dialogue, we enhanced our cooperation in civilian policing and promoting accountable and responsive police conduct.