Prime Minister
Ibrahim BabangidaMr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I was very happy to accept President Babangida 's invitation to stop over in Lagos to have talks with him. I do this because I have great admiration for the leadership he is giving here and for the courageous way in which he is tackling the economic problems of the country and for the agreement which he has just reached with the INF, and we are very pleased that we in the United Kingdom have been able to help.
These problems do not go away but, nevertheless, they do require boldness and courage to tackle and under President Babangida the Government of Nigeria has displayed that courage and we wish the programme every success and we are prepared to play our full part in it.
Secondly, we shall both be going to the Commonwealth Conference CHOGM in Malaysia in October. It will be at a time when very important events have been taking place the world over. Two or three years ago, we would not have thought it possible that Resolution 435 on the Independence of Namibia would have had a [end p1] chance of coming of fruition. The elections in Namibia will take place within about a month after the CHOGM Conference and many other improvements are taking place in world politics and we shall have a chance to discuss those matters.
My third point is quite simply this: when I was here last here, the Nigerian press in particular said that I had not given enough attention to them, so I thought I had better come and be questioned now, so please could our own press give preference to the Nigerian press! [end p2]
Question
My question is: how far do you think your … . African tour will enhance relations between Britain and the African countries, first in view of the economic problems facing most African countries and secondly, in view of Britain's stance on the apartheid policy of South Africa?
Prime Minister
First, as you know, we have always been prepared to help—as with Nigeria—over the economic problems and also with trying to reduce the debt of the poorest countries. That was an initiative of Nigel Lawson, our Chancellor, and the poorest countries in Africa simply could not repay the debt burden, and that was our initiative; and thirdly, we have always been very very ready to help with the disaster areas such as Ethiopia and the Sudan and also very ready to help in some of the environmental problems. So that has been very constructive in the economic sphere.
With regard to South Africa, as I mentioned a moment ago in my Opening Statement, we shall have the independence of Namibia. Nigeria has already sent some of her police down there and we have already sent an advance guard of a Corps of Signals down there as our contribution to the United Nations supervision to bring about [end p3] the elections. That could not have come about without the cooperation of South Africa, the United States, Angola and also the Soviet Union. It was a great step forward.
You will know that there was the other day a meeting between Soviet academics and British ones and the ANC in which they urged that the problems of South Africa be solved not by confrontation, not by violence, but by negotiation. That is our objective too, so it would seem as if we are working in the same direction and that things may be on the move there as well, which would be very good news.
Question
… coming to help us out. I do not know if you have any programme to assist Nigeria in the area of writing off our debts, do you?
Prime Minister
I do not think that we could possibly call Nigeria one of the poorest countries of Africa, so I do not think that writing off the debt in that same way would apply.
You have, I know, just done rescheduling through the Paris Club of official debt and I think that will shortly be followed by the rescheduling of the commercial debt and you know that we did help to gather together a balance of payments sum of some $600 million, of which we found $100 million, and we are very happy to disburse that amount just as soon as we know what is required. [end p4]
Question
There is no doubt that there is an increased tempo in Anglo-Nigerian relations in recent times on the positive side. I would like to know whether the British Government realises the fact that Nigeria is entering a phase in its patrochemical development which in any case is the basis of the true economic development; whether the British Government intends to participate in the petrochemical industry in Nigeria?
Prime Minister
It is not the British Government that participates in these things—it might be companies in the United Kingdom. I know full well here that you are privatising many of your companies. We have privatised now some nineteen of ours that were previously nationalised, but it would not be British Government participating—it might be through cooperation with companies, but that would be a matter for them to consider.
We both have a similar interest, of course, in the future of the oil industry and a similar interest in having a reasonable price for it.
Relations between Nigeria and Britain are very good and it is because of this that we were delighted to be able to help with some of the financial arrangements and we look forward enormously to President Babangida 's state visit to the United Kingdom in about five weeks time. [end p5]
President Babangida
I would like on my behalf and on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria and on behalf of the Nigerian Press, to thank you most sincerely for graciously accepting this request by the Nigerian Press.
I want to say that within the last two years the relationship between our two countries has brought them very very close together and this is made possible under your very dynamic and able leadership. We appreciate the support; we appreciate all the encouragement that you in particular and your Government have been giving us in our country. We are very grateful.
Prime Minister
Thank you!