Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials
The Parliament petitions site records 221,258 signatures for this petition, which closed on 20 April 2021. The Government responded on 11 November 2020. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 23 November 2020.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials
The Government should explore using the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force involved in any human rights abuses by the Nigerian police.
There have been deeply concerning reports of a Nigerian police force unit (SARS) engaging in illegal activities and human rights abuses, and there have also been reports of police firing at protestors calling for SARS to be disbanded.
Deploying sanctions would provide accountability for and be a deterrent to anyone involved in violations of human rights.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 11 November 2020; the petitions site lists the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office as responsible. Its summary:
We were concerned by violence during recent protests and await the outcome of Nigerian investigations into reports of police brutality. We do not publicly speculate on future sanctions designations.
The opening 352 words of the 463-word response:
The UK Government is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria, which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected.
The Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 21 October calling for an end to the violence and for the Nigerian Government to urgently investigate reports of brutality by its security forces and hold those responsible to account. The Minister for Africa tweeted on 16 October, noting the Nigerian people’s democratic and peaceful calls for reforms, and again on 21 October, encouraging the Nigerian authorities to restore peace and address concerns over brutality towards civilians. He reiterated these messages when he spoke to Foreign Minister Onyeama on 23 October. The British High Commissioner in Abuja has also raised the protests with representatives of the Nigerian Government and will continue to do so.
We welcome President Buhari’s decision to disband the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and the establishment of judicial panels of inquiry to investigate alleged incidents of brutality by the security services. They must investigate all incidents, including in Lagos, fully. The Minister for Africa tweeted on 29 October stressing the importance of the police and military’s cooperation with the panels. He raised this, and the need for the panels to urgently start investigations, when he spoke to the Governor of Lagos on 11 November.
The UK Government will continue to work with the Nigerian Government and international and civil society partners to support justice, accountability and a more responsive policing model in Nigeria. We will continue to push for the Nigerian security services to uphold human rights and the rule of law, investigate all incidents of brutality, illegal detentions and use of excessive force, and hold those responsible to account.
On 6 July, the Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to future designations.
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 4,490, came from Erith and Thamesmead.
200,166 of the signatures were from the UK and 21,092 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Erith and Thamesmead | 4,490 |
| Camberwell and Peckham | 3,767 |
| Greenwich and Woolwich | 2,963 |
| Cities of London and Westminster | 2,925 |
| Barking | 2,830 |
| Bermondsey and Old Southwark | 2,739 |
| West Ham | 2,725 |
| Thurrock | 2,628 |
| Lewisham, Deptford | 2,517 |
| Hackney South and Shoreditch | 2,369 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| London | 89,765 |
| South East | 22,172 |
| East of England | 18,772 |
| North West | 14,469 |
| West Midlands | 11,869 |
| East Midlands | 8,697 |
| Scotland | 7,372 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 7,238 |
| South West | 5,538 |
| North East | 2,713 |
| Wales | 2,274 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,024 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 23 November 2020. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/554150.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
8a03b7db622618e5… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.