CONFIDENTIAL
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1.
CONFIDENTIAL
NIGERIA: POSSIBLE BLOCKADE AND SECESSION OF EASTERN REGION
The Committee had before them a memorandum by the Commonwealth Secretary (OPD(67) 32) regarding the attitude which should be adopted by
the United Kingdom Government in the event of the secession of the Eastern
Region of Nigeria and the imposition of a blockade on it by the Federal
Government.
THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that in the few days since his paper was written the situation in Nigeria had changed somewhat. Previously the Eastern Region had been moving towards a declaration of independence in the face of opposition from the rest of Nigeria and it had seemed likely that in that event the Federal Government would decide to impose a blockade on the Eastern Region. Now it appeared that the Western and Mid-Western Regions were changing their attitudes and were likely to support the Eastern Region in favouring a looser form of federation.
Now
THEREFORE
酵
escamatanees It was less likely, that circumstances would develop in which the Federal Government, provided Colonel Gowon remained in control of it, would decide to impose a blockade on the Eastern Region.
His memorandum had pointed out that our interests were best served by the continuance of a united Nigeria in which the regions remained willing members. In the event of the Federation breaking up our interests were bound to suffer. About 19,000 United Kingdom nationals were living in Nigeria, of whom 3,500 were in the Eastern Region. Our investments were estimated at over £220 million, of which £130 million were in oil, mostly in the East. In the event of the Federal Government declaring a blockade on the Eastern Region we were bound to act in accordance with international law and, provided the blockade were effective, to advise our shipping to keep away from Eastern ports, though there was a possibility that this instruction might not be required in the case of oil tankers. To take any other action would in effect be to lend support to an illegal declaration of independence by the Eastern Region. However, it was doubtful if circumstances requiring us to take such steps would now arise.
In discussion agreement was expressed with the assessment in OPD(67) 32 of the position to be adopted under international law in the event of a blockade of the Eastern Region being declared by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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