Andrew Fleming [Twitter – @Andrew007Uk] is a member of the U.K. Diplomatic Service and until earlier this month, was Deputy Head of the Political Section at the British High Commission, Nigeria. He has previously served in Uganda (2001/2) and Ghana (2007/10); the latter was a regional role that took him to all but one of the ECOWAS States. Andrew has represented the British Government in other parts of the world as a migration expert including Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq and Turkey. He has visited a total of 113 countries and met his wife in one of these (Vietnam) where they are currently having a break with their two sons. In this exclusive interview with SIGNAL’s THE INFLUENCERS, he talks about the future of Nigeria, the Biafra agitation, the challenge of poverty, famine in the North-East amongst other issues.
Excerpts;
You lived in Nigeria for about three years. What is the most fascinating thing about Nigeria that you can recall?
I recently coined the hashtag #uniqueandspecialNG with my good friend Esther Agbarakwe, a Special Advisor at the Ministry of the Environment. I think that this encapsulates the fact that there are many fascinating aspects to Nigeria, it’s people, it’s landscapes, it’s culture and much more. But as I believe any politically focused diplomat who served in Nigeria during 2015 would be bound to say, the most fascinating thing was the 2015 elections. The result and the peace of the transition went against many predictions and was a testimony to the strength and conviction of the Nigerian people. I only hope and pray 2019 will build on this progress.
Decades after, there are many Nigerians who still believe that the 1914 British amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates which gave birth to Nigeria is responsible for most of the sectarian violence and ethnic polarization of Nigeria today. What’s your take?
Speaking personally, as I am doing in all my responses, this is a complex issue but one that is by no means unique to Nigeria or indeed to the policies of countries administered by the UK. I am not a great historian and cannot pretend to have an in depth knowledge of all that transpired in 1914 or the years that followed. But I observe that the world has many tensions, and in a good number of cases they have something to do with lines on maps. So in some cases there are links between colonial decisions and tensions today that can be applied in many parts of the world. But in every case I know, there are other factors too and the current tensions in Nigeria are for a multitude of reasons, some of which were not a significant issue during British rule. It is easy to dwell on the past and apportion blame, but personally I prefer to look to the future and consider what can be done better. In 2017 the UK is rightly a friend of Nigeria and supporting the Federal Government in efforts to bring peace to some of the areas currently worst affected by conflict.
What are your views on the agitations by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for the creation of a sovereign state of Biafra?
On this issue I share the official UK view supporting the sovereign status of Nigeria as it provided for under the constitution. I do believe Nigeria’s future will be best served united. This said, I spent a lot of time in the South East and know it quite well. Very many people there, particularly those born after the civil war, are unhappy. They should be allowed to demonstrate freely within the laws and I hope that the recent dialogue we have seen between the Acting President and South East leaders will be positively built upon. There are undoubtedly grievances that need to be addressed and tackling these through meaningful dialogue and follow up action is the best way forward. I would add that the recent statements from certain groups both in the South East and the North are at best unhelpful, but actually risk being a catalyst for heightened tensions. Hate language has no place in any society and the public should not seek to condone it in any circumstances. I have said before and repeat here, the authorities should maintain a zero tolerance approach to any use of hate language no matter who it might originate from.
I spent a lot of time in the South East and know it quite well. Very many people there, particularly those born after the Civil war, are unhappy. They should be allowed to demonstrate freely within the laws and I hope that the recent dialogue we have seen between the Acting President and South East leaders will be positively built upon. There are undoubtedly grievances that need to be addressed and tackling these through meaningful dialogue and follow up action is the best way forward.
According to a recent study by the British Council and the Harvard School of Public health, by 2030, youth, not oil, will be the Nigeria’s most valuable asset. To what extent do you consider this an accurate assessment based on your experience while serving as a diplomat in Nigeria?
It is a vision I would argue already applies on many levels and fosters hope for a better and brighter future. But there are many who see the future as bleak; they need to be listened to and opportunities need to be provided more generally. This is not unique to to Nigeria, it is worldwide.
On a lighter note, did you ever taste the ‘legendary’ Nigerian Jollof during your stay in Nigeria? Kindly share your experiences.
I did indeed taste Jollof – it is hard to avoid doing so. And it is of course very different to what is also termed as Jollof in Ghana where I previously served three years between 2007 and 2010. But I cannot claim to be an authority judge as I do not eat much meat and meat finds its way into most Jollof recipes. So I am not sure I get the full experience. Thus I stick to my fish dishes, including catfish pepper soup and I quite like to have some swallow to accompany.
Are you a fan of Nollywood? Who are your best Nigerian actors?
I don’t get to see a whole lot of films but the last one I went to was The Wedding Party. It was quite funny and if I am not mistaken the stars were Banky W and Adesuwa Etomi. I think they and indeed all the cast did well.
Let’s talk about music. Who are your favourite Nigerian musicians?
I have seen woefully little live music in Abuja but fared slightly better in Lagos. There I got to see a guy called Brymo perform in a pretty exclusive and hidden jazz club on Victoria Island. For me he nailed it.
Hate language has no place in any society and the public should not seek to condone it in any circumstances. I have said before and repeat here, the authorities should maintain a zero tolerance approach to any use of hate language no matter who it might originate from.
You and your family members were sometimes seen wearing #MadeInNigeria attires. What was the attraction?
Well, with all due respect I think that is obvious. Bright, colorful and innovative designs (not a given for males in other parts of the world) and also far more cool and pleasant to wear in the climate than the standard suit, shirt and tie. So to dress like this sometimes (and almost always on a #dressupfriday is a no brainier on many levels. Plus, as I have put on the record before, I also like to embrace the culture of my host country wherever I live.
What in your opinion is the biggest challenge facing Nigeria today?
This is a difficult question. Nigeria is a huge and diverse country and its challenges are many and immense. So this is hard to answer by honing in on one issue, not least because many of the challenges are interlinked. Short term it is about the economy, maintaining the direction of travel in fighting corruption and continuing to maintain security in hotspots, not least the North East and South South. But longer term it has to be about how to manage a growing population how to fight and ultimately eradicate poverty and ensure that everyone not only has the necessary facilities to survive day to day but that everyone has a place in society, a sense of value and meaningful routes of engagement. When we consider the reports of famine in the North East and poverty rates in many other parts of the country, particularly the north, the immediate challenges are huge but cannot be addressed in isolation bringing us back to the immediate need to fix the economy.
When we consider the reports of famine in the North East and poverty rates in many other parts of the country, particularly the north, the immediate challenges are huge but cannot be addressed in isolation bringing us back to the immediate need to fix the economy.
Many Nigerians and by extension other Africans believe the UK visa application process is quite cumbersome and very expensive. How can diplomats like you help pass on these feedback to your government?
Well, I have left Nigeria but publicity on public perception of the visa system, no doubt including this article, is picked up upon and shared back to responsible colleagues in London. But actually, to respond to your points I understand a standard UK visa is cheaper than one in the opposite direction, the process is clearly set out online, around 70% of would be visitors get their visa and around 90% of students. Once issued the validity of a Standard UK visit is usually longer than one to Nigeria.
With your experience in Nigeria, do you agree with those who say Nigeria is a poor country?
It rather depends on your definition of poor. Poverty, indeed extreme poverty exists in many parts of the country and as I have said, in the long term the ultimate aim of the government, working with the support of the international community must be to eradicate this. In other respects, particularly culturally, Nigeria is unquestionably rich. It is this richness that has contributed to the great experience I have had. But the fact that daily life for many ordinary Nigerians is incredibly hard cannot ever be overlooked and a big part of the UK presence in the country is about helping improve this in a variety of ways. I was therefore delighted that Rory Stewart, the new UK Minister for Africa with a cross cutting Development and Foreign Office portfolio made an early visit this week.
You were very active in the Nigerian social media. What will you miss the most about the Nigerian social media, especially Twitter Nigeria?
Twitter has indeed been great, I wish I had discovered it sooner than December 2015, half way through my posting. I always knew Nigerians like to engage and discuss but Twitter took this to a new level. I actually was able to meet a lot of remarkable people via Twitter, expending and enriching my network and thus my own understanding of Nigeria. I would like to think I have ever made some lifelong friends through my Twitter connections – time will tell but staying in touch has certainly never been so easy. And I will continue to follow and at times comment on Nigerian issues wherever I may go in the future. So in answer to your question, I will not miss too much because social media will be the prism through which I stay in touch with Nigeria. But what will be hard is the ability to arrange face to face meetings with existing and new contacts. It is personal contact, not online, that means most to me and I believe the most to Nigerians too.
I will not miss too much because social media will be the prism through which I stay in touch with Nigeria. But what will be hard is the ability to arrange face to face meetings with existing and new contacts. It is personal contact, not online, that means most to me and I believe the most to Nigerians too.
Any final words?
I have always used Instagram and then for the last 18 months Twitter as a vehicle to challenge these perceptions. I committed at the start of 2017 to post a positive tweet every day in 2017 from my @Andrew007Uk handle. I am on track and almost half way through the year there are 5 other Nigerians who are doing the same. And it is important the positive story ultimately comes from Nigerians, not from me. So, as easy as it an be to use social media to vent your rage and frustration, do try to find time for a positive message each day too. If you see something of beauty, why not post with using #visitNGsoon? Nigerians have as much to be proud of as anyone and I am proud to have served therefor three years. If it is God’s will I will return one day!
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