British envoy seeks talks between Nigeria and creditors
From Tunji Omofoye, Ibadan
IF the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Gozney, had his way, Nigeria would negotiate with its creditors on how best to handle the $30 billion the country is owing them.
According to the envoy, the Paris Club, one of the creditors, works by consensus, stressing the need for Nigeria to opt for persuasion.
The High Commissioner was in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on a courtesy visit to Governor Rashidi Ladoja and the office of a non-governmental organisation, Educare Trust.
"The Paris Club works by consensus, not by majority, and that means that Nigeria needs to convince the body as a whole so that the debt would be handled in a way that makes it sustainable," he said.
He noted that the current payment schedule of $1 billion yearly would not sustain the nation's sovereign debt, insisting that the debt servicing should be supported by a programme of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"We can see that in previous cases where countries of high sovereign debt, such as you have here, have solved the issue by signing to IMF programme but that is not practically set here," he said.
The diplomat added: "As far as I know, there is one example of a country with heavy sovereign debt which is asking for rescheduling, not debt forgiveness. I know of no country where that is happening without a formal IMF programme but that doesn't mean to say that it cannot happen but it will be something new."
At the governor's office, the High Commissioner also hinted that a British Consular office would soon be established in the state to facilitate easy issuance of visas to applicants.
Commenting on incessant strikes in the country, Gozney pleaded with stakeholders in the democratic process to handle the issue with caution and allow consensus of opinion to prevail to sustain democracy.
According to him, "the British government will be interested in allowing the spirit of democracy to prevail in handling the issue.
"We in Britain care about the success of building democratic consensus in the country. The President and the ministers have to do a job of persuasion and debate with the other elements, the National Assembly, the civil populace and the press," he said.
At Educare Trust where he inspected facilities and an exhibition to mark the organisation's 10th year anniversary after a musical performance in his honour, the diplomat praised the effort of the group in helping to develop the youths' potential.
He said: "The role of an organisation like this although is very small and very modest, the efforts to engage the youths, primary and secondary school children and others, I see it as a way to fortify them against some of the temptations of the 21st century.
"In this 21st century, teenagers are very vulnerable to all sorts of terrible pressures whether in Nigeria or in London and if you can have an organisation like Educare Trust which helps to fortify and reinforce the natural instincts in children, the society will be pleased and we too will be pleased," he stated.
He pledged the continued support of the British government's Department for International Development (DFID) to the organisation.
Executive Director of Educare Trust, Dr. Tony Marinho, had earlier stated the commitment of the group to the development of the youths as part of efforts at developing the country.
The board of Educare Trust, including Justice Bola Babalakin, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. J.F. Ade-Ajayi, Dr. Tunde Oni and the daughter of the late Chief Bola Ige, Mrs. Funso Adegbola, received the high commissioner.
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