News In Brief

Britain handed $9 million by Nigeria in debt clearance

Nigeria's military government repeated a pledge Wednesday to honor all foreign debts, then handed Britain a $9 million check. Ezekiel Dimka, Nigeria's top diplomat in London, spoke at a news conference before presenting Britain with a lump sum for pensions paid to British civil servants who served in Nigeria before its independence in 1960. He said it was an act of good faith, indicative of Nigeria's desire to maintain good relations with Britain.

The foiled kidnap in Britain of prominent opposition politician Umaru Dikko, found drugged in an air crate last month, had strained relations between Britain and its former colony. Mr. Dikko was wanted by the Nigerian government on charges of large-scale corruption.