A NIGERIAN government decision to block a visit by an Irish parliamentary group has been strongly criticised by Trocaire and the three TDs who were planning to travel there next week.

The Nigerian Embassy in Dublin told Trocaire on Wednesdays of the decision to refuse entry to the group. According to the charge d'affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin, "due to my government's previous commitments and its tight schedule of programme [sic], it is not auspicious to accommodate, at this time, the visit as proposed".

The decision was yesterday criticised by Trocaire and by the three TDs who had intended to travel. The fact finding mission was to consist of Mr Michael Kitt (FE), Ms Theresa Ahearn (FG), Mr Pat Gallagher (Labour), Mr Eamonn Meehan and Ms Annette Honan of Trocaire and Ms Elaine Walsh, a member of the staff of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Nigerian Embassy was informed on April 4th that a delegation wished to travel and a formal application for visas was made on April 30th. They informed Trocaire on Wednesday of the refusal to grant visas.

Nigeria has been subjected to sustained international criticism of its human rights record, particularly since the executions last year of the Nigerian writer Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other activists for the murder of four prominent Ogoni chiefs. The Nigerians government has pledged to return democracy to the country by 1998.

The head of Trocaire's Overseas Department, Mr Eamonn Meehan, said the blocking of the visit was "disappointing and incomprehensible" in the light of repeated claims by the Nigerian government that its story has been misrepresented.

"A visit of Irish parliamentarians would have served as a means of opening dialogue between Nigeria and the international community, particularly in the context of Ireland assuming presidency of the European Union in the coming weeks," he said. He said Ireland had strong cultural, humanitarian and missionary links with Nigeria.

"This action poses serious questions about the Nigerian government's claim that the transition to democracy is proceeding as planned, including the claim that the ban on political activities has been lifted. It also calls into question the claim that Nigerians enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of movement and freedom of association.

The three TDs, members of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, also criticised the decision. "Any state has a right to decide who to let into its country," said Mr Gallagher yesterday. "Our visit would have been balanced; we would have listened to the government view and Shell Nigeria as well as opposition groups.

"Given that sanctions against Nigeria are coming up for decision at EU level, and that Ireland is taking over the EU presidency, I would have thought they would have allowed us in."

Ms Ahearn said she was very disappointed by the decision. "No one could accept as genuine the reason that they are `too busy'. They still could have allowed us into the country even if the government representatives: were so busy. The fact that they have refused us raises more questions than we had before. It leaves us sceptical and curious about what is going on there."

Mr Kitt said the visit would have been useful, and the refusal of visas "raises very serious questions about the regime in Nigeria".