The Federal Government of Nigeria has described the travel advisory volunteered to the government by the United States and United Kingdom governments, and other foreign missions, as a storm in a tea cup.
According to the Federal Government, the US terror alert and warning of their citizens in Nigeria was unnecessary because the hype and the sense of insecurity America created were unfounded.
The Federal Government said the situation on ground was not that dire to warrant the travel advisories by the foreign missions, and warning of their citizens to avoid travelling to Nigeria, particularly Abuja, because of a purported potential terror attack in the city.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), on Monday while addressing State House at the end of the emergency security meeting called and presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigerian citizens are not in danger.
He was responding to the heightened tension in Abuja on weekend following the security alerts first by the United States and United Kingdom governments, and then by other foreign Mission.
Monguno, who briefed journalists alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, told Nigerians not to panic.
He stated that the US terror alert addressed to its citizens in Nigeria was unnecessary because the hype and the sense of insecurity America created were unfounded.
He urged Nigerians and other residents to go about their daily lives as usual.
According to the NSA, the armed forces, security, and intelligence organizations are working assiduously with their mandate to keep every Nigerian and every area of the nation secure.
Those at the meeting includes; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
Others were the Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi.
Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, led the service chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, and the Chief of Defense Intelligence, Major-General Samuel Adebayo.
Details later…
