The federal government said Wednesday that Nigeria is safe and would not be stampeded by what the governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom instruct their citizens to do.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, said despite the attempts by terrorists to embarrass government, security agencies have in the last few months taken firm control of the situation.
“This so called travel advisory as far as we’re concerned, as a government we have in the last few months, taken a firm handle of security.
“What I said is that click baiting, which is, you find a story which is not verified and you immediately share it, always causes panic.
“But I want to reassure both citizens, non-Nigerians, Nigerians living in this country, that security agencies are on top of this matter.
“Of course, the terrorists would not stop to try to embarrass or intimidate government but what I’m saying is that this country is safe. And there’s no cause for alarm. No cause to panic.
“Unfortunately, because of that travel advisory on Sunday many schools were closed, shops were closed, travel plans were disrupted, we don’t need it. The security – our soldiers, our police are working round the clock to contain any terrorist attack. This is where we stand,” he said.
He said it is we within the rights of the U. S and U.K governments yo advise their citizens in Nigeria on what to do.
He said even Nigeria Mission in the U.S and U.K can advise Nigerians on their movement in the two countries.
“I read it (advisory) that those on non emergency should live Nigeria. You see, just like if Nigeria Mission in the US also sends a travel advisory and warning in Houston and say, look, don’t go, don’t take your children to school, because there could be mass shooting tomorrow. I mean, it is within their rights to say that their people should go home if they want to.
“But we as a country, have a responsibility to keep our country safe, and we’re not going to be, you know, stampeded at all, by whatever any government decides to tell his people,” he said.
On whether the federal government is concerned about the perception the advisory can create in the minds of investors, and the steps that might be taken to prevent it, the minister advised citizens to desist from spreading unverified news.
“The concrete step is that people should stop spreading unverified news that is what saying. You see, look how many school shootings happen in the US? how many senseless killings happened in the US?
“So have they been able to predict what’s going to happen next which school is going to be a victim next? Do Nigerians in the US also feel safe?
“I think you should stop demarketing your home country. Every country has its security challenges. We have ours and we are facing them,” he said.
