Nigerian government assures citizens, foreigners of adequate security

Nigerian government assures citizens, foreigners of adequate security
Adoba Echono, Abuja

General Andrew Azazi (rtd),The National security Adviser

The Nigerian government has assured its citizens and foreigners of adequate security despite the unfortunate events in Borno and Yobe states in the North Eastern Part of the country on the eve of the Eid-al-Adha celebration.

The Director of Public Relations of Nigeria’s State Security Services (SSS), Merylyn  Orgar, gave the assurance in an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

Threats on luxury hotels

On the current threat of attack on three luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in the nation's capital, Miss Orgar said for over three months the security services had taken proactive measures to protect the designated facilities.

“We all know that we have internal security challenges its nothing new and we also know that the internet is also a means to spread propaganda. We ask from where this information came from and discovered it started as a twitter message before a mischievous individual sent it as an email. We actually thought that this had been addressed because I do not see any problem which is beyond the security agencies therefore we have deployed men and beefed up security everywhere,” the spokesman of the SSS said.

The National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi (rtd), in a statement also urged both Nigerians and foreigners not to panic and to go about their normal business as adequate counter measures to secure lives and property were firmly in place

The US Embassy had warned about a threat by Boko Haram to bomb selected parts of Abuja, particularly three luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in the nation's capital.

The unusually specific warning from US diplomats identified possible targets of the Islamic sect as the Hilton, Nicon Luxury and Sheraton hotels. Those hotels draw diplomats, politicians and Nigeria's business elite daily in the country's capital of Abuja.

The embassy said the attack may come as Nigeria celebrates Eid-al-Adha and that its diplomats and staff had been instructed to avoid those hotels.

An embassy spokeswoman, Deb MacLean, declined to offer further details about the threat or the source of the information.

Business activities unhindered

The Business activities continued unhindered at various Hotels in Abuja despite the tension created over the alleged likely attacks by Boko Haram.

The three identified Luxury hotels The Sheraton, Transcorp Hilton and Nicon Luxury Hotels in Abuja are carrying on with business as usual, although in an atmosphere charged with strict security measures.

Increased numbers of security personnel comprising soldiers, State Security Service operatives (SSS), Police, Civil Defense, and private security personnel could be seen at the hotels' entrances with more robust security checks at the entrances.

Hotel clientele appeared to be going about their usual business amidst the apparent high security alert at the relaxation spots.

A top security source at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, who did not want his name in print, bemoaned the manner in which the US embassy relayed the travel warnings to its citizens without first informing the hotel authorities.

He said that the security agents at the Hotel had been put on alert and were working with other government agencies to ensure safety at the hotel.

He said: “As you can see people are not running out of here; business is going on as normal and security personnel are all over the place making sure our clients are safe.”

When contacted the spokesman of Transcorp, Hilton Shola Adeyemo, said: “In our kind of business, it is normal for countries to issue travel warnings to their nationals, which could affect our businesses, but we have learnt to live with it. We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff and we have been doing all within our ability in that regard. We will keep doing so.”

On her part, the spokesperson of the Abuja Sheraton Hotel, Mrs. Tyem Nanji, said: “We don't want to comment. We can’t comment on it. The security alerts were issued by the America government. We didn't see anything related to security breach. I think it is better to direct further inquiries to the US”.

Williams