Presidency Panics As Deadly International Report Throws Buhari Off Balance

The latest Security alert released by the United States of America, US, has thrown the Presidency into confusion, Post-Nigeria gathered.

Earlier, a statement from the United States, had warned its citizens against travelling to 20 States in Nigerian, over security concerns.

In the travel warning, the US listed the Nigerian States to be avoided as: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

“The ability of the Mission to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States remains severely limited. The Department recommends against all, but essential travel to the following States, due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks.

“The U.S. Mission advises all U.S. citizens to be particularly vigilant around government security facilities; churches, mosques, and other places of worship; locations where large crowds may gather, such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

“Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened, due to threats posed by extremist groups, and U.S. citizens may encounter police and military checkpoints, additional security, and possible road blocks throughout the country,” the warning read.

However, the Federal Government on Thursday, August 11, while hosting a delegation from the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, ATPN, responded to the security concerns raised by the US authorities.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the government, observed that the US is itself the subject of terrorism attacks, as there is no week when a killing is not recorded.

He said: “Recently, all the newspapers carried the negative story that 20 States in Nigeria are not safe, according to a US report.

“We are in Nigeria, how can we believe the claim that 20 States in Nigeria are not safe? That is not correct. There is no State in Nigeria that is not safe today.

“Is there any week they are not killing people in the US, by either shooting in schools or driveways, or people committing suicide or mass bombing?

“How many of these stories do their media celebrate? If they want to tell their people not to come to Nigeria, it is not for us to help them propagate it”.

He urged the media and members of the association to complement efforts of government to re-position the tourism sector, saying the sector is driven by perception rather than reality.

He implored every Nigerian to invest in perception management for the country.

He also urged leaders in the public and private sectors, to help promote local tourism, by spending their vacations and holidays at tourist sites within the country.

Mohammed, concluded that his ministry would soon embark on visitation of major tourist sites in the country, to assess their potential for development.