Abuja terror alert frustrating drive for foreign direct investments—Analysts
Top security analysts have expressed regrets over the recent terror alerts given to her citizens by UK and US governments wishing to come to Abuja, saying the development remains the worst draw back to the nation’s campaign for deep pocket foreign investors.
However, the Federal Government has assured that adequate security measures have been adopted to thwart any terror attack on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and elsewhere around the country within and after the approaching yuletide.
In an interview, a top security analyst who pleaded anonymity said “Such alerts coming by this time of the year when new businesses are wishing to key into to the blossoming real sector especially after the recession period is very sad”.
“We do not know their data or how they got it, but what I know is that time is almost gone when terror attacks can rip the Federal Capital territory.
The federal government had in a statement by Segun Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said “there is no cause for alarm despite the latest travel advisories by some Western countries”.
“We know that the terrorists, who have been massively degraded and put on the run, have been looking for soft targets to attack.
“This is the nature of terrorism all over the world, as can be seen in recent attacks in the UK, France and Egypt, among others.
“That is why the Nigerian security agencies have continued to be on the alert, even if their efforts have been largely unobtrusive so as not to disrupt the daily activities of the citizenry.
“Such efforts are routinely stepped up during religious festivals,” he said.
Mohammed said the Federal Government would continue to take adequate measures to protect the lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike.
He reiterated that the military remained unrelenting in ensuring that the terrorists neither regrouped nor regained the capacity to carry out organised attacks.
Details of the said terror alert showed that the UK government asked its citizens to stay away from crowded places in Nigeria during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
It said there are plans by unnamed insurgent groups to bomb the FCT.
In a travel advisory to its citizens, the UK government listed worship places, malls and markets amongst other places that should be avoided.
“The risk of terrorist attack increases around religious festivals, so will be elevated in the run up to and throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period,” it reads.
“Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) area during this period.
“You should avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people.”
Also, the US embassy in Nigeria asked its citizens to be security conscious and “remain aware of your surroundings”.
The advisory reads: “The US Mission urges all US citizens to exercise caution in and around shopping centres, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, and other places where crowds gather in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from now through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season.
“Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in this area during this period.”
No other country had given related alerts to their nationals.
