Says Advice Has Severe Economic Impact
Undermines govts effort at attracting investment
The Federal Government has faulted the generalization of Nigerian hospitality outfits in the travel advisory issued by the United States Government.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who spoke yesterday in Abuja, said that such advisory achieve other than needless panic, which can have severe adverse economic impact as well as undermined government’s efforts to attract investment.
The Minister said: “We understand the concerns raised by the United States government in their recent travel advisory, but believe that it is imperative that we do not generalize isolated incidents across the entire hospitality industry.
“What we have seen is that such advisories do not achieve anything other than needless panic, and they can have severe adverse economic impact, not to talk of what they do to undermine the government’s efforts to attract investment.
“We have consistently prioritized the safety and well-being of all visitors to our country. We have implemented comprehensive security measures both at the federal and state levels, to ensure the safety of tourists and international guests.”
Adding: “These measures include intense intelligence gathering, acquisition and deployment of additional platforms, training and re-training of personnel, cooperation with international law and enforcement agencies to maintain a secure environment.”
The United States and the United Kingdom have issued security alerts warning their citizens of an elevated threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities.
The warnings came ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, scheduled to take place November 11.
In a statement issued on November 3, the US Embassy in Nigeria, said it was aware of “credible information” that there was an elevated threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities.
The statement further advised US citizens to “exercise vigilance” and “consider avoiding major hotels altogether” in the days leading up to and during the elections.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), also issued a similar travel advisory on November 4, advising against all but essential travels to the states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.
The FCDO equally advised against all travels to the states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Speaking Monday on the efforts of security agencies for arrest the situation, the Minister assured that government was dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians and visitors to the country and will continue to work towards maintaining a secure and hospitable environment for tourists and business travelers and the likes.
He said: “Our security agencies have been very busy, doing their best to keep us all safe. In various parts of Kaduna State, seven bandits were neutralized in various operations between the 1st and 3rd of November.
“In Kano State on November 3, a joint operation by troops of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services carried out a dawn raid operation on terrorists’ hideout in Gezawa Local Government Area, successfully averting an imminent attack on Kano by insurgents.
“The operation recovered AK 47 Rifles, AK 47 Rifle Magazines, a Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG), RPG Bombs, Hand Grenades, Improvised Explosive Device (IED)-making materials, among others.
“In Katsina, two NYSC members abducted by bandits were successfully rescued. In the North-East and North-West of the country, the Nigerian Air Force has been very busy with several successful airstrikes on bandits’ and terrorists’ camps and hideouts in Katsina, Zamfara and Borno States.”
Adding: “The Air Force has also recently taken delivery of four new aircraft to strengthen the fight against banditry and terrorism. In our maritime environment, on October 25, the Eastern and Central Naval Commands flagged off a Joint Sea Exercise, Exercise Sea Guardian 2023.”
The Minister said he was listing some of these efforts to establish that security and intelligence agencies were constantly at work, foiling threats and neutralizing those who seek to undermine the security of the country.
“And for this reason, they deserve the full support of all Nigerians, the media included. Please pay attention to what they are doing and give amplified coverage to their successes and gains”, he added.
He maintained that bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements were waging physical and psychological battles to undermine efforts of security agencies.
He therefore urged the media to be careful in order not to play into their hands by reporting news that might be misleading, sensational or that which may undermine the morale of security personnel.
