Abuja safe, no cause for alarm, FG assures amid U.S. travel warning<\/p>\n
* Armed Forces, others will continue to make Nigeria secure, says Defence Headquarters<\/p>\n
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The Federal Government has assured citizens, residents, and visitors of Abuja\u2019s safety, addressing concerns raised by a recent U.S. Embassy security advisory restricting non-official travel by its staff and families to military and government facilities within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).<\/p>\n
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris acknowledged the advisory in a statement yesterday but emphasised that Abuja remains safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the Federal Government recognises and respects the right of foreign missions, including the U.S. Embassy, to issue travel advisories to their citizens, it is important to state categorically that Abuja remains safe for citizens, residents, and visitors alike,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Idris highlighted the proactive measures undertaken by Nigeria\u2019s security agencies to ensure the safety of the FCT. \u201cThe current security architecture in Abuja has not only been proactive but has also recorded significant successes in detecting, preventing, and neutralising threats,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
“Our security and intelligence agencies are
\nmonitoring developments across the country and are fully prepared to respond decisively to any threat,\u201d he assured, encouraging the public to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.<\/p>\n
Also, in a phone chat with The Guardian, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), through its spokesperson, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said: \u201cThe Armed Forces, along with other security agencies, will continue to make Abuja and other parts of Nigeria safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The United States mission in Nigeria issued the security advisory on Sunday, following heightened security concerns attributed to recent global developments. It urged American nationals residing or travelling in Nigeria to exercise increased caution.<\/p>\n
The advisory stated that all U.S. embassy employees and their families are prohibited from visiting military sites or government venues in Abuja except on official business.<\/p>\n
The mission emphasised the importance of vigilance in public spaces, particularly in areas frequented by Westerners, expatriates, and government officials. \u201cStay alert in public places and be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid large gatherings and limit unnecessary travel,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
It also advised U.S. citizens to \u201cvary daily routines to reduce predictability\u201d and \u201cfamiliarise oneself with emergency exits in buildings\u201d while reviewing and updating personal security plans.<\/p>\n
Despite these restrictions, the Consular Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos remain open to provide assistance.<\/p>\n
The advisory urged U.S. citizens to monitor updates on the mission\u2019s official website and enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme (STEP) for timely security notifications.<\/p>\n
(The Guardian)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Abuja safe, no cause for alarm, FG assures amid U.S. travel warning * Armed Forces, others will continue to make Nigeria secure, says Defence Headquarters \u2022 CDS: Hunger, poverty now major threats to nation\u2019s security \u2022 IGP rejects calls for citizens to bear arms, advocates dialogue, tolerance The Federal Government has assured citizens, residents, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":146610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,323,18,424],"tags":[1487,1488,100,1489],"class_list":{"0":"post-146609","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-international","9":"category-news","10":"category-security","11":"tag-abuja-safe","12":"tag-assures","13":"tag-fg","14":"tag-u-s-travel-warning"},"yoast_head":"\n