The Federal Government on Wednesday reacted to the latest warning by the Embassy of the United States of America that dreaded sect, Boko Haram, is likely to strike in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It said such warning had the capacity of creating undue panic in the country.
Stating the position of the Federal Government after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said inasmuch as every country had the right to safeguard its citizens in countries where they reside, issuing statements that are capable of causing panic was not the best way to go about it.
Rather, Maku said that the foreign countries should work with Nigerian security agencies to ensure the provision of adequate security.
He said that Nigeria's security agencies have improved on the security situation in the country since last year.
He also admonished the media to give lesser publicity to anti-state groups.
The Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja had issued a statement warning its citizens in Nigeria to up their security as Boko Haram would likely strike in Abuja at a time it was yet to establish.
The statement said this was likely to be around major hotels.
But Make told newsmen after the FEC meeting: "I have been in the Federal Executive Council since morning, I have not seen the report or the warning that you are talking about. But, let me say that it is not new. You remember that about a year ago, a similar statement was made by some Embassies and I think we discussed that in this Council, we tried to respond to it.
"Whereas we believe that every country has a duty to secure its citizens and take decision that will ensure the safety of their nationals, we have always appealed to such Embassies and Agencies not to create public panic in our country.
"This is because some of these statements that are often issued create undue panic among the general public.
"I will still appeal that foreign embassies and organisations that are working within Nigeria if they have any doubt at all about the preparedness of our agencies to secure public places, I think it will be wise to communicate that to us.
"But, I must say that our security agencies have over the last year increased their capacity to respond to some of the threats particularly within this City and several other cities.
"And I believe that a lot of work is being done. And we also know that when the issue came up last year our security agencies reassured the nation of our preparedness to safeguard all our public places especially the hotels.
"So, I will continue to appeal to all the foreign agencies working in our country to align more with our security rather than often running to make statements that can create undue panic among the public and am not sure that security comes from such measures.
"I understand the responsibility of the media but, we are beginning to get a lot of panic from the sensational report we have been giving to anti-state groups.
"I think we have a responsibility to this country to be very deliberate in the kind of attention and space we are giving to anti-state groups.
"I believe it is wrong, I believe it is creating panic and hate across the country."
Stating the position of the Federal Government after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said inasmuch as every country had the right to safeguard its citizens in countries where they reside, issuing statements that are capable of causing panic was not the best way to go about it.
Rather, Maku said that the foreign countries should work with Nigerian security agencies to ensure the provision of adequate security.
He said that Nigeria's security agencies have improved on the security situation in the country since last year.
He also admonished the media to give lesser publicity to anti-state groups.
The Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja had issued a statement warning its citizens in Nigeria to up their security as Boko Haram would likely strike in Abuja at a time it was yet to establish.
The statement said this was likely to be around major hotels.
But Make told newsmen after the FEC meeting: "I have been in the Federal Executive Council since morning, I have not seen the report or the warning that you are talking about. But, let me say that it is not new. You remember that about a year ago, a similar statement was made by some Embassies and I think we discussed that in this Council, we tried to respond to it.
"Whereas we believe that every country has a duty to secure its citizens and take decision that will ensure the safety of their nationals, we have always appealed to such Embassies and Agencies not to create public panic in our country.
"This is because some of these statements that are often issued create undue panic among the general public.
"I will still appeal that foreign embassies and organisations that are working within Nigeria if they have any doubt at all about the preparedness of our agencies to secure public places, I think it will be wise to communicate that to us.
"But, I must say that our security agencies have over the last year increased their capacity to respond to some of the threats particularly within this City and several other cities.
"And I believe that a lot of work is being done. And we also know that when the issue came up last year our security agencies reassured the nation of our preparedness to safeguard all our public places especially the hotels.
"So, I will continue to appeal to all the foreign agencies working in our country to align more with our security rather than often running to make statements that can create undue panic among the public and am not sure that security comes from such measures.
"I understand the responsibility of the media but, we are beginning to get a lot of panic from the sensational report we have been giving to anti-state groups.
"I think we have a responsibility to this country to be very deliberate in the kind of attention and space we are giving to anti-state groups.
"I believe it is wrong, I believe it is creating panic and hate across the country."
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