The Federal Government yesterday said the security situation on the ground is not that dire to warrant
the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and other foreign missions warning their citizens to avoid travelling to Nigeria, particularly Abuja, because of a potential
terror attack in the city.

The government also allayed the fears of the citizens, assuring them of their safety.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), who stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the emergency security meeting summoned by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said Nigerian citizens are not in danger.

Monguno, flanked by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, and the Director-General of the Nation- al Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai
Abubakar, said the panic that followed the US terror alert addressed to its citizens in Nigeria was unnecessary because the hype and the sense of insecurity it created were unfounded.

He urged Nigerians and other residents togo about their daily lives as usual.

The NSA also said the Armed Forces, security, and intelligence organisations are continuing with their mandate to keep every Nigerian and area of the nation secure.

Monguno, who disclosed that the meeting, was to discuss recent happenings within the FCT and certain declarations and alerts coming from various quarters in- sinuating growing insecurity and threat to
security within Abuja and environments, assured that the country and the capital remained secured

According to him, “In rounding off, I will like to first and foremost, assure all the citizens of this country that any exaggerated sense of insecurity, any hype about the disintegration of our security forces,
intelligence agencies, is unfounded.

I want to assure Nigerians that so far, the situation has been under control, and the intelligence and security agencies have made a lot of arrests.

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“The issue of Nigerians being made to panic is unnecessary. The situation in various areas of the Federal Capital Territory has been brought under control and we are trying as much as possible to work with our neighbours and, within the domestic situation, to work with our foreign partners responsibly, without giving the impression that Nigeria is skating on thin ice and we’re about to implode.

“I will want to dispel any illusion about any heightened sense of insecurity. It is false, it is irresponsible for anybody to give that signal. We are working with our foreign partners in a responsible way and Nigerians should go about their normal daily undertakings without being put in a situation of fear.”

•FG punctures claims that citizens face harm and likelihood of implosion Asked specifically to state whether the
advisories were false as dismissed by the Inspector-General of Police, the NSA said, “We’ve been sharing intelligence with not just the US, but with other partners and we’ve been acting on the intelligence; we’ve been working.

“Has anything happened so far? No, nothing has happened, but they went ahead to issue this advisory to their people and of course, the connotations are there, they could have various reasons for doing that.

This is the first time it is happening. Come on, this is the first time it is happening.

“I don’t have that crystal ball to know the workings of their minds, but the truth is that the alert was for their citizens. Probably how it was released became complicated at the end of the day.

“These are conjectures. There’s nothing specific. It is an unnecessary distraction. As far as we are concerned, the safety, the security of Nigerians is paramount and as far as we know, there’s nothing untoward so far.

“Nigerians should be allowed to go about their legitimate undertakings without being put in a tight spot. The country is safe, Abuja is safe.”

Others in attendance included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.
Also present was the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.); Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and Minister
of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi.

Service Chiefs at the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Farouk Ya- haya; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Awwal Gambo and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj-Gen. Samuel Adebayo was also in attendance