Regarding the Abuja travel advice, Lai Mohammed makes fun of embassies

Lai Mohammed, the minister of communications and culture, made fun of foreign embassies on Monday for issuing travel advice telling their residents to avoid Abuja because of the possibility of a terrorist attack.

He claimed that despite the Federal Government's promises, many locals and visitors were unnerved by their advisories and left the nation's capital.

He gave a speech in Abuja at the 25th annual PMB Administration Scorecard Series.

Let me take this opportunity to thank our security agencies for the sacrifices they have made to keep us safe, he said. Ladies and gentlemen, you may recall that the US and UK embassies in Nigeria issued travel warnings in October 2022 advising its nationals to avoid Abuja owing to the possibility of a terrorist attack.

This warnings greatly stoked national panic. In fact, it was said that a number of Americans left Abuja as soon as the warning was issued.

Remember that we responded to the advisories by assuring both Nigerians and foreigners living there of their safety and stating that our security authorities are on top of the situation.

Despite the warnings, he praised the military and other security organizations for keeping the FCT secure.

However, the minister urged western nations to refrain from issuing pointless travel warnings against Nigeria.

"Almost three months after the pointless advisories, Abuja citizens have been doing daily activities without feeling threatened.

In light of this, we once more want to express our gratitude to our brave soldiers, law enforcement, intelligence services, and all other security organizations for their dedication to and sacrifice on behalf of keeping our nation safe. We also urge Nigerians to support the security forces as they continue their difficult work, supporting the President's appeal for the West to stop issuing pointless travel warnings against the country, said Mohammed.