US advisory To citizens can create panic, affect economy – Minister

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris says Nigeria is safe and open to foreign investments and tourists to explore and benefit.

Idris made this known in his address at an interactive session with senior media editors and executives on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Nov. 3, the U.S. Embassy issued a notice of an increased threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities.

According to the Minister, all countries in the world have one challenge which could be economic, political, gun violence, social, or cultural.

“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.

Read Also: Saudi Arabia sponsors Kano conjoined twins for surgical operations

“What we have seen is that such advisories do not achieve anything other than needless panic, and they can have a severe adverse economic impact, not to mention 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.

“These measures include intense intelligence gathering, acquisition and deployment of additional platforms, training, and re-training of personnel, and cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, among others, to maintain a secure environment.

“The Nigerian Government is dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing 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.

“Our country is relatively safe and open to foreign investment and tourists to come and invest, explore, and ripe the benefits,” Idris stressed.

He further explained that the Nigerian security agencies have been very busy, doing their best to keep us all safe.

The Minister emphasized that in various parts of Kaduna State, seven bandits were neutralized, in various operations between Nov. 1 and Nov. 3.

He explained that on Nov. 3  in Kano State, 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.

He added that the dawn raid operation successfully averted 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, and 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.

“The Air Force has also recently taken delivery of four new aircraft, to strengthen the fight against banditry and terrorism.

Read Also: University don challenges media professionals on ethical reporting

“In our maritime environment, on Oct. 25, the Eastern and Central Naval Commands flagged off a Joint Sea Exercise, Exercise SEA GUARDIAN 2023.

“I have taken some time to outline some of these efforts to make the point that our security and intelligence agencies are constantly at work, foiling threats, and neutralizing those who seek to undermine the security of the country,” he said.

The Minister said such successes deserve the full support of all Nigerians the media included.

He urged Nigerians and the media to pay attention to what the armed forces are doing and give amplified coverage to their successes and gains.

“The bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, pirates, etc are waging not only a physical battle but also a psychological one, trying to undermine our faith and confidence in our security agencies.

Read Also: Tinubu appoints members of presidential media advisory team

“As media leaders, we must be very careful to not play into their hands, through reporting that might be misleading or sensational or that undermines the morale of our security personnel,” Idris said.

NAN reports that those present during the interactive session include the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of NAN, Mr. Ali M. Ali, and Mr Silas Nwoha, respectively.

Others were the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Jibrin Ndace, the Director-General of National Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Charles Ebuebu, and many media gurus and personalities across the country. (NAN)