The Federal Government has said three months after United States of America (U.S.) and United Kingdom (UK) embassies issued frivolous travel advisories, warning their citizens to avoid Abuja, the city has remained safe.
The Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed spoke yesterday in Abuja at the 25th President Muhammadu Buhari’s (PMB) Scorecard Series.
The two countries had warned their citizens to avoid Abuja due to risk of terrorist attacks.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the edition featured Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.), who presented scorecard of his ministry.
Mohammed said the advisories by U.S. and UK created panic and tension and a number of Americans reportedly fled Abuja.
The minister noted that since the advisories, residents had been going about their businesses without threat.
He hailed the security agencies for their sacrifices to keep Nigeria and Nigerians safe.
“We want to commend our troops, police, intelligence agencies, and other agencies for their commitment and sacrifice.
“We also call on Nigerians to continue to support security agencies,” he said.
Mohammed re-echoed President Buhari’s call on Western countries to stop issuing frivolous travel advisories on Nigeria.
Magashi said the Navy has procured 415 platforms since inception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The minister said the platforms were of various types and mix, adding the effort was part of the fleet renewal of the Navy.
He said the Navy deployed 14 ships along the nation’s coastline in areas prone to illegalities under the Choke Point Regime and Control Operations.
Magashi said Buhari’s administration facilitated procurement of 16 fast attack craft, while Navy took delivery of one survey ship (NNS LANA).
The minister also said the Navy also took delivery of one landing ship transport (NNS KADA).
He noted that 10 aluminum air boats had joined the fleet, while AW 139 Leonardo and A109SP helicopter had been delivered to Navy.
Magashi said the survey ship had begun a systematic hydrographic survey and charting of the nation’s coastal and offshore waters.
The minister also said the landing ship recently returned from Guinea Bissau on an ECOWAS mission.
He said in the coming months, the Navy would take delivery of 2 by 76m Endurance Offshore Patrol vessels, 2 by 28m Fast Patrol Craft, and 40 by 9m Fast Patrol Boats and 80 Flat bottom Boats.
Magashi added that others are: 10 Aluminum Air Boats, three brand new helicopters and four type EP 55 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which would be integrated with the MDA systems.
The minister, who also spoke on aircraft acquisition and reactivation, announced that it had acquired 38 brand new aircraft to boost training and combat readiness of the Air Force since 2015.
He said the newly acquired aircraft include 10 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, five Mi-35M helicopter gunships and two Bell 412 helicopters.
According to him, others are: four Agusta 109 Power attack helicopters, two MI-171E helicopters, three JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft and, more recently,12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, besides a number of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs).
Magashi explained that the NAF had sustained reactivation of hitherto unserviceable platforms to upscale its capabilities in tackling insurgency, terrorism, armed banditry and other forms of criminality.
He said: “To this end, 17 previously grounded aircraft, including the Super Puma, F-7Ni, EC-135, DO-228, Mi-24V, Mi-35P C-130H, L-39ZA and Alpha jet, have been reactivated.”