US, UK: One advisory too many

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Like someone mocking the misfortune of their adversary, Nigerians woke up on Wednesday to learn of yet another security advisory by the United Kingdom (UK) asking its nationals in Nigeria to avoid visiting banks and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the country.

It is no exaggeration to say that the latest security alert from the UK came at one of Nigeria’s most trying times in its contemporary political history. The statement conveying the advisory did not say a word of empathy with Nigeria but advised UK citizens to keep off some public places. A close look at the statement shows that almost all the major states and cities in the country have been marked out as danger spots.

The advisory was issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), amid violent protests in some parts of the country over the scarcity of naira notes, following the implementation of a cashless policy regime by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The advisory published on the FCDO website, stated thus, “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed the redesign and issue of new N200, N500 and N1000 Naira notes. This has led to shortages of cash, which are likely to persist for a period. You are encouraged to check notes provided by currency exchange vendors will be valid for the duration of your travel to Nigeria, and to follow local CBN guidelines.

“Areas such as banks and ATMs have seen a spike in criminal activity, and as such, it is advised that you take extra precautions particularly when withdrawing cash in crowded spaces, and during night time hours. There have been outbreaks of violence in southwest Nigeria as a result of cash shortages, and there is a risk of other urban areas being impacted across the country. We advise travelers in Nigeria to exercise their judgment, including being aware of any large crowds or potential disturbances.”

The Foreign Office also warned of possible terrorist attacks in parts of the country, and advised citizens against visiting some states, including Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara. It also asked citizens to avoid riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The FCDO also advised against all, but essential travel to Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, and within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State, Abia State, non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States, as well as Plateau State and Taraba State.

Before now there were other security alerts issued by the United Kingdom, United States and other nations to their citizens in Nigeria asking them to take sensible precautions to ensure their safety.

The UK and the UK in particular have made appear as of the two most advanced democracies were in a race for who would issue the most security alerts to their citizens in Nigeria.

Nevertheless, the Department of State Service (DSS), Nigerian secret police, has riaen to the occasion and told citizens there was no cause for alarm over the frequent security alerts.

A statement by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has received several enquiries relating to the security advisory issued by the US Embassy in Abuja, on Sunday, October 23, 2022. The public may recall that the Service had variously issued similar warnings in the past.” It urged all to be calm and go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation.

The US followed up the alarm raised by authorising the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families from Nigeria, an action that triggered fears and panic among Nigerians.

But a security expert who commented on the United States’ action, said it did not call for panic, as according to him, “the action is a standard crisis management procedure.”

However, the alarm has continued to trigger apprehension and deep fears, thereby, unsettling the ever-bubbling seat of power and its government of Nigeria.

Security experts have, nevertheless, described the frequency of these terror alerts issued by the US and UK as “completely unfortunate,” even as to they urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, commending the country’s success in battling smouldering terrorism. They noted that Nigeria was recording major successes in battling terrorism and banditry afflicting the country on different fronts..

Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed did not hide his resentment for the advisories as he has very often alleged mischief in the act. With a wave of the hand, he dismissed the alert, there was no “threat” in Abuja, the country’s capital, since all the travel advisories issued by the United Kingdom and United States.

Speaking on Monday at the 25th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) scorecard series, Mohammed warned foreign countries to stop issuing “frivolous” travel advisories.

Lai recalled that on October 23, 2022, the UK warned of an increased threat of terrorist attack in the FCT, and urged its citizens to stay alert and avoid visits to public places in the area.

“The UK also restricted access to the British High Commission in Abuja. Days later, the UK warned British nationals to avoid non- to commend our security agencies for their sacrifices to keep us safe.

“Recall, ladies and gentlemen, that in October 2022, the US and UK embassies in Nigeria issued travel advisories warning their citizens to avoid Abuja due to the risk of a terrorist attack.

“This advisory created much panic in the country. As a matter of fact, a number of Americans were reported to have fled Abuja in the wake of the warning.

“Recall also that in our reaction to the advisory, we reassured Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in the country of their safety and noted that our security agencies are essential travel to Abuja.

Nigeria’s sovereignty and ability to protect its citizens and other nationals living in the country.

Much as security experts have recognised that the alerts were a standard communication directed to their citizens, they also opined that such information should have been communicated to the local authorities through the right channels for prevent actions to me taking instead of climbing the roof top to announce to the world, probably in a bid to suggest that the nation’s intelligence apparatus are weak.

According to them, the ideal thing would have been for the ambassadors of those countries to inform the local authorities about the potential threats, who will in turn announce such an alert or take necessary measures. This would have been the best procedure to follow, they said.

“On October 25, 2022, the US authorised the evacuation of “non-emergency” employees and their family members in Nigeria over “heightened risk of terrorist attacks”.

Reacting to the advisories, the federal government criticised the US and UK for issuing the terror alerts without taking the local authorities into confidence by way of information sharing.

Lai commended the security agencies for keeping the nation safe saying that residents of Abuja have been going about their businesses without any threat since the travel advisories were issued.

Recounting the “panic” created by the advisories, the Information Minister said some Americans reportedly left the country over the warning.

He commended the security agencies for their sacrifices to keep the country safe amid the terror alerts.

He said: Let me use this occasion on top of the matter.

“Almost three months after the frivolous advisory, residents of Abuja have been going about their businesses without any threat.

“It is in this light that we want to once again, commend our gallant troops, the police, the intelligence agencies, and all other security agencies for their commitment and sacrifice to keep our country safe.

“We also call on Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies as they carry out their onerous task, while echoing Mr. President’s call on Western countries to stop issuing frivolous travel advisories on Nigeria.”

It will be an understatement to say that these security alerts have caused a lot of confusion, concerns and, in some cases, apprehension and anger in the polity.

While some have derided Nigeria’s intelligence agencies for failure to pick up the security threats before the foreign powers latches on them, others have accused the foreign nations of undermining

That is not to say that nation’s should abandon their responsibilities to their citizens. Based on defence policy, intelligence and international security strategy and reform, every nation has a primary responsibility to protect its citizens, regardless of where they are located. That is why countries like Britain, Germany, France, and Australia have issued similar alerts for their citizens abroad, and have done the same for their citizens in Nigeria.

Again, it should be noted that security threat alerts are a common feature of US security practices both at home and abroad.

It has been suggested that Nigeria needs to pay more attention to the performance and capacity of its own intelligence services with a view to sharing intelligence with the embassies it hosts.

That way, the country’s intelligence agencies will be able to earn the confidence of their foreign counterparts with respect to the capacity to detect and deal will any form of threats that may arise, thereby denying their counterparts the privilege of always rushing to the press with such information, and save the nation the constant embarrassment generated by their security alerts.