Former Nigerian Minister Condemns US Travel Advisory
Date
11/13/2023 6:59:32 AM
(MENAFN) Adebayo Shittu, a former communications Minister in Nigeria, has criticized the United States government for what he perceives as stirring unnecessary panic through its recent travel advisory against non-essential travel to Nigeria. Shittu, in an interview with RT on Thursday, denounced the warning as an "unnecessary alarm against the Nigerian state."
The American Embassy in Abuja issued a statement on November 3, citing "credible information that there is an elevated threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities." This followed a travel advisory on the State Department website, last updated in September, which urged individuals to "reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs."
Shittu challenged the advisory, asserting that the crime rate in the United States is higher than in Nigeria. He accused the United States government of pursuing a deliberate strategy to undermine the potential growth of the African nation by instilling fear in the minds of prospective foreign investors.
Echoing Shittu's sentiments, Nigerian Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammad Idris, stated on Monday that the United States travel warnings are causing economic damage. Idris emphasized that such advisories result in needless panic and have a severe adverse economic impact, undermining the government's efforts to attract investment.
The United States elevated its warning level for Nigeria last year, citing the threat of terrorism, and advised against travel to several states. Shittu's criticism reflects broader concerns within the Nigerian government about the impact of such advisories on the country's economic prospects and efforts to attract foreign investment. The debate surrounding these travel warnings underscores the delicate balance between security concerns and the need to foster economic development in the region.
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