FOLLOWING a recent terror alert issued by the United States (U.S.) Embassy in Nigeria to its citizens resident in Abuja and its environs, the Nigerian Embassy in New York has lodged an official complaint with the U.S. government over the matter.The protest letter was addressed to the Protocol Office, United States Department of State in Washington, U.S.It reads: 'The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria presents its compliments to the Department of State of the United States of America and has the honour to refer to the emergency message to all Americans in Abuja issued by the Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja on November 5, 2011, advising them to avoid going to several locations and hotels in Abuja, and asking them to cancel previously scheduled events during the Sallah holidays.'It further advised Americans to expect additional police/military checkpoints, additional security and possibly roadblocks in Abuja for the foreseeable future.'The Embassy wishes to state categorically that the message was badly timed, unwarranted and in conflict with the active collaboration of the security agencies of the United States and Nigeria to neutralise the forces of Boko Haram.'The Embassy also wishes to say that the valuable assistance that Nigeria is receiving from the United States security agencies is still on-going and is yielding positive results in tackling the menace of Boko Haram. A warning of this nature has the potential of adversely affecting the confidence reposed in the collaboration of the security agencies of both countries.'The Embassy also sees the travel alert warning as ill-timed, considering the fact that the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit, scheduled to hold from November 10 to 12, 2011 in Abuja is with the active collaborations of many American corporations that are expected to attend the Summit.This is apart from the valuable support of the American government for Nigerian economic recovery under the auspices of the Nigeria/USA Bi-National Commission. The active American collaboration in the economic development efforts of Nigeria is deeply appreciated.'The unfortunate aspect of the travel alert may have given the reactionary forces of Boko Haram a triumphant feeling of success that American investors have been scared away from Nigeria. The Embassy would therefore appreciate it if the American Embassy in Abuja can exercise a little bit of caution in releasing such security alerts as the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is deploying all its security personnel to ensure the safety of lives and property in Abuja and everywhere in the country.'Expectedly, every nation has its own peculiar security challenges and Nigeria is not an exception but the travel alert may have elicited unhealthy public anxiety and generated expected tension among well-meaning American investors expected in Nigeria from the beginning of the week.'The Embassy wishes to emphasise that the Nigerian Security Agencies working with the active collaboration of our friends, especially the United States, are well poised to deal effectively with temporary irritation that Boko Haram constitutes.'The initial steps towards creating a prosperous and secured Nigeria have been taken. Nothing can stop us from creating a Nigeria of our dream.'The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Department of State of the United States of America, the assurances of its highest consideration.
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