Security Beef Up in Lagos, Abuja, Airports

Posted by admin Abuja (FCT), Lagos, Latest Politics, State News Saturday, August 27th, 2011

The Embassy of the United States, which is a few metres to the bombed UN building located on Diplomatic Road and its officials were seen responding to the terrorist attack with renewed tightening of security measures.

Saturday Tribune noticed a sense of fear and apprehension at the Embassy, as vehicles were disallowed from packing opposite the place as was the practice while vehicles that unnecessarily slowed down were put under surveillance.

A diplomatic source told our correspondent that the diplomatic area was not accorded the strategic surveillance it required, as the entry and exit from the area were not secured except for the efforts of the embassies located in the area.

Foreign embassies located in the area, which is also not far from the Defence ministry and military headquarters, include China, United States, Brazil, Ghana, Libya, Niger and others.

American embassy officials had, in the past, applied to the Federal Capital Authority (FCA) to stop the construction of an over-head bridge that was to run right through the back of its embassy, citing security concerns.

The matter was, however, unattended to and the overhead bridge and the road construction are still on-going with the entire compound of the American embassy open and visible once you are on top of the bridge.

As evacuation were going on at the UN Building, a Nigerian employee at the embassy pointed to the over-head bridge at the back of the embassy, saying‘ ‘this bridge is a threat to this embassy.“

The American government, it was learnt, might, again, raise the issue of the over-head bridge, which was designed to empty traffic from other areas of the Central Business District of the city.

Similarly, security has been beefed up around foreign embassies offices and public buildings in Lagos.

The development, according to a security source, is aimed at preventing any dastardly incident because of the economic relevance of the state to the country.

It was earlier reported that there was a plan by the dreaded Islamic sect; Boko Haram to attack Kano before the latest Abuja tragedy.

In order not to be caught unaware, plain-clothed security operatives are mounting surveillance at various embassies’ offices in Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has moved to protect all government’s establishments, especially airforce in the country.

In reaction to the disaster, the Nigeria Foreign Affairs responsible for the management and protection of the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport have beefed up security in the area, just as there is heightened surveillance at the airport.

Following the bombing, head of Foreign Affairs at the state annex, Mr. Afolabi Oduniyi on Friday summoned all security heads at the various departments at the airport to an emergency meeting where strategic positions were taken.

Those, who attended the meeting, were from the State Security Service (SSS), Lagos airport commandant, the police, Fire Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, and others.

-Tribunewp_posts