[The Nation, Thailand]
The Daily
Independent, Nigeria
Terrorism Means Coddling
of Privileged Nigerians Must End
"A
host of privileged Nigerians aren't always checked at the airport. Absurdly, they
often arrive just a few minutes before departure, banter with security guards
and walk aboard flights unchallenged. This nonsense has to stop. There must be
no exceptions, no matter how high and privileged a passenger may be."
EDITORIAL
January 6, 2010
Nigeria - The Daily Independent - Original Article (English)
Federal Information Minister Dora
Akunyili's "Rebranding Nigeria Campaign" is going through some difficult
times. For once we agree with Akunyili, who has issued a statement saying, "Abdul
Mutallab's behavior isn't reflective of Nigeria and therefore, should not be
used as a yardstick to judge all Nigerians. It is unfair to discriminate
against 150 million people because of the behavior of one person."
Well said. But the crises
triggered off by the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt by 23-year-old Nigerian
Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab rages on. American government officials believe that
Abdul Mutallab was trained by al-Qaeda in Yemen. But we agree, along with
Akunyili, that Abdul Mutallab wasn't "… influenced in Nigeria; he was not
recruited or trained in Nigeria; he was not supported whatsoever in Nigeria."
Nevertheless, Americans are
understandably jittery. The Transport Security Administration has directed airlines
to give full-body pat-downs to U.S.-bound travelers from a host of countries, including
Nigeria. And Nigeria isn't in particularly edifying company, for the list
includes terrorist hot beds like Yemen. For Nigeria and in particular Nigerian travelers,
this is the worst possible start to a new year. Frankly, it puts the government's
rebranding effort in quite a difficult spot.
U.S. government officials
have had the intellectual honesty to admit that the Abdul Mutallab incident exposed
systemic breaches of security. And they have ruefully admitted that although Abdul
Mutallab's name was on the government's database of 550,000 people suspected of
terrorist ties, it wasn't on the list requiring him to pass through additional screening
and which would have kept him from flying to the U.S. This is a clear muddle,
and now Nigerian travelers to the U.S. will have to pay a heavy price for it.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
For one, during an election
year the U.S. president must show resolve on national security issues. The
moral honesty being shown by Washington D.C. is sadly not being replicated in
Abuja [Nigeria's capital]. There is plenty wrong with security at our airports
and this issue will have to be addressed. For example, only a few days before
Umar Abdul Mutallab passed undetected through Murtala Muhammed International
Airport in Ikeja, a massive power outage hit the airport for several hours, allowing
hundreds of passengers to board aircraft unchecked!
Dr.
Alhaji Umar Mutallab, father of Christmas
bomb
suspect Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, is
a
former Minister of Economic
Development
(1975), of
Cooperation and Supply (1976),
and former chairman of the First Bank Plc. The
Mutallabs are among Nigeria's priviledged few.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Sotal Iraq, Iraq:
Christmas Day Plot Another Case of 'Terror on Demand'
Ad Dustour, Jordan:
Christmas Day Terror Plot Looks Like a Set-Up
Financial Times Deutschland, Germany:
We've Succumbed
to 'Terror Hysteria'
The Independent, U.K.:
Scanners Wouldn't Have Seen 'Underwear Bomb'
Nachrichten, Switzerland:
Terror in the Sky: Christmas Isn't What it Used to Be
Daily Independent, Nigeria:
After Terror Scare, Nigerians 'Unduly Stigmatized'
Le Figaro, France:
Al-Qaeda: Obama Must Walk in the Footsteps of Bush
NRC Handelsblad, Netherlands:
Terror and the Illusion of Complete Safety
The Daily Sun, Nigeria:
Christmas Bomb Suspect's Family Issues Statement
Elaph, United Kingdom:
America Should 'Hire Private Jets for Muslims'
Of course, there's also the age-old
national bugbear of corruption and circumvention of proper procedure. For
example, a host of privileged Nigerians aren't always checked at the airport. Absurdly,
they often arrive just a few minutes before departure, simply banter with security
guards and walk aboard flights unchallenged. In view of the current situation, this
nonsense has to stop. A holistic review of security at all of the nation's
points of entry and departure must now be undertaken. All loopholes must be
meticulously sealed. It's re-assuring that a meeting of security agencies, to
be chaired by the national security adviser, Major-General Sarki Muktar, is
expected to discuss these issues. The stated intention to develop full-body
scanning at our international airports is also a relief. We must stress, however,
that there must be no exceptions, no matter how high and privileged a passenger
may be.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
If Nigeria is to avoid becoming
a natural haven for terrorist organizations, the country must examine the Republic's
deep dysfunction. Incessant "religious" crises and the rise of
extremist groups emerge from deeply ingrained social inequalities and ridiculous
underinvestment in the social sector. If we're to be tough on crime, we must be
tougher still on the root causes of social disorder in our nation.
The saga of Abdul Mutallab is
fraught with great danger for our country. It also carries an opportunity in
its wake. Although he's a deluded, pampered child of Nigeria's privileged class,
there are millions who could be lured into the arms of terrorist groups simply
because of a lack of opportunity to do something worthwhile with their lives.
The time has come to look
into the root causes for the emergence of a "dangerous class" in
Nigeria. This class has no skills, no hope and seemingly no future. The state
must urgently put in place corrective measures to contain the situation.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US, Jan. 7, 7:19pm
