Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Nigerian Government Prepares Anti-Terrorism Measures

   President  Goodluck  Jonathan's  spokesman  Ima  Niboro  says  the new
   measures will include the naming of a terrorism advisor

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 04 January 2011
   Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan

Photo: AFP

   Nigerian  President Goodluck Jonathan speaks during a press conference
   on  December  7, 2010, after a special summit of Economic Community of
   West  African  States  (ECOWAS)  heads  of  States  on  Ivory  Coast's
   electoral crisis.

   A  spokesman  for  Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeriaâs
   stability   is   not   threatened  because  of  the  recent  spate  of
   terror-related bombings in the country.

   A New Yearâs Eve explosion in Abuja killed four people, while about 80
   people  were  killed  a  week  earlier  in a series of bombings in the
   central city of Jos.

   Spokesman  Ima Niboro told VOA President Jonathan will soon announce a
   series of measures to confront terrorism in Nigeria.

   âThe  president is going to appoint a new special advisor on terrorism
   whoâs going to be in charge of all these issues, you know, collect all
   the  information  and make sure that thereâs better suspicion of these
   events before they happen,â he said.

   Niboro said Mr. Jonathan will appoint the special terrorism adviser in
   the  next week.  He said the president will also work with parliament
   to ensure the speedy passage of an anti-terrorism bill.

   Militants   wearing   black  masks,  military  fatigues  and  carrying
   Kalashnikov  assault  rifles  and  rocket-propelled  grenade launchers
   patrol the creeks of the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, 24 Feb 2006

AP

   Militants   wearing   black  masks,  military  fatigues  and  carrying
   Kalashnikov  assault  rifles  and  rocket-propelled  grenade launchers
   patrol the creeks of the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, 24 Feb 2006

   âHeâs  also  going  to liaise with the National Assembly to fast-track
   the  passage of the anti-terrorism law. The president himself is going
   to  lead  this  process  of  engagement  with the National Assembly to
   ensure that this law is passed,â he said.

   Niboro  said  the  new  anti-terrorism  measures will also include the
   introduction  of  close-circuit  TV  cameras in cities and other urban
   centers so that there is greater monitoring of whoâs coming and going.

   He  denied  Nigeria  is  a volatile country and that the government is
   responding too little, too late to the threat posed by terrorism.

   âI  first  will not agree with you that Nigeria is a volatile country.
   Of  course,  we  have  skirmishes here and there, but Nigeria is a big
   country  and  some  of  these  things are far remote. Where we had the
   concentration  of  difficulty has been the Niger Delta, and we came up
   with the amnesty plan and it is working. This trend that we are seeing
   now  is  very  new to Nigeria. So, as it happens, we are responding to
   it,â Niboro said.

   Niboro  said  Nigeriaâs  stability  is  not  threatened because of the
   recent spate of terror-related bombings in the country.

   âNigeriaâs  stability  is  not  threatened.  Terrorism is a new global
   trend. It happens in some of the major cities in the world. It happens
   in  New  York; it happens in London; it happens in Paris. So, itâs not
   about the stability of a country. Itâs about terrorism,â Niboro said.

   He  said  part  of  the measures President Jonathan will be announcing
   will   include  the  setting  up  of  committees  for  greater  public
   enlightenment of security issues.

   He  said  investigators  looking  into  the  increased  violence  will
   determine whether it has any relationship to the upcoming election.

.