Farouk Umar Abdul Mutallab in two photographs. The young Nigerian student has become the focus of the US corporate media as a result of his arrest on a Delta airliner in Detroit. Mutallab was allowed to board a plane to Detroit from Amsterdam.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Written by By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Nigerian Leadership
Thursday, 11 February 2010 20:55
The United States of America has given Nigeria four conditions that it must fulfill if it intends to be de-listed from the terrorism watch list which the country was placed on after a failed attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a US airliner in December last year.
Listing the conditions to newsmen after a closed door meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Umar Bature, said Nigeria was not listed as a terrorist country as widely believed by Nigerians, but was only listed as a country under the watchlist due to the bombing attempt by a Nigerian.
“There is no way the US can say that Nigeria is a terrorist state, all they said in the report is that Nigeria is a country of interest after the failed terrorist attack in December by Abdulmutallab,” he emphasised.
The conditions which were listed by the American Transport Security Agency (TSA), are as follows; that the security in Nigerian airports would be improved, that Nigeria must be vocal about terrorism by speaking more about the topic, that provisions would be made to deploy air marshals on international flights to ensure security and that a legislative framework would be created to criminalise terrorist acts.
Bature, however, expressed optimism that the country might not be on the list for long because there were already processes in progress to ensure compliance with the conditions listed by the US authorities, adding that Nigeria was commended in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by the American government for its involvement in anti- terrorism activities.
He pointed out that there was an anti-terrorism bill in the House of Representatives which had passed through second reading and was set for a public hearing, adding that airport authorities were already in the process of providing body scanners at international airports.
Speaking on whether President Obama had sought audience with Nigerian authorities on the terrorist scare, the chairman stated that "there was no requirement for the president to speak on the matter. It was basically a diplomatic negotiation.”
UK Issues Tougher Rules For Foreign Students
Written by By Raliat Ahmed, Abuja
Nigerian Leadership
Thursday, 11 February 2010 20:50
Foreign students from outside Europe wanting to come to the UK to study will be required to meet stricter entry criteria, the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson announced yesterday.
According to a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP by the British High Commission in Abuja, the new regulations will ensure that students studying below degree level have a limited ability to work in the UK and that their dependants cannot work there at all.
It will be even harder for bogus students, whose only aim is to work in the UK, to come into the country, said the release.
Johnson also confirmed yesterday, that the UK government will implement plans to introduce points test by 2011 for those who wish to earn British Citizenship.
The new measures include: a good standard of English (equivalent of holding just below a GCSE in a foreign language) will be needed to come to the UK and study to improve English language competency further; a good standard of English (again equivalent of holding just below a GCSE in a foreign language) will need to be demonstrated in order to study any other course below degree level;restricting the lowest level courses (A-levels and equivalent) to only the most trusted institutions; halving the amount of time a student studying below first degree level or on a foundation degree course, will be able to work, to just ten hours during term time; a ban on bringing in dependants for anyone studying a course for less than six months; and a ban on dependants of anyone studying a course lower than foundation or undergraduate degree level from working, adding that they will face removal from the UK if found doing so.
Terror List: Senate Urges US Restraint
Written by By Uchenna Awom, Abuja
Nigerian Leadership
Thursday, 11 February 2010 20:54
The President of the Senate, David Mark has asked the government of the United States of America to stop treating Nigeria as a potential terrorist threat.
He also urged the US to exercise restraint in the way it handled the fallout of the Christmas day attempted bombing of a US airliner by Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Senator Mark spoke during a courtesy visit by the U.S Secretary of state for Africa Affairs, Ambassador Jonnie Carson in Abuja .
Mark in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, condemned and described the attempted suicide bombing by Farouk as unfortunate, but however, urged the U.S “not to treat Nigeria as a potential terrorist state.”
Nigeria, he said, is a great nation and a friendly one at that, adding that what happened on December 25, 2009 was unfortunate.
“Nigerians are not violent people and we do not support the actions of Abdulmutallab,” he said.
Mark, therefore, urged the visiting American envoy to speak in defence of Nigeria in this respect, saying “all our actions and policies are opposed to terrorism. Abdulmutallab’s case is a one-off thing and should be treated as such.”
He, however, disclosed that the Senate Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs, Senator Jubril Aminu, would soon visit the American Congress to explain the position of Nigeria to his counterpart over the issue.
“I hope the America congress will understand our position and exercise restraint on Nigeria,” he said.
On the Senate’s resolution to endorse Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President, Mark said the action was guided by national interest, sanctity of the constitution, patriotic zeal and the need to uphold the nation’s democracy.
He noted that with the action, the tension in the land had been doused and had ushered in “focus and direction for the nation.”
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