Posted by From Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja on
United States ambassador to Nigeria, John Camp-bell said yesterday that the security alert that led to the closure of his country's Consulate in Lagos last week emanated from Washington.
* Says it's been resolved 'successfully'
United States ambassador to Nigeria, John Camp-bell said yesterday that the security alert that led to the closure of his country's Consulate in Lagos last week emanated from Washington. The US decision to close its Lagos Consulate also led to closure of the United Kingdom Consulate in Lagos as well as the embassies of Germany, Italy, and Russia.
Campbell also cited the bombing of US embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Oklahoma bombing in the United States and the September 11 attacks on World Trade Centre, New York as part of the reasons for the precautionary measures taken in Lagos. "When stung by a bee, you run from a fly," he said.
Addressing newsmen in his Maitama, Abuja residence yesterday, Campbell said "I cannot go into details about the nature of the security issue. I can tell you that we received news of it from Washington, not within Nigeria. The information came from Washington, it did not come from any source inside Nigeria. It is from the outside of Nigeria." He added that the issue has been resolved "successfully."
He commended the Nigerian government for responding swiftly and positively, leading to the re-opening of full consular activities by the embassy yesterday.
"Because of the security issue of mutual concern to the United States Mission in Nigeria and the Government of Nigeria, this security issue was thus addressed with the close collaboration of the relevant Nigerian authorities. I am pleased to inform you that the US Consulate in Lagos was re-opened yesterday, June 20, 2005 with full consular services beginning today, (yesterday) June 21, 2005.
"We regret any inconvenience caused by the closure to the public. We will also like to express our appreciation for the outstanding assistance and co-operation provided by the relevant Nigerian authorities", he said.
On speculations that the matter may not be unconnected with the recent intelligence report by the expert committee on Sub-Saharan Africa that Nigeria may break up in the next 15 years, he said "there has been a great deal of speculation on the reasons for the closure and a whole lot of other issues. I can tell you that there is certainly nothing to that. The sole reason why the consulate was closed was a security issue which has been addressed successfully because of the really outstanding help we got from the Nigerian government."
"The now celebrated or notorious report associated with the national intelligence council was produced by a group of private Americans most of whom are academics and it does not reflect the views of any agency or part of the US Government and certainly has no bearing on the closing of the consulate on Friday.
"The consulate was closed because the security issue that dealt specifically with the consulate. The Nigerian authorities responded in such an outstanding and efficient way. Let me emphasise after we went to them. I can tell you that Nigerian authorities provided the assistance that was requested in an absolutely outstanding manner, very quick, very efficient", he said.
On the bilateral relations with Nigeria, the envoy said the relations between the two countries was excellent.
"The official relation between the United States and Nigeria is extremely close. We view our partnership with Nigeria, in Africa and in the world as absolutely of foremost importance. There is no question whatsoever of any kind of negative view of Nigeria coming from Washington.
Obviously, when you have two countries as close as the United States and Nigeria are and countries that cooperate so closely in a wide range of areas. We have on-going dialogue on issues of mutual interest and in fact it is that dialogue that is one of the reasons for the closeness and friendship between the two coutries", he said.
On calls by the US Government that former Liberian President, Charles Taylor be brought to justice, Campbell said in so far as US was desirous of seeing that happen, it was still holding dialogue with Nigeria on the issue.
Commenting on the African Development Bank Presidency, he said the US Government was in support of not just a qualified candidate but the best candidate for the job. He also said both countries were working together on the counter terrorism initiative of the US Government on the West African Coast.