ABUJA—THE  diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States appear threatened over the foiled attempt by a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a Northwest Airlines jet on Christmas Day, even as the Nigerian Senate yesterday gave the United States authorities a seven-day ultimatum to remove Nigerians from their watch list.

In another development, in Abuja, yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, summoned the American Ambassador, Ms. Robin Sanders, to express the government’s displeasure over the terror list.

Relatedly, the House of Representatives on its part, while condemning the US action, argued that the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Federal Bureau for Investigations, FBI and other security agencies in the United States were culpable in the incident just as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mike Aondoakaa, said Nigeria will officially demand that the United States remove it from a terrorism flight watch list.
Senate Spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze, at a briefing with Senate correspondents on behalf of Senate President David Mark, yesterday, said the Senate would on resumption next Tuesday take a definite position should the American authorities refuse to rescind its decision.

‘Don’t criminalise Nigerians’

Affirming that the alleged aborted terrorist attempt by Abdulmutallab was an exception that should not be generalised, Eze affirmed that there was yet no evidence to blame the security failure on the Nigerian authorities.
Said he: “I am speaking on behalf of the Senate and on behalf of the Senate President to state categorically that we are very unhappy about the development and when we resume we are going to take this matter up seriously if America has not taken Nigeria off that list.
“We also want to advise America that it is in their own best interest to conduct this matter very well in a manner that will not result into diplomatic row between America and Nigeria because the American president had himself clearly admitted that this was a failure of the system and manpower of Americans and I don’t see where Nigeria comes in there.
“Moreover, this is just one instance of a Nigerian who it is clearly established has no link with any fundamentalist group or any interest group within Nigeria, not even with his parents. This was a boy whose disappearance was reported to security agencies, the American authorities, and all the relevant authorities and the American did nothing and for them to turn round to punish Nigerians for the sin of an isolated case like this is completely unacceptable to the Nigerian government and to the Nigerian Senate.

”We have also watched with keen interests several other breaches that have taken place since this boy’s attempt. There was an uninvited guest who went to the White House— he and his wife were found in the White House, that was not a Nigerian.
America should look inward and search their soul, there is something wrong with their system and they should not punish Nigerians who are very law-abiding and good international citizens for the failure and irresponsibility of American operatives. Nigeria will not take that.
US unfair to Nigeria’

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/01/06/n-assembly-gives-usa-7-day-ultimatum-on-terror-list/

Pls do anyone av an idea of what these guys will do (or what they are capable of doing) if the USA doesnt remove our dear country name from the terror list

All Nigeria needs to do is subject American citizens to the same security checks.

Brazil did the same thing and when Americans started complaining the US had to rescind/relax the measures earlier approved towards Brazilians.

Reciprocal foreign policy is key to mutual respect.

While condemning the action of Muttalab it must be stated very clearly that it is wrong to punish a country based on the actions of one man.

However, this is the typical hypocrisy of the US so I am not surprised.

Hissssss. Was that what they were elected sorry selected to do? They have left what they are to do which is supposed to be law making and oversight function and they are dabbling into executive functions. International relations and foreign policy is an executive function and not a legislative function. Maybe they have forgotten they are legislators. So what will they do after the seven day ultimatum? break diplomatic ties with the us? I am sure Hilary Clinton is having a good laugh and saying to herself "Meen, these niggers are worse than monkeys"

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Abeg

blacksta:

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Abeg

ARE U SAYING ITS AN OFFENCE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS OR WHAT?

stupid people,
in few days time, they will all be going to US embassy to beg for visa

what U.S did was uncalled for, how can the whole country be blacklisted just because of one man action. If U.S no more need us for any partnership they should come out and let us know because we can survive with or without America.

U.S should know that we have thousands of law abiding Nigerian residing in U.S and also contributing to the economy growth of U.S, Nigeria as a Nation has never officially adopted any move to threatened U.S. They should consider all these and stop destroying our nation's image.