The Federal Executive Council (Nigeria) has described as highhanded and unfair, the decision by the United States government to list the country among those to be watched over terror.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council in 2010, Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili stated that after reviewing the development, the Nigerian government has come to the conclusion that the US verdict on Nigeria was highhanded, especially that the country has participated very actively in all anti-terrorist efforts to wipe out global vices and ratifying other documents to back its commitment.

"Nigeria expresses its disappointment and concern over the underserved placement of the country on the country of interest list and views this action as having the potential of undermining long standing and established US-Nigeria bilateral ties and the goodwill the US enjoys in Nigeria," said the council.

The Nigerian terror suspect accused of trying to bomb a US airliner is to make his first court appearance Friday as President Barack Obama orderd a sweeping overhaul of flawed intelligence.
   
The arraignment in Detroit follows the grand jury indictment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, on six counts - including attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction aboard a US plane - arising from the botched Al-Qaeda plot to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 with 290 people aboard.
   

"The buck stops with me"

Obama on Thursday declared that "the buck stops with me" over intelligence  shortcomings which led to the thwarted attack, and he unveiled measures including strengthening US watchlists and boosting airport screening as part of  broad orders to close US security gaps.
   
Though warning there were no "silver bullets," Obama also vowed "significant investments" in aviation security.
   
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano promised a new and "layered"  approach, and called on other nations to do their part to safeguard their own  citizens as well as US security.
   
Napolitano promised to speed up the deployment of 300 body imaging machines at airports and said the government would aggressively seek to develop new  detection technology.
   
The Central Intelligence Agency said it planned to increase the number of  analysts looking at Yemen and Africa.
   
Meanwhile, the government of Eritrea yesterday described the listing of Nigeria and other countries on the watch list of terrorism by the United States (US) as a clear display of double standard.

Source: All Africa/Reuters