NSA MONITORED CALLS OF 35 WORLD LEADERS AFTER US OFFICIAL HANDED OVER CONTACTS

The National Security Agency monitored the phone conversations of 35 world leaders after being given the numbers by an official in another US government department, according to a classified document provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The confidential memo reveals that the NSA encourages senior officials in its “customer” departments, such as the White House, State and the Pentagon, to share their “Rolodexes” so the agency can add the phone numbers of leading foreign politicians to their surveillance systems.
The document notes that one unnamed US official handed over 200 numbers, including those of the 35 world leaders, none of whom is named. These were immediately “tasked” for monitoring by the NSA.

9/11 ANNIVERSARY: US ASKS CITIZENS TO AVOID 14 NIGERIAN STATES

As the world remembers the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 on the twin tower in the United States, the US government has enforced a restriction on its citizens from travelling to fourteen Nigerian states.
The US embassy in Nigeria in a message to its citizens posted on its website said because of safety and security concerns, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is enforcing a restricted travel policy for U.S. Embassy personnel to the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
It said U.S. citizens should be mindful of this and consider taking similar steps when planning travel.

HOW CORRUPTION IS ‘KILLING’ NIGERIA, BY U.S. CONSUL GENERAL

U.S. Consul General Jeffrey Hawkins yesterday had an interactive session with the civil society at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). His speech details America’s commitment to Nigeria, the fight against terrorism, aids and many more

The U.S. Government and American people are interested in your success because we recognise Nigeria as a strategic center of gravity in its own right. But we also recognise some broader truths. Across the continent, communities are struggling: to find productive paths for growing youth populations; to defeat corruption; to turn a corner in improving governance, infrastructure and public health; to hold together different faiths and regions and to take on the drivers of extremism. In other words, Nigeria’s challenges are Africa’s challenges. And if we can help Nigeria chart a secure, prosperous and democratic course, then Nigeria’s successes can be Africa’s as well — successes we can measure in improved lives, livelihoods and leadership in the region.

BOKO HARAM CRISIS: NIGERIA SUMMONS US AMBASSADOR

Nigeria has summoned United States Ambassador Terence McCulley over his comment on the Boko Haram insurgency.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who invited the Ambassador, discussed with him his comment, which the government said it was not comfortable with.

But a government source said despite the interaction, there was no strain in the two countries’ relationship.

Speaking in a telephone conference with journalists from four locations in West Africa on Thursday, Ambassador McCulley said: “The Boko Haram phenomenon has not stopped as a result of the operation going on in northern Mali. I do believe that Nigerians feel that there is a link between extremist activity in the Sahel and in their internal extremist insurgency.

U.S. MAY DEPLOY DRONES, SPY PLANES IN NIGERIA OVER BOKO HARAM

THOUGH the debate about the rightness or otherwise of the use of external forces to check the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has simmered down, it may be stoked with a planned intervention of the United States (U.S.) in the crisis.

Apparently worried by the increasing activities of Boko Haram not only in Nigeria but in other African countries, President Barack Obama and the U.S. government are now taking the threat posed by the group more seriously and they are already considering military options, including the deployment of drones and spy planes.

US, UK, OTHERS ISSUE TRAVEL WARNINGS ON NIGERIA

EMBASSIES of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada on Wednesday issued fresh warnings to their citizens, advising them not to travel to Nigeria.

The embassies hinged their warnings on the deployment of troops in northern Mali, fearing attacks on Nigeria by Islamic terrorists with sympathy for the Malian rebels, especially on Thursday (today) that has already been declared a public holiday to mark the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

Nigerian 1,200 troops arrived in Bamako, Malian capital, on Sunday as part of an international military intervention to end the crisis in the northern part of Mali.

Canadian embassy, for example, on its website advised its citizens against non-essential travel to Nigeria, with exception of Abuja; Calabar, Cross River State; and Lagos.

It also described the security situation throughout the country as unpredictable, adding that there was a significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter- communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings.