SECURITY has been beefed up in and around the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the visit of the United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. A check by the Sunday Tribune revealed that the officers from the US Intelligence Unit who have been in the country for days were at their best to ensure that adequate security was provided for Mrs. Clinton.
The strict security being put in place and coordinated by the US Embassy in Abuja has taken the security agencies to many points where Clinton is to visit including the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport , Abuja where she is expected to arrive at 8: 35 pm, tentatively, on Tuesday.
The crisis in the Niger Delta as well as the recent sectarian violence in some parts of the North, though unconfirmed, were believed to have informed the strict security deal especially as there has been sustained fear over a reprisal attacks in the FCT by the Boko Haram sect.
The visit, Sunday Tribune gathered had been shifted a number of time owing to changes in the scheduled of the envoy in some other African countries where she was billed to visit.
As part of the security measures, the airport authorities in conjunction with the US officers have insisted that journalists who would like to cover the arrival at the airport to wear reflective jackets in addition to restricting the number to cover the event.
On Wednesday, Clinton is expected to be hosted to breakfast meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe at the minister’s residence where the visitor is to meet with President Yar’Adua at State House at 4 pm.
A town hall meeting has also been scheduled to take place at the Yar’Adua’s Centre on Thursday. However, the authorities of the Nigerian Government have maintained sealed lips over the expectations of the country from the visit.
It was also not clear, at the time of this report, the steps that the opposition would take to press home their displeasure of the pace and achievements of Yar’Adua’s government in addressing the developmental challenges in the country especially as it was being believed that Clinton would dwell more on economy and good governance.
A source told Sunday Tribune in Abuja that the authorities were being careful not to preempt the subjects to be discussed by Clinton after the US President Barak Obama in Accra last month blasted the practice of governance in certain African countries where he believed tyranny instead of democracy was being practiced.