The Federal Government has said that it will mount a massive security operation to protect delegates to the World Economic Forum on Africa to be hosted in Abuja between May 7 and 9.
This became necessary following Monday’s bomb attack by suspected Islamic terrorists on the capital’s outskirts.
In a statement released by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and co- signed by the Chief Economic Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Nwanze Okidegbe, the Federal Government affirmed that, “Our Security planning for the World Economic Forum on Africa is already well under way and will be the largest security operation ever mounted in this country for an international summit.”
The statement said over 6,000 security personnel, consisting of men of the Nigeria police and the army, would be deployed to guard the WEF Africa event in Abuja, and they will secure an area the size of 250 square kilometers.
Assuring participants that they would be in safe hands, the statement said we wish to express “our deep commitment that these tragic events will not stop us from delivering on our promise to host a world-class meeting next month.”
The forth coming World Economic Forum On Africa will be the 24th edition of the forum. The forum brings together regional and global leaders to discuss innovative structural reforms and investments that can sustain the continent’s growth while creating jobs and prosperity for all citizens.
The event is an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its newly acquired status as the largest economy and also portray it as an investment-friendly country.
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