 You're welcome back. It's still the Breakfast on Plus TV Africa. Right now we're looking at another security issue or the same security issue. We've been talking all this while. This time it's Canada that has given travel advisory to her citizens few days after U.S. did same to her own citizens. Remember that the U.S. was saying even those people who are in Nigeria should be careful and not congregate in big hotels in big cities and all that in Nigeria. They should be very, very careful. Now Canada has said unless it is absolutely necessary do not come to Nigeria or do not go to Nigeria. First of all is that the operations of the embassy in Abuja has been shut down, has been suspended. That's the word that was used but you know it's the same thing shut down for now and we don't know when they will open and why that is. So we have a security expert this morning who will be helping us to assess the security situation in Nigeria and what we need to do so that this kind of things will not be flying around anymore. And now it is Canada and U.S. we don't know which other country will do the same thing and which country will bar our people even from traveling to their countries. We have the pleasure of welcoming this morning Mr. Augustin Agwe Ega, a security expert. Good morning and welcome to the show sir. Okay, well we're looking at the security issue. Security is a concern in Nigeria and we just saw that the federal government has budgeted more money for security than even any other sector of the economy in this supplementary budget. Yet this is the time we are hearing this travel advisory, this security advisory from U.S. and now Canada and we don't know who else. Let's begin with your personal assessment of the security situation in Nigeria before we begin to deal with the implications of this travel advisory that these countries are giving. Okay, thank you. When we take a look at the country rich assessment of Nigeria, from right from the time the election is still now I can see that we've not had a very stable security. Why? Because there's still a lot of grievances from different angles regarding the INEC issue and then the court cases by the Supreme Court. There are grief parties are still not happy, they still feel that their candidate is not there or they are not there. That is a very big issue of concern to us because those are indicators of crisis in any nation or instability. Also we have the issue of Ndikalu's case that is still in the detention of the DSS and the people from his region are demanding his release. That is also a concern for us. And like I touched last time, I said we have international security and the national security. Of course from the international security angle, we have a very serious, if we are not experiencing in Nigeria, at least we are experiencing it economic wise. We have the replaying effects on many economies now based on the Israeli and the Palestinian issues going on. We also have Russia and Ukraine and we have some instability in Syria and the Iranians also treat their threats. And like I said before, I said most of some misguided minds will look at the conflict in Israel and Palestinian as a Muslim and a Christian issue. In Nigeria we have a lot of Christian dominated areas, especially in the south and also in the north. Those are concerns from the external and they have an influence in the internal security of any nation. But secondly, most importantly, we see that in the history, the dollar has risen very, very high against the Naira in Nigeria. And Canada from their own perspective, they know the amount of applications they are receiving from Nigerians by means of what kind of claims they are making. In your application there is always a purpose of visiting. They are receiving tons and tons of applications. Of course that shows that that country is not stable. So based on all these that they have assessed, Nigeria is still, we are really having issues that the current government need to deal with. Because currently I cannot say that it's stable. It is not stable because they have their intelligence network working 24-7. And so they gather intelligence and they share intelligence and they can reach the country's risk profile. I think that's the angle they are coming from. You touched a very important aspect that I didn't even think about. People who want to jack by like everybody is talking about now. There's always a column for the purpose of going. I'm very sure or maybe it is possible that a lot of these people are not just trying to say we are coming to study, we are coming to work and all that. They want to say there is problem in Nigeria, whether there is a problem or not. I remember a time when somebody with a name, a Southwestern name, a European name, went and said that he was seeking asylum and it was given. It was in America or something that there was Boko Haram in his village. There was Boko Haram fight in his local government around his area. So that's why he had to run. He had a European name and Boko Haram, I have not heard in the Southwest the way someone that is so bad that someone will have to run and seek asylum. So possibly what you mentioned might just be true that in the application they are using it to assess the level of security in Nigeria. But how can we guard against that? Because it seems to be the easiest way to leave Nigeria and go to another country if you are not a professional. Can we guard against that? I think in their kind of sector, everything works in their sector. Everyone always finds a fit in their country when you come. And over here, at least you need some high level of education before you can assign to some position. But they make it so easy that from the medium, small and large scale enterprises, everything is working. And so everyone will always find a fit way to work. And that's why you see this jackpot thing is running out of place in Nigeria. I think from that is one point, like I said, from the purpose that they can see a lot of applications, especially also the American Embassy. They know a lot of applications that they are receiving and their purpose. And we cannot say that they are blind to the inflation rate in Nigeria and the unemployment, especially the dollar rates. They are the ones that use dollar. They are the ones controlling the whole economy. And they know how this is affecting the Nigerian economy. And so from there, they know that it's not stable. At least the economy of Nigeria is not stable based on the dollar exchange rate. And so the jackpot thing is not something that the only way the jackpot thing can reduce is to have a stable economy. So like I said in the last year, I said security is mostly influenced by bad economy or social welfare of the people. So the social standard is low. The economy is poor. And these are all indicators of insecurity of many countries. Okay, well, I guess there are some things that we cannot control now except the government, not just the federal government, but to the local levels that will stand up to their responsibility and do what is right and make sure there's employment. Not just giving employment, but giving a conducive environment that industries can thrive so as to also employ people. Because like they say, government has no business doing business. But right now the U.S. and Canada have issued these advisory to their people. What is the implication on the global scene on Nigeria, these two world powers giving this kind of advice to their people? Oh, I think when strong nations like this will give advice to their people, they have a lot of intelligence that we don't know. And especially from the presidential angle, what is really given is that when the head is affected, they feel that the whole nation is not stable. So why the Supreme Court judgment and the credentials, candle of the president in the U.S. court and all of that. And so these are indicators that anything can happen. I don't know if they have received any intelligence of military doing something or I mean all of these are things that is very strong for us as analysts. When we look in between the lines, you cannot really see because not everything you get. But when they issue this kind of advisory, I tell you there is something very terrible going on. It could be within, it could be outside Nigeria. The reinforcement could be outside Nigeria, it could be within Nigeria. So we don't know what is going on right now. Whether they have information that Nigeria is going to split, I don't know why giving such information is Nigeria splitting. Are we going, are we dividing as they are both continually prophesied in other many years to come right now? Because from us in this Nigeria right now, we are not in a war situation. We are not in a war situation right now that we could say, okay, foreigners cannot come. But if they could pass such a threat, let's say U.S. and Canada, I think there is something they know we don't know. So we begin to look and ask questions or look around the environment. And probably those who have insights to reach out to them, they should ask questions why such a message is passed. We should not just take it for granted. Let us hear from them, let those that are in authorities of security hear from them. And then they have something to say and they will not put it in the public. They should get out what they have seen and then walk towards it. It's an indicator, it's a strategy that they can build around what they have heard. So I urge the security forces, I urge the government forces and even the Nigerian government itself to look inside this issue and ensure that they take the decisive steps. Because it will not only, it will halt our economy, already the economy is bleeding. And with this, Nigeria economy will be further, I cannot use the word damaged because it's a reputational damage right now. So the government should try everything to repair it by using confidence. I was going to ask you how we can take advantage of this and make it work for us. But you've just answered that, they need to get whatever information that is available to the people who offered or who released this travel advisory and all that. But there are some people who also argue that it's a deliberate attempt to sabotage the progress of Nigeria and make sure that we are kept in poverty because when these things are done, it doesn't encourage investors to come into the country and do what they are supposed to do. So some people have argued that it's sabotaged by the world powers to keep us in line. Do you buy that? I don't buy that. And because they are also investors in Nigeria, these countries we are talking about, they are key investors in Nigeria economy. The US, the Canada, and all those Western nations, they have which investment in Nigeria? Technology wise, they have Google, they have Microsoft, they have those big names here in Nigeria. We have Oracle, all of those tech companies that are here, the oil and gas that they want to run in it. So I don't think they are stakeholders in the Nigerian economy. But we have this attitude in our country which you know that if something like this that is very serious, we begin to read meanings that are not necessary. These people have had experience of the Twin Tower bombing. That is the September 11th bombing that happened in the year 21. They are not, they don't take threat messages for granted because one of their land from lesson land, it was something like this that happened. It was similar where they saw a lot of activity happening around the Twin Tower, unusual movement, unusual activities. And they had intelligence. Israel took decisive step and saved their people. While in America, they were like back and forth, back and forth until that bombing happened. So right now, I'm sure they have been sharing with our people. And maybe they are not willing or they are not taking advice or they are not willing to take decisive decision and then correct some of these issues. And so what they can see, so that the government will look into this matter, is to say, okay, our citizens don't go to Nigeria. It's not safe for us. I think when they make this public statement and public announcement, the media will carry it just like what we are talking about. The media will carry it. The print media will carry it. The television media will carry it. And so the government will be forced to look into it and then deal with the issues they are complaining about. I think it's a strategy too. Not to sabotage us, but at least they are careful to... Human life is very important. It's critical to them. They are doing everything to protect our citizens in their country. And so we should also take the same measure or appropriate measure to protect their own citizens in Nigeria. But they see that not happening. And so what could they say? It's just a diplomatic way of saying, please don't go to Nigeria. Our citizens don't go to Nigeria. So that the government will ask questions and then take some steps about it. Well, the argument with some people as we wrap up is that last time they predicted and they have been predicting, that is foreign powers and foreign intelligence, that we are going to be separated. We are going to break into so many countries. But Nigeria is still standing, especially in 2014-2015. It was projected that Nigeria was going to break into at least two countries. But it didn't happen. So some people are saying sometimes their intelligence is just false. But even if the intelligence is false, it's based on the indices they have. Even if they say, Nigeria is not a nation that is standing together. How do you call break up? Is it until people part away or they fight with arms? When this section of the region, this country, this region is not agreeing with this region. This region gets into power. It employs only its people in its region. The other region gets into power. It employs only its people in its region. There's no unity, as we can see. There is no unity in Nigeria. And so how do you call, how can we make, how can we move forward? We can't really move forward. So how do we describe division? It's just by principle, it's by principle that everyone should go on its own part. But what we have on ground now is that we are not together. It's already a divided nation. And I'm sorry to speak this, I'm not a prophet of doom, but I think it is important that the authorities that are in power should come together, that should come together and reunite Nigeria. So many, there are so many broken spaces. People are living in Nigeria, running out of Nigeria. Not only the economic issue, they feel they are not safe. They feel Nigeria is not together. If Nigerians are together, Nigerians won't be living in Nigeria to other countries. There are so many poor countries that are even worse than Nigeria. But they prefer to go and have a living. Have another life in that country. Except those of us who so much believe in Nigeria, we are patriotic. And that's why we are sitting here, talking to each other. And so many people don't, they have lost faith in Nigeria. So they are living. So we pray that the government of the community will turn into an area and you truly unite Nigeria. Politics are part. This is time for business. The business of United Nigeria is very important. Okay. That's a wonderful way to end this section of the program. We'd like to thank you so much, Mr. Agustin Agha, for coming on the show. My pleasure. Thank you so much. Okay. That was Agustin Agha, a security expert talking with us about the travel advisories issued by Canada and the U.S. to their citizens. And what we need to do, as he said, release with the people who have this information and see why they put that information out and see how if it is something that can be curbed, it should be curbed instead of just denying it that it's not in our country, blood of Jesus. Like we like to say, not my portion, like we like to say. Okay. So we'll take a short break. When we return, we'll be joined hopefully by Nika Gulli who will be talking about the NLCTUC threat of strike. Stay with us.