Fifa assures of Nigeria security
Fifa has assured the Flames of safety at Nigeria’s U J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, during September 7 2013 World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles.
FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda on Thursday confirmed that Fifa responded to the local association’s letter in which it raised concerns over security in Calabar and asked for a change of venue to either Abuja or a neighbouring country.
“In the letter, Fifa admits that our concerns are genuine. It is not like we said we do not want to travel to Nigeria. We are just waiting for the Nigeria Football Federation to provide us the guarantee. Once they do that, we will travel to Nigeria,” Nyirenda explained on Thursday.
On Monday, Fifa wrote Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) seeking assurance over the security of the Flames during the Group F qualifier.
But NFF president Alhaji Aminu Maigari dismissed FAM’s fears.
“I was surprised when the Malawians raised an alarm over the choice of Calabar as venue for the game. This is a city where such games have been played in the past so the arguments they have raised hold no water,” Maigari exclusively told supersport.com on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has since written to Fifa guaranteeing that the Nigeria Police “will provide adequate security to ensure a conducive environment before, during and after the match between Nigeria and Malawi scheduled for 7th September, 2013 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River State”.
The guarantee further explained that apart from routine police lead escorts and back-up vehicles for both teams and match officials from point of arrival to point of departure, all hotels and training grounds to be used would be adequately fortified.
Anti-bomb squads would also be deployed to sweep and maintain all hotels and training pitches; anti-bomb squad would sweep and secure the entire stadium along with police elite squad (Police Mobile Force/Counter Terrorist Unit).
In addition, adequate security would be provided in the entire vicinity of the stadium and hotels of teams and match officials and; there would be police escorts for teams and match officials to and from stadium on match day, among other measures.
