Nigerians have been urged to take the designation of the Boko Haram sect and the splinter group, Ansaru, as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US government in good faith, as it will not have any negative effect on Nigerians seeking to travel to the United States.

The head of the Research and Strategic Studies Department of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Charles Dokubo, said that the designation was long overdue.

According to a statement by the US government, “these designations are an important and appropriate step, but only one tool in what must be a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups through a combination of law enforcement, political, and development efforts, as well as military engagement, the statement added.

“This will help to root out violent extremism while also addressing the legitimate concerns of the people of northern Nigeria.

“All of our assistance to Nigeria stresses the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring that human rights are respected.  That assistance and these designations demonstrate US support for the Nigerian people’s fight against Boko Haram and Ansaru.

“The consequences of the designations include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to, or engaging in transactions with, Boko Haram and Ansaru, and the freezing of all property and interests in property of the organisations that are in the US, or come within the US or the control of US persons.”

The November 13 designation, aimed at cutting off aid to the terrorists groups, raised fears that Nigerians would get ill treatments from the American government in visa issuance.

But Professor Dokubo pointed out that there was nothing about the designation that Nigerians should worry about.

“Nigeria has not been designated as a country that sponsors terrorism. Nigeria is a country that is fighting terrorism in its own capacity.  Nigerians should sleep with their eyes closed because working together with the United States will not affect our integrity,” he insisted.

He pointed out that the designation would make it possible for easy identification of the sponsors of terrorists’ activities.

“No country can have a silver bullet to deal with the issue of terrorism. Working together makes it easier to trace and trail the cash flow of the organisation, pick them up and deal with them. Working in concert with the US provides the leverage for Nigeria to tackle terrorism,” he explained.

He described the progress made so far in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria by the military as commendable feat.