MUTALLAB BOMB: US Government formally Flags Nigerian Passengers, Six other Nations

Los Angeles, Jan 3 (THEWILL) – According to the Transportation Security Administration, starting on January 4th, under a new security arrangement, Nigerians traveling to the United States will now be subject to a full body search, with their carry-on luggage also searched.

The new measures are in response to the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound Northwest airliner by a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab on Christmas Day.

The United States currently lists Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria as “state sponsors of terrorism.” Travellers from Nigeria, Yemen and Pakistan will go through the same security procedures as the countries listed under the state sponsors of terrorism.

The Transportation Security Administration, which is the Agency responsible for all aviation security procedures, said it has also issued new security directives to all carriers in the United States and International airlines.

"Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening," the agency said in the statement.

"The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights," the statement added.

The Nigerian authorities have said it will upgrade security in all its airports.

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23, left Nigeria on December 24th for the United States via Amsterdam.