Consulate in New York compiles list of missing Nigerians

Nigeria is compiling a list of its nationals in New York, particularly those who worked at the World Trade Centre (WTC) and who are so far unaccounted for, in an effort to determine how many Nigerians died in the 11 September terrorist attacks in the US city and their identities.

The country's consul general in New York, Taofiq Oseni, said the consulate had opened a list so that Nigerians whose relatives worked at the WTC could give such information, 'The Guardian' daily newspaper reported on Thursday. Oseni said, however, that the response "was not encouraging".

On the other hand, people had been calling the consulate from Nigeria to ask about their relatives, the Lagos daily reported. "We are working with New York city authorities and the police. We are expected to provide the list of Nigerians we get in the city and they will in turn confirm the names of those affected," the paper quoted Oseni as saying. He planned to meet leaders of Nigerian community groups in and around New York to ask for their help, 'The Guardian' added.