The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) probing the explosions said in its preliminary report that local affiliated terrorist cells provided support on the ground.
FBI agents made the connection after they "conclusively found that the signature of the bomb matched other blasts by the terror network."
According to counter-terrorism experts, every bomb - like art - has the signature of its maker or group-based on funding, sophistication, and objective.
"Some bombs are made to serve as warning with little damage while others are made to achieve as much collateral damage and deaths as possible, which is the hallmark of Al-Qaeda," an official stated.
Homeland Security Department officials and Pentagon sources added that based on the FBI findings, President Barack Obama has approved a request by Nigeria for a permanent FBI counter-terrorism unit in the country.
"These agents normally do investigations after a blast but their job in Abuja may now include preventing these blasts through better security coordination and surveillance."
They will also train Nigerians on how to detect and deal with local terror groups.
Based on the FBI recommendations, Abuja has awarded a contract for the installation of close circuit security cameras at sensitive locations countrywide, including airports, bridges, roads, hotels and other places determined by officials.
The cameras are emerging as an important tool in detection and prosecution of terror suspects.
The government has agreed to also keep an eye on Islamic scholars visiting Nigeria from the Middle East whose teachings are deemed inflammatory. "Groups like Boko Haram are being influenced and financed by extremist foreign religious leaders and groups with the intention of overthrowing the Nigerian Government.
"It is the responsibility of the government to cut such ties and funding in the interest of national security," Homeland Department officials warned.
The prodding of the Americans also led to the directive given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that all banks should tell their customers to update their data.
"It was discovered that thousands of fictitious accounts are being used by suspected terror groups to move vast amounts of money to finance their training and operation. Hopefully the policy will close that window and cut off the funds."
Besides, the FBI recommended the setting up of a new terror unit, independent of existing security agencies, because of fears dozens of officials may have been compromised by bribes.
Back in Lagos, daily activities were disrupted in Alausa on Thursday as a result of another bomb scare through an anonymous note dropped in the toilet of a company.
It claimed that a bomb would detonate in about six hours' time.
The note, signed by a group called Concerned Nigerians, urged the evacuation of workers and visitors to the premises.
News of the impending explosion, which started mid-day, spread like wide fire and soon attracted the police Anti-bomb Squad.
Lagos State Government secretariat workers also panicked at the news that another bomb was planted in the secretariat.
Governor Babatunde Fashola got to hear about it at about 3:30 p.m. during the commissioning of phase two of the modern taxi cab scheme in Ikeja, where he was represented by his Deputy, Sarah Sosan.
The state government allayed the fears by saying that the security operatives are on top of the situation and urged residents of the mega city to go about their businesses without panic.
But elsewhere, the police also had to dismiss as a mere threat, report of the presence of a bomb in Motorways building in the Ikosi area, which anti-terrorists officers cordoned off.
Police Commissioner, Marvel Akpoyibo, said it was the handiwork of trouble makers to create fear in the minds of residents.
He appealed to Lagosians to ignore the rumour.
On Wednesday, police anti-bomb squad began the screening of cars at the Lagos Airport, sequel to the bombings in Jos on Christmas eve and in Abuja on New Year's eve that killed several people, and heightened tension over insecurity.
Officers used metal and mine detectors to search cars at the general aviation terminal, on the directive of Airport Police Commissioner, Moses Onireti.
It was learnt that the exercise was supposed to be a 24-hour affair but did not last that long, probably because of lack of manpower in the anti-bomb unit.
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Richard Aisuebeogun, said security at the airports is being taken seriously, and that the FAAN has met with security agencies on the new procedure.
He reiterated that, "Every airport where you have the conglomeration of people means a lot to us, lives and properties are involved. Therefore, we are taking seriously the security of airports. Just yesterday, we had a meeting with (Onireti) and I also met with the Chief Security Officer (CSO).
"As we speak, in another few minutes an airport security committee meeting would hold. We have also directed that a similar meeting, which usually is monthly, should hold on urgent basis."
"We have put in place security procedures that we are currently implementing, so as to ensure we do not have any breaches within the airport environment."
Aisuebeogun added that the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, who is currently out of the country, is very concerned about security at the airports - and this will necessitate a larger security meeting to review the step taken.
He said efforts will be made to see that Nigerian airports comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) security regulations.
"We believe that we can put in our best and God will surely bless the efforts. That is what we are doing right now and I want to tell you that (Demuren) is very concerned.
"He is currently abroad, and as soon as he comes back, we will hold a larger airport security meeting again to quickly review what our officers and men on the field have done, so as to ensure strict compliance with ICAO security regulations and procedures."
Daily Independent (Lagos)
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