**Tougher screening of passengers wanting to fly to the US has been condemned as unfair by Nigeria - one of the nations singled out for special checks.**Information Minister Dora Akunyili said the rules, brought in after a Nigerian allegedly man tried to blow up a plane, discriminated against 150m Nigerians.
Bomb suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab did not represent Nigeria, she said.
Nigerians are among 14 nations whose nationals face stiffer rules including body searches and luggage checks.
Four other African countries - Algeria, Libya, Somalia and Sudan - are also subject to the new measures.
WHERE NEW MEASURES APPLY
- Flights from Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria (countries classified by US as state sponsors of terror)
- Also, flights from Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen
Attack stokes Yemen terror fears
It follows an alleged attempt to blow up a plane on Christmas Day.
US President Barack Obama has been under pressure to make visible security improvements.
But Ms Akunyili said 23-year-old Mr Abdulmutallab’s act was a “one-off”.
“Abdulmutallab’s behaviour is not reflective of Nigeria and should therefore not be used as a yardstick to judge all Nigerians,” she said.
"He was not influenced in Nigeria, he was not recruited or trained in Nigeria, he was not supported whatsoever in Nigeria.
“It is unfair to discriminate against 150 million people because of the behaviour of one person.”
The new security directives came into effect on Monday.
As part of the new guidelines, passengers travelling from any other foreign country may also be checked at random.
Have you arrived by air in the US today Were you singled out for additional searches Please send us your experiences and comments using the form below.
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.