Nigeria pledges massive security for World Economic Forum event

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria will go ahead with the hosting of a World Economic Forum on Africa in its capital Abuja next month, despite a bomb attack on the city's outskirts on Monday that killed 71 people, the Nigerian hosts of the high-profile event said.

"Our Security (SECURITY.8)planning for the World Economic Forum on Africa (scheduled for May 7-9) is already well under way and will be the largest security operation ever mounted in this country for an international summit," Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement sent to forum participants.

(Reporting by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Dave Dolan)