LAGOS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has condemned the listing of Nigeria as a terror risk country by the U.S. government.

Muhammed Tukur, the assistant secretary-general of AON, told a news conference in Lagos Wednesday that the development is unfortunate.

Nigeria is listed as a country of interest following the failed attempt by 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up an American airliner on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, the United States on Dec. 25.

The airline operator said the Nigerian government has been making efforts to improve its international image through improved security.

"We the airline operators are against the U.S. listing of Nigeria as a terrorist country," he said.

"The Nigerian government has been doing its best to contain pockets of crises such as those of the Boko Haram, Jos, Bauchi and Niger Delta militants," he added.

Tukur advised the Nigerian government and the aviation authorities to tighten security in all the nation's airports.

He also said Nigerians traveling outside the country should subject themselves to screenings at the airports, noting that those that would not want to subject to complete body screening should not venture traveling.

Abdulmutallab is accused of trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines Airbus as it made its descent to Detroit on Dec. 25, 2009from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.

He is alleged to have boarded a plane at the Lagos Murtala Muhamed International Airport, and transferred onto a trans-Atlantic flight at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.