A general strike has been called by the Nigeria Labour Congress from Monday 18 June 2007. It is not clear how long the strike will last. If the strike is widely observed it could cause widespread disruption across public and private sectors, particularly public transport. Fuel and food supplies could be affected. You are advised to ensure that your vehicle has an adequate supply of fuel and that you have sufficient supplies of food and water at home.
Militants blow up oil pipeline in Niger Delta (Nigerian Tribune)
Militants in the Niger Delta, under the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), have claimed to have destroyed a major pipeline in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.
The group claimed that its action was in response to the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to the detained leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari.
In a statement sent online to the Nigerian Tribune in Port Harcourt on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the JRC, Cynthia Whyte, the pipeline “transports crude oil from the Nembe Field, Ekulama 1, Ekulama 2, Belema and Soku”.
The group, however, did not mention the exact position where they causd the destruction or the companies directly affected by its action.
It warned that more of such attacks were underway, especially as feelers had revealed that there were plans to try Dokubo-Asari in absentia.
“In the early hours of Sunday, June 10, at about 1.30 a.m., fighters of the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), led by Colonel Umar Suku Amachree, attacked and successfully sabotaged a major pipeline which transports crude oil from the Nembe field, Ekulama 1, Ekulama 2, Belema and Soku.
“This attack was carried out using cluster bombs, which were being deployed for the first time in the Niger Delta.
“This attack is in direct response to the insane and infamous ruling by the Supreme Court to deny our patriotic and esteemed leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, bail and access to a speedy free and fair trial,” the group said.
U.S. Reliance on Nigerian Crude Grows (Empowered Newswire)
Going by the latest figures compiled by the US government, Nigeria is now the third largest exporter of crude oil to America.
According to Empowered Newswire reports, the US Energy Information Administration in March said Nigeria had overtaken Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to get to the third position in energy supply to the US.
Nigeria was regarded as the fifth largest exporter of crude oil to the US, coming behind Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
But from January to March this year, Nigeria has been supplying an average of 1,156,000 barrels per day to the US.
Nigeria is following Canada which supplies 1,825,000 barrels per day and Mexico, 1,475, 000 barrels per day.
Last year, Nigeria’s average net export oil supply was ranged at 2.2 million barrels per day.
Nigeria‘s supply to the US is rising in spite of oil disruptions in the Niger Delta.
US official records on the monthly energy data released on May 30, and obtained on Tuesday by Empowered Newswire indicated that for the first time in recent times, Nigeria supplied more crude oil to the US than Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
The figures showed that Canada and Mexico were the first and second largest exporter of oil to the US. They have retained that spot for a while followed by Saudi Arabia until Nigeria increased its supply in March.
According to the Energy Information Administration, Nigeria exported 1,290,000 barrels per day to the US in March, coming behind Canada which exported 1, 780, 000 and Mexico which exported to the US 1, 621, 000 barrels per day.
Saudi Arabia followed after Nigeria with 1, 216, 000 barrels per day for May and Venezuela came in afterwards with 1,036,000 barrels per day.
Policy experts both in Nigeria and the US have actually been projecting that the US would be looking to Nigeria for more of its oil supplies now more than from the Middle East.
Other African countries, according to the records, are Angola which came sixth with 696,000 barrels per day, Algeria which came eighth with 501,000; Libya which came 14th with 105,000 and Congo-Brazzaville, 79,000 barrels per day, occupies the rung of the ladder at 15th.
Other countries quoted in the records included Iraq, which was with 532,000 barrels per day; Kuwait eighth with 288,000, Brazil 209,000 came 10th; Russian 11th with 193,000; Ecuador 12th at 191,000; and Colombia 13th with 108, 000 barrels per day.
In all, the monthly data analysis said crude oil imports in March 2007 ”shows that four countries have each exported more than 1.10 million barrels per day to the United States.”
It added that the top five exporting countries, (with Nigeria in number 3) accounted for 67 per cent of US crude oil in March.
By that month, total crude oil imports to the US averaged 10.348 million barrels per day, which is an increase, according to the US government agency, of 1.299 million barrels from the February data.
Shell Denies Plans too Move out of Niger Delta
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has denied an alleged plan by it to stop oil exploration in the Niger delta.
SPDC's Acting Manager (Media), Mr Precious Okolobo, told heads of media organisations yesterday in Port Harcourt that the company would retain its headquarters in the city.
Okolobo, who was reacting to an alleged plan by the company to relocate and halt oil exploration in the Niger Delta said that despite the challenges it was facing, it would remain in the region.
"As I speak with you, we are still producing in the region, we do not at the moment have any intention to leave the Niger Delta" he said.
"A new government has just come on board, we have great confidence in the new government and believe the challenges will be surmounted," he added.
In his remarks, SPDC's Manager (Public Relations), Mr. Vincent Ogbechieme, said the essence of the meeting was to provide opportunity for the media to contribute to the firm's efficiency.
"We expect that at the end of the meeting, we will receive good advice that will enable us improve on our relations with our host communities and our performance generally," he said.
Lagos: Area Boys on the Rampage
After buying a fairly used television fondly called tokunbo or second hand in Pidgin English, at the popular Ladipo market in Lagos, Samuel Fashiro (not real name) was making his way home when four unkempt young men suddenly emerged from no where and surrounded him. "You will have to pay money for the ground," growled one of the youth, with bloodshot eyes, preventing Fashiro moving further. "Otherwise I will stab you in the eye," barked another with yellowish teeth, as he brandished a large screwdriver.
As passers-by watched what was going on, fearful of intervening, Fashiro was forced to part with some cash. His initial offer of N200 was rejected. But when he increased it to N500, the miscreants grabbed the notes and went their way.
Fashiro's ordeal is one scene that is played out every day on the streets of Lagos. For the past two decades, the about 13 million residents of Nigeria's biggest city have run the gauntlet of several thousand delinquent youths who roam the streets extorting money from anybody that catches their attention. Before now, their places of abode were Oshodi, Mushin and Ojuelegba, but today they are everywhere in the city, including Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki which are exclusively reserved for the rich.Known as Area Boys, Agberos or Alayes, they sprang up in the early 1980s. If you stay in Lagos, then you are probably quite familiar with the word Area Boys. As known as street urchins in other parts of the world, "Area Boys" have become a part of our environment and society. With no specific job description or role. Their activities range from extorting money from commercial bus drivers, illegal creating car parks in public places, harassment and extortion of money from motorists and pedestrians, campaign agents for politicians, sole proprietorship of the black markets used to sell fuel during scarcities and just about any other odd job one might think of. Recently, they have robbery into their portfolio.
Many a Nigerian has had a bad experience with these Area Boys, and for some, it is been one experience too many. They have been made to part with money and precious items, while thanking God that their lives remained intact. In addition, area boys sometimes double as thieves and armed robbers during the night. Sometimes they carry out "Okada" robbery, dispossessing innocent pedestrians of their bags, phones and belongings, zooming off on their bikes before the victim has a chance to put himself together. These days, they operate even in traffic and vandalising vehicles, all to intimidate their victims to part with money and cell phones.
Referred to as "centre of excellence" Lagos, former federal capital territory has grown from a small Yoruba settlement to a populous and economic nerve centre of the country. The city has also grown to the status of a mega city with its attendant social, economic and political problem associated with a mega city. Area Boys are now rampant all over the city. Their favourite hangouts are bus stops, major highways and markets. In broad daylight, they levy tolls on bus drivers, demand bribes from market women wanting to set up stalls for the day, patrol potential car-parking spaces and demand illegal fees from shoppers. They even threaten ordinary passer-bys, demanding "donations".
A study by the Nigerian office of the United Nations (UN) on Drugs and Crime blamed their emergence on the "complex dynamics of socio-economic deprivation" that confronts young people in cities. While other Nigerian cities have their own hoodlums, there is nothing as brazen or ubiquitous as the Area Boys of Lagos. "The coercive and persuasive requests, petty crimes and sometimes-violent offences by the Area Boys to acquire resources, generally cash in the urban main business and crowded areas, has disturbed the civil society and defied the civic authority," the 2002 UN report said.
For the Area Boys, the business of extortion is booming and unhindered even by the law enforcement agents. As a result of this, a lot of youth, especially artisans have abandoned their trade of mechanic, carpentry, electrician, driving, painting, farming tailoring amongst others to join the gangsterism of Area Boys. And because, to them the business is booming and unhindered, their number keep swelling daily with more youths from neighbouring states joining.
On Tuesday, May 29, 2007, when Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola took oath of office at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Area Boys went on rampage at various parts of Lagos Island, robbing and wounding many people. They laid siege outside the venue of the inauguration, heavily armed with cutlasses, broken bottles and locally made pistols. Immediately the event was over, they went on snatching several valuable items like handsets and money from both motorists and pedestrians alike who turned out to witness the event. The hooligans also attacked residents of many houses. As if it was not enough, another of their group at Obalende bus stop mercilessly carried out similar operation as many people went home with broken heads while their valuable items taken away at gunpoint in broad daylight.
It took many hours of fierce battle by a combined team of police and army to bring the situation under control. It was very sad that law-abiding citizens should be subjected to such humiliations, during the swearing-in ceremony of a new governor following his overwhelming victory in the April polls. Any other day is not good either.
Sunday Yovo, a public affairs analyst based in Lagos, feels that government should be blamed for the activities of Area Boys in the state for their failure to deal with them, as it should be. "They are given undue freedom and recognition as many of them use the miscreants for the purpose of thuggery, assassination bid against their opponents in pursuance of their political ambitions, which is very bad indeed.
"The fact is that it has given rise to all kinds of criminal activities in the state, a development that needs a quick attention for the betterment of our society. The seemingly lavish attention accorded by our leaders to the Area Boys, in fact, has serious consequences in term of security of life and property, particularly in Lagos State.
Sunday Yovo, a public affairs analyst based in Lagos, feels that government should be blamed for the activities of Area Boys in the state for their failure to deal with them, as it should be. "They are given undue freedom and recognition as many of them use the miscreants for the purpose of thuggery, assassination bid against their opponents in pursuance of their political ambitions, which is very bad indeed.
"The fact is that it has given rise to all kinds of criminal activities in the state, a development that needs a quick attention for the betterment of our society. The seemingly lavish attention accorded by our leaders to the Area Boys, in fact, has serious consequences in term of security of life and property, particularly in Lagos State.
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"During his inauguration, Fashola pledged his preparedness to run a government where every Lagosian will have an opportunity to make contributions in policy and programme design and implementation. We want him to first tackle Area Boys before any other thing," he said.
For instance, in 2005, Lagos residents witnessed the unfortunate killing of an army officer by an Area Boy at Oshodi. The incident occurred when the deceased attempted to intervene following a fierce dispute between a Molue driver and the Area Boys over a specific amount of money to collect from the conductor of the bus. Not wanting to be intimidated by the soldier, the Area Boy brought out a knife from his pocket and stabbed the officer to dead.
To revenge the death of their colleague however, soldiers from Ikeja Cantonment swept into action by arresting any Area Boy in sight. The arrest also spread to Ojo area of the city. They raided several bus stops including hideouts of these criminals. All those captured were put in detention.
For fear of being arrested, the activities of the Area Boys were drastically reduced for a period of one month. Since then, they have come back in full force with consequent rise in criminal activities without the Tinubu administration bathing an eye lead. Apart from harassing commercial vehicles, they are also responsible for the daily rise in transport fare as many of them usually collect money from drivers at every bus stop.
The challenge before Fashola as he settles down in office, is to deal with the area boy syndrome if he truly wants to tackle the problem of insecurity in the state. Of the three most critical challenges that confront the governor - security, sanitation and transportation - the need to confront the monster called Area Boys who have made life in Lagos unbearable to the citizens is a priority.
Their activities have made insecurity of lives and property reach a dangerous level as many lives are being wasted daily through the menace of dare devil armed robbers who storm the Lagos streets daily to attack innocent citizens. He should fashion out a rehabilitation programme for them. Good enough, the governor promised to set up a joint police/military patrol to checkmate the rising wave of armed robberies in the state, noting that the state government would not be able to actualise its programmes for the people if there was no peace and stability, adding that government was committed to protection of lives and property in the state.
According to him, the mode of operation of the joint patrol is being worked out in a way to ensure that the military is subject to democratic control. "The military has collaborated with us over the last eight years in providing support. We will continue to sustain options that, within the operations of a civil society and democratic rule, (they) will be subject to democratic rule in a civilian administration. They have shown the willingness to do that. Hopefully, the situation is under control. We are working day and night to improve the security situation in the state," he said.
On the menace posed by area boys, he said government would no longer have any of it, adding that the state government would enforce the law to the fullest in this regard, advising area boys to turn a new leaf or leave the state. "We will enforce law and order. If you are a lawbreaker, there is no place for you. All law-abiding citizens should be able to sleep with their two eyes closed and feel comfortable that a government is in place. I will not categorise anybody as a tout, but if you are a law breaker, you will find no place in Lagos," said Fashola.
In doing this Fashola should borrow some leaves from the former governor of Lagos State, Buba Marwa between 1997 to 1999, who took the boys out of the streets when their menace became alarming. He found gainful employments for them.
Port Harcourt - Airport Rehab Project in Jeopardy (This Day)
Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, the major contractor handling rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt International Airport, has pulled out of site, citing security reasons.
This was confirmed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Akin Olukunle, who confirmed that work had to stop, because of fear of attack by militants.
Olukunle allayed fears that the project will be abandoned, saying work will resume in no time, because President Umar Yar'adua has started pacifying the people of Niger Delta, and has promised to find a solution to their problem.
Before the pull-out, Olakunle said 35 per cent of the work had been completed.
"Presently, we are waiting for the Federal Government to approve expansion of the apron, power supply, upgrading of facilities and installation of airfield lighting system to category three, and improvement of the fire system. Now, we are doing well and this shows that FAAN is serious about the completion of the project," he said.Contract Manager of the Port Harcourt Airport project, Mr Peter Nwachukwu, said work at the airport had to stop due to security pressure, promising that work will resume when proper security arrangement has been made for staff.
The airport was closed for almost a year before the rehabilitation started due to delay by the due process office to approve N3.7 billion which the construction company said it would cost to complete work.
According to FAAN, which awarded the contract, the rehabilitation include the resurfacing of the airport's runway, repair of the airfield lightings and refurbishment of the terminal building.
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