Nigeria Security Update #1 300707

Armed Robbery Suspects Gunned Down (The Tide)

The police in Rivers State have killed three suspected armed robbers during an exchange of fire along Rumuigbo Road, old GRA, Port Harcourt.

The men of the underworld met their waterloo when the police getting information that a gang of armed robbers are operating in the area and they immediately swoop into action.

A source said that as the police Anti-crime Patrol team was mobilized to the scene, the robbers on sighting them, opened fire and in the process exchange of fire ensued.

It was learnt that during the exchange of fire, the three armed robber suspects were gunned down and others took to their heels and escaped.

The source further said the police have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and bring them to face the full wrath of the law.

The police public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Ireju Barasua, a Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP) who confirmed the incident however called on the public to always assist the police with timely information on criminal activities, as to enable the police move into action.

Another Missing Ship (Nigerian Tribune)

CURIOUSLY, it seems that Nigeria’s reputation for the proliferation of absurdities is on a steady rise. Now, it is commonplace for ships arrested for one crime or the other to literally disappear from the custody of those keeping them as if they were some small items that could be pilfered by a common pickpocket!

ABOUT two months ago, two ships, MT Balle and MT Alruhula, were used to transport crude oil that was fraudulently obtained. The officers and crew of the ships were arrested by some “overzealous” naval men in the Calabar area and the ships were steered to Port Harcourt. The ships were then officially delivered to the officers of the NNS Pathfinder at their base in Port Harcourt.

BUT rather than moor the ships, the officers of the Pathfinder found a path for the ships to escape and the naval authorities tried to cover up the scandal until a group called Nigerian Youths for Good Governance made allegations against the Nigerian Navy establishment and when the press asked the Navy to react to these allegations, they issued a statement on the matter.

ITS Director of Information, Captain Obiora Medani, said it was true as stated by the Nigerian Youths for Good Governance that two ships detained at the Port Harcourt base had disappeared but that the naval authorities had not tried to conceal the matter and that a board of inquiry headed by a Captain Bimbo Ayuba would determine if the crude found on the ships was illegally obtained and whether the NNS Kyanwa had a good reason to arrest the two ships.

IT is pertinent to recall that many high ranking naval officers were retired following the disappearance of MT African Pride because, according to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, the officers had criminal connection with crude oil. As we asked in our Editorial of June 28, 2007, from where the foregoing is copiously quoted, “Is retirement a retribution for these Mephistophelian atrocities? Is retirement alone enough deterrent to others who might have discovered a greater reward in this criminality than in continued stay in service?”

CAPTAIN Medani, however, after our editorial on the Navy and the missing ships, had made allegations in the newspapers about a smear campaign in the media being sponsored by certain ex-naval officers who had been compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Navy and their relations trying to impugn the integrity of the Chief of Naval Staff and discredit the Board of Inquiry. Captain Medani even called the Nigerian Youths for Good Governance a fictitious group.

HOWEVER, hardly had he finished writing when another ship, an impounded Greek vessel, MT Tritya, escaped, this time, with three security officials detailed to secure it. This was disclosed at a press conference by the legal consultants to the shipping agents. The ship, according to the legal consultants, was legally detained as a pre-judgment security for the satisfaction of the civil claims of the shipping agents until an acceptable security by way of bank guarantee had been furnished by her owners. The ship had been impounded through an injunction obtained from the Federal High Court in Lagos against the vessel and three others claiming certain amounts of money until the final payment for short delivery of the cargo of gas and oil.

WE are worried by the regular disappearances of vessels from Nigeria, especially vessels detained over one offence or the other. We think that their escape in the various circumstances had been facilitated by bribed hands. The latest ‘disappearance’ is even curioser, as the security officers who were supposed to secure it ‘disappeared’ with the vessel. Were they abducted by the criminals who steered the vessel away under the cover of night? Or did they too connive with the criminals to get out of the country to seek for greener pasture elsewhere? The three security officers who reappeared some days after claimed they were abducted and brutalised by their captors before being released on the high sea. This claim needs to be investigated too by the authorities.

DISAPPEARANCE of vessels with ease speaks volumes about the security of the country’s territorial waters and this is where the Navy is implicated. If ships under its observation can ‘disappear’ without any trace and officers who had been found guilty had only been retired, how much easier will it be for other ships bound only by legal constraints from the courts to escape too?

THE ‘disappearance’ of MT Tritya should be properly investigated using all diplomatic leads and those found to be guilty should be appropriately punished by the relevant authorities. The Navy too should do better than whine about a smear campaign when in reality ships are disappearing, like small items that can easily be contained in someone’s pocket. It is plainly absurd that in the Nigerian state, ships can easily slide into the waters when the pockets of some felons bulge with ill-gotten wealth.

Report from the Creeks (Vanguard)

PASTOR Ayo Oritsejafor is the general overseer of Warri-based Word of Life Bible Church and the national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN who recently initiated a spiritual solution to the protracted Niger Delta crisis. After several weeks of evangelical mission to Europe and America, he recently granted Sunday Vanguard, an interview during which he x-rayed the state of the nation, and the Niger Delta. Excerpts

THE Yar'Adua government started with an industrial action. We just want you to look at the state of the nation.

I have a feeling that I always seem to talk differently from everybody else. I don't like talking because that's what is popular or that's what everyone likes to hear; because there are certain things people want you to say.

For me, I will say, first, thank God that we came through the elections and we are still a nation together. I say thank God because there were some things some of us won't want to say publicly. Before the elections, there were spiritual indications which I never said anything to you about, that the problem was not just going to be the elections but immediately after the elections and so some of us had to set certain things in motion.

I don't want to go into all the details. We needed to get people to do certain things - to pray us through and so that's why I said, number one, thank God that we came through the elections and we are still and will continue to remain a nation. The second thing is, in my own opinion, some of the things that have happened like the industrial action, for example, it was rather unfortunate. I think first of all that there were problems on both sides.

I am going to be economical with words because it has come and gone. I don't think at this point, I should be the one stirring up anything, talking this way or talking that way but, like I said, it was a very unfortunate thing that happened when it happened at that point in time. But thank God again it has come and gone.

I believe also that the Yar'Adua's government is beginning to find its feet. It's not going to be easy because in my own opinion, he is stepping into very big shoes, big Nigeria and big Obasanjo that has just left. So, it's going to take a while for him to stabilise and be able to bring out his own style of doing things.

I will appeal to the media to help him and give him a chance. Sometimes, some of the things I read are so troubling. Oh Obasanjo is influencing you, and so on. They should just leave this man and let him find his feet. Let him know what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. Give him a break.

The media is only mirroring the mood of the nation. Everybody seems to think that the past president has an overbearing influencing on every decision taken by Yar'Adua...

Is there any proof of that?

Well, for instance, he has taken over the PDP Board of Trustees?

Are you a PDP member? (Laughs). Again, you see, these are some of the troubling things. You are not a member of PDP, I am not a member of PDP. Let's leave PDP to sort themselves out. I've heard people say Yar'Adua is not the president of PDP, he's the president of Nigeria. I hail that.

That is true. He stood for election as a PDP candidate but now he's the president of Nigeria. So let's concern ourselves more with what the government does for Nigeria. Let's downplay this issue of PDP Board or no Board and all that stuff.

I think we are over flogging that issue. To me, it's too much,

let's concentrate more on the government and Nigeria. We want to move forward. There are other parties. I don't want to get a PDP membership card. I'm not a member and I don't want to be a member, I don't think you want to. If they want somebody from the moon to be their chairman, that's their problem, that's not mine.

The day I become a member then I can tell them, I don't like it. But to say that Obasanjo has hand in Yar'Adua's government, to me again, is speculation. It is true that Obasanjo was very much instrumental in bringing him in, we won't run away from that. That's the truth! It's there, it's obvious, but that doesn't make him a man that doesn't know what he wants in life. I mean, when you look at him, the man is 56 years old for God's sake, he's not a child. How did he get to where he is?

Was it Obasanjo that held his arm and took him to school through university? Was it Obasanjo that governed Katsina State for him? I think we should give the man a break. A lot of most of the things we are seeing is speculation and I will tell you why there's so much speculation. Part of it is because there are certain persons who know what people want to hear. I keep repeating that, and they blow up these and you people make them movie stars because they know what you want to hear too.

So, they open their months wide and you put all these things on your front pages and then the next person you go to says his own too and you put his own there. The president and his predecessor should be friends, they shouldn't be enemies! For one thing they belong to the same party, one was instrumental to bringing in the other, and secondly Yar'Adua naturally should consult with him in the sense of you've been in this thing, how did you do it? What happened here, what happened there? These are normal things. So, to me, let them allow this man settle down and do his job.

As part of his settling down, he called for a government of national unity. Are you in support of that?

One hundred per cent! I think it's a very good thing. I think it's a good thing because, first of all, Nigeria is more important than me as a person. Nigeria is more important than Yar'Adua. Nigeria is more important than any individual person. Nigeria is more important than any political party. We all know that we had serious problems during the elections. It's a fact, you can't run away from it. The reality is that there were a lot ofirregularities from all parties. If I may say, some did it more than others, but they all did it.

Let's not pretend about it because that's a fact. I met someone who ran for an office in a certain state and somehow it didn't work out and he was trying to tell me how they did this. So, I sat him down and started telling him how his own people did this and that too. I said we at the grassroots know what happened.

So the truth is that, everybody had a part to play in whatever had happened before. So, looking at where we are coming from, when you think of all the things that happened, yes, some people have been declared winners at the presidential and the state levels.

To find a way to keep Nigeria one, I think it's a very wise thing to reach out to other parties and say alright, come and contribute your part to this. For example, you see that in Obasanjo government, whether we want to give him credit for it or not, some of the people he appointed did very well, some didn't.

Incidentally mostly the women did very well. But if you want to look at it, you should say, Obasanjo did very well as far as those people are concerned. But my point is, some of those people were not even party people initially, but eventually they had to become. But they were not at all. Some were actually from other parties.

Could you imagine if some of those people were not given the opportunity to serve, we will never be talking about them today. That's one. Two, they would never have achieved the things they achieved, not for themselves but for all of us, for Nigeria. The reason they were able to achieve those things was because they were brought in and given that opportunity.

I think the idea is, some of these other parties may have credible people who can come into government, who can also add to this nation, to Nigeria. Because all we want is power supply, good roads, water and food. These are the things we want.

The Niger Delta question and power will be his cardinal programmes. He has spent two months and not even one word yet in that direction...

Is it really that not one word yet? I wouldn't say not one word yet. Again like I've always told you I think nobody will say now that I love Yar'Adua so much. I don't even know the man. Take the Niger Delta for example, I know that they have inaugurated a committee that is supposed to look at the security situation in the area. That is very important because most of the people in that committee know what is on ground.

If you go to Delta State, you'll see that the same thing is on ground now. There is a committee set up by the governor, a waterway security committee and the people in that committee know what is on ground. Now, that is very important. If you are going to solve the Niger Delta problem, you must involve the people who know what is on ground. They've done that. For example, again, NDDC, I initiated something, the week long prayers for peace which was concluded recently.

I actually initiated it through the past president. I think that is very important because one of the mistakes they've always made, when they call the so-called stakeholders in the Niger Delta, they never involve the Church. And it puzzles me, it has always puzzled me why they don't bring in the Church.

I went with the vice president and the Delta State governor, Dr. Uduaghan, to the creeks. I was shocked the way I was received! I was surprised by some of the leaders of the town and the young people. Before the vice president arrived, because some of us went ahead of him, they took me into a big room and gave me a special welcome separately. You know the way we entertain visitors. They brought out money, put money on the table, everything, received me.

I couldn't believe myself. They started singing songs with my name, but I'm a pastor. As I stepped into the place, they were shouting Papa. I couldn't believe myself. I said this is unbelievable. In this kind of place? So, it's a mistake not to have involved the Church all along, because we have something at stake. The Niger Delta, basically, is supposed to be a Christian part of this country.

That is the truth. Let's be honest with ourselves. There are no genuine Muslims anywhere in the Niger Delta. They are not there. Everybody you see there, if they want to be honest with you are Christians, one way or the other. They may not be very committed but that's who they are. Now, if they are Christians, they were baptised in a church probably. Their mothers took them to a church; their fathers took them to a church.

Organizing of prayers

They have gone to a church and I am a pastor. There are still some credible pastors that you can still involve. Like I said to NDDC and I hope we can get this across also to the government and those in charge, not only are we organising prayers, which is very important but we want to be involved further.

We want to be involved in negotiations in the sense of, you see, some of these boys don't trust a lot of government officials but there are people they believe are credible. It's possible they may think some of us are also credible. We can become the bridge, we can say to these boys, we have talked to government, let's give them one year - no fighting, no cheating, no nothing, put your arms down, let them do something.

If they don't, then nobody can blame you. And then we say to government, you see, we have put our neck on the line, my credibility is on the line, now perform. If they don't perform, we'll come out publicly to condemn them. I don't need money from government. I don't need anything. I say it everywhere, every time, I don't need it. No governor has given me one naira before, it doesn't happen because I don't want it. I don't need it. If they don't perform, we will come out and shout. And when we start talking, people will listen because they know we are not politicians.

So they need to involve us more.

For example, the master plan, a plan is just a plan until you can implement it, but how do you implement it? So, we want to be involved to help, so that this plan can be implemented. And in implementing it, there has to be dialogue and this dialogue has to involve the church. A lot of the institutions in this country have been bastadized, many don't have credibility and I don't want to start mentioning them.

But I think to an extent, there are still people in the Church leadership that have credibility that can say this is it and they will stick to it. And we know that if we say something and we don't do what we say then we're in trouble because we have nothing to preach to anybody. My members can walk out of the church because truth, justice, equity, all these things are directly, not indirectly, related to what we do. It's a direct thing. So if I don't stick to what I say, it goes completely against everything that am saying. So I have no platform.

What practical solution do you expect from the prayer sessions?

First of all, everything physical derives from the spiritual and so prayer is very important because there's no way you'll want to achieve peace without calling on the prince of peace. God is the owner of peace. There is a spirituality that goes with peace. When you call upon Him and you do it right, God can enter into the hearts of men. Two people who disagreed before suddenly can begin to agree.

You remember in the Bible, Jacob was coming from his uncle's place and he was told that Esau was coming with 400 men angry because of what Jacob did to him. And Jacob had an encounter, in other words, he had an all-night prayer meeting. In the morning, when Esau saw him, instead of killing him, Esau embraced him. So who created that peace? Was it Jacob? No, it was supernatural. So there is a supernatural aspect to the problem in the Niger Delta.

There are demonic forces that want to maintain the status quo because it is only in this kind of atmosphere that idol worship can thrive. Idol worship only thrives in confusion, in poverty, in this kind of situation. The moment development starts coming, believe you me, idol worship is gone.

Nobody will have time for that. And these spirits know this that's why they blind our people spiritually to make sure they can't understand this fact. If not, you sit down and think, our people had all these shrines, the white man came and colonised them with all these heavy shrines, used them as slaves and yet the juju couldn't do anything.

They can't even think, when these people came, some of our people were naked, they had to give you cloth to cover you and your juju was there, your juju liked you naked, running around in the forest. People are not thinking, with all these things you're serving, telling you bring blood, telling you to kill your brother, kill your fellow human being. You think that's a good thing? It certainly cannot be, but they are not thinking. So there are problems there and these spirits like it that way.

So we have to challenge this and the way to challenge it is spiritually. You can't challenge spiritual things with physical things. So what we have brought into it now is the spiritual dimension so that the prayers that have been done now for this one week, and like I told them, you can't end with one week of prayers.

Nigeria Security Update #1 220707

Air Tragedy Averted at Lagos Airport (This Day)

Tragedy was averted yesterday at about 10.55am when a Virgin Nigeria aircraft with registration number, VK 44 that was landing at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, from Abuja almost collided with another aircraft that was taking off a few meters from the runway.

Passengers in the in-coming flight, including the pilot agreed that the near-collision was too close. The passengers agreed that the tragedy was averted due to the dexterity of the pilot of the Lagos-bound flight who was quick to notice the aircraft that was taking off, and immediately gained altitude until it stabilised in the air, and landed after another 10 minutes.

Among the passengers on the flight were World Bank officials who were coming to Lagos for a meeting, senators, businessmen and women and other Nigerians and foreign nationals.

Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon of Lagos West Senatorial District who was on board of the Lagos-bound flight said it was the pilot who saved the situation, as the aircraft had less than a minute to touch the runway when the pilot sighted the other aircraft that was taking off.

"My God, it was very close. The pilot had told us that he was landing. He directed the crew to prepare for landing. We could see everywhere the grasses before the runway. Then all of a sudden, the plane took off again because as he was trying to land another aircraft was taking off," he said.

The Senator said when the aircraft stabilised in the air, the pilot explained to the passengers what happened and apologised for taking their time, noting that the two aircraft were very close.

Solomon, who was yet to shake off the shock of what happened, observed that the aircraft had to gather more energy to reverse its course because it had already prepared for landing and needed renewed velocity and resurgence to gain altitude again, describing the situation as "a very, very close shave."

Director of Communications, Virgin Nigeria Airways, Larry Agose, confirmed the incident and explained that the flight was about to land and when the pilot noticed that another aircraft was taking off, it gained altitude again to make way for that aircraft. He added that the aircraft that was taking off was not Virgin Nigeria's airplane.

Agose explained that the pilot merely took precautionary measures, noting that such incidents happen all over the world, advising that it is not necessary to magnify it.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Ado Sanusi, said the pilot that took off again into the air was observing normal safety procedures, which every pilot is acquainted with, noting that a pilot can abort take-off or landing, depending on the signals he receives.

Sanusi also explained that this happens in all the airports in the world, adding that passengers who don't know about this usually panic when they observe it happen, stressing that publishing such in the media may create fear in the flying public.

Reacting to the allegation that the near-collision may be due to the closure of one of the two runways which has been undergoing repairs, the General Manager, Public Affairs, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Akin Olukunle, said the cause of the incident should not be attributed to the runway. He noted that FAAN does not want to join issues with NAMA and urged the agency to work on its radar, adding that air traffic controllers seemed to be under pressure and therefore may be making mistakes when monitoring and directing aircraft movement.

Peace Summit Efforts Intensified (This Day)

The Presidency at the weekend, literally relocated to Lagos as President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan visited the former federal capital in pursuit of peace in Niger Delta region and economic co-operation between two neighbouring South western states controlled by different political parties.

While President Yar'Adua met with Governors Gbenga Daniel and Babatunde Fashola of Ogun and Lagos States at Dodan barracks, Lagos, Jonathan used the visit to hold parleys with several groups from the Niger Delta areas, who came to Lagos from the Creeks.

Yar’Adua also met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the same venue.

THISDAY gathered that Jonathan's visit to Lagos was in connection with the proposed summit on Niger Delta being planned by the presidency.

The summit aimed at bringing together all stakeholders in the oil-rich region to discuss solutions to the crisis was scheduled for last month in Abuja. The summit was later postponed to give room for wider consultations.

A source close to the Presidency said Jonathan had been involved in "cross-sectional and multi-layer consultative meetings with all groups, both militant and moderate, radicals and conservative, peoples movements and tradtional institutions".

The source further said that the wide consultations have enabled the presidency to extract commitments from the stakeholders.

It is expected that the next step of the preparation would be to formulate the specifics of the summit itself.

"The next step after the series of consultation is to get effective representation that will mirror the ethnic groupings and ideological persuasions of the various people.

"We will then move to the level of confidence building projects which are intended to show that the administration is serious in its efforts to resolve the crisis in the Niger Delta. These projects will be targeted at job creation, ensure security and also bring development to the communities in the area," he said.

Another top official involved in the preparation for the summit said government is also determined to isolate the "criminal elements that have attempted to hijack the genuine struggle of the people of the Niger Delta".

The conference proper is expected to be facilitated by credible Nigerians, which all the stakeholders can trust. The Niger Delta issue is one of the seven-point agenda which President Yar'Adua set as priorities for his administration.

President Yar'Adua's meeting yesterday with Daniel and Fashola deliberated on the proposed Lagos mega-city to be established between Ogun and Lagos States. It was conceived by the Obasanjo administration which appointed Prof. Akin Mabogunje as the chairman of the implementation committee.

The project will include residential and industrial estates as well as a free trade/export processing zone. It is expected to create economic co-operation between the two states with the Federal Government as a major muscle behind it.

Obviously mindful of the different political affiliations of Daniel, who belongs to Yar'Adua's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Fashola's Action Congress (AC), the President came to Lagos with a bi-partisan message for the two state chief executives.

According to sources, the President's discussion with the governors centred on how to get the project off the ground with minimum hitches.

THISDAY also learnt that President Yar'Adua held a secret parley with his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The meeting reviewed developments on state and PDP affairs, particularly those arising from actions of the Obasanjo administration, which were inherited by the new government.

Another Chief's Son Kidnapped

AGAIN, suspected militants have struck in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, kidnapping the son of a prominent Eleme community chief, Prince Awala Nta-Oluka, who is said to be in his late thirties.

Four men reportedly abducted the chief's son from his residence at Eleme yesterday evening, thus shattering the lull in kidnapping of single individuals particularly children.

In the past weeks, militants, who demanded ransoms from victims' parents, abducted two three-year-olds, who were later freed after widespread condemnation and pleas from individuals and groups, including President Musa Yar'Adua.

The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Mrs. Ireju Barasua, told The Guardian last night that the gunmen abducted the chief's son from his residence at Eleme.

Barasua said the Police were still investigating the matter to ascertain the motive for the abduction.

But sources in Eleme revealed that the abduction of the chief's son might be connected with the staunch anti-terrorism campaign he had organised with the Eleme Petrochemical Company some of which workers were kidnapped recently.

However, no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction as at press time.

Nigeria Security Update #1 200707

Armed Men Kill Expatriate in Port Harcourt (Reuters)

Suspected armed robbers shot dead a Lebanese businessman in the southern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta, the local police commissioner said on Friday.

Felix Ogbaudu said the robbers locked the apartment block's security guard inside his post and entered the Lebanese man's house, took some of his belongings and shot him dead. He said it happened at about 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Friday.

Ogbaudu said armed robberies were commonplace in that part of the city but it was unclear why the attackers had shot the man, who had a private furniture-making business. No one else was harmed.

Kidnappings of foreigners are frequent in the oil-producing delta and many abductions have taken place in Port Harcourt, but it is unusual for expatriates to get killed.

Port Harcourt is the main city in the delta. It has become increasingly dangerous since early 2006, when militants demanding control over oil revenues stepped up a campaign of attacks on the oil industry.

The militants have attacked oil facilities and kidnapped oil workers, cutting Nigeria's exports by about a fifth and prompting thousands of expatriate workers and their relatives to leave the region.

But numerous criminal gangs have used the unrest as a cover to abduct foreigners for ransom or carry out armed robberies. The delta, including Port Harcourt, is also plagued by violent youth gangs called "cults" who frequently clash for reasons that usually remain obscure.

HIV & The Niger Delta (This Day)

When the news of the discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the resultant Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) broke out in the mid 1980s, most Nigerians never gave it a second thought. Even when the disease was found to have led to the death of several East and Southern Africans, many still claimed that HIV and AIDS were a mere whiteman's coinage and disease.

But today, some two decades after, the killer disease has taken an awesome toll on Nigerians, and even killed neighbours next door, and rendered many, especially children, orphans. That infection, which was a whiteman's disease in 1986-87, has now become a vanquished misery to many families in Nigeria, particularly amongst people of Niger Delta, where its prevalence rate has been high. The states of the South-south are already hitting epidemic proportion in the spread of the virus as a result of favourable socio-economic conditions in the region. Now, the people are at crossroads and a workable solution has to be found to immediately curb the whirlwind and save our beloved brothers and sisters from the pandemic. The figures are indeed, alarming, and concerns are rising. In the South-south zone, Akwa Ibom has the highest prevalence rate of 8.0 per cent, with Cross River following closely with 6.1 per cent (showing a drastic reduction in the last five years from 8.2 per cent), while Rivers ranks third with 5.4 per cent. In the same vein, Edo is rated fourth with 4.6 per cent, Bayelsa ranks fifth at 3.8 per cent while Delta comes last with 3.7 per cent.

A deeper x-ray of the statistics sadly reveal that rural communities in the zone are effectively competing with urban centres in the spread of HIV and the concentration of AIDS cases. In Akwa Ibom, for instance, HIV prevalence rate in rural areas has overtaken the number in urban centres with a 9.3 to 7.3 ratio, just as rural communities in Bayelsa State have toppled the towns with a 4-point lead to 3.7 for urban centres.

The case of Rivers is not an exception either, as the rural mass already has a 5 per cent prevalence rate, just a little below the 5.5 per cent rate for urban centres. Cross River State also has a 5 per cent rural spread of the virus against the cities's 6.7 per cent, Edo maintains 3 per cent rural prevalence rate compared to urban centres' 5.3 per cent while in Delta, 2 per cent of the rural poor are already infected against the present 4.5 per cent rate for the cities.

A careful analysis of the distribution pattern in the zone shows an unequal network of centres when compared to the prevalence rate in each state of the South-south. For instance, both Edo and Cross River states have three ART centres each while Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states have one site each.

This situation becomes more disturbing when it is realized that there are now 210 ART centres across the country (using current NACA figures). With all the centres in the cities, it becomes crystal clear that the rural dwellers have immense problem of access to the available centres for the direly needed treatment, care and support services. This has made it expedient for government and other concerned agencies to put strategies in motion to establish ART centres in the rural communities to check the spread of the pandemic. And these centres are needed mostly in the rural communities in the South-south, albeit, the Niger Delta, where the spread of HIV/AIDS has been rising systematically.

The strategic foundations forged gave impetus to the formation of the National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (NACA), now National Agency for Control of HIV & AIDS, and the setting up of the various state implementing bodies -SACA as well as those of the local government areas, LACA. As coordinating and implementing platforms for HIV & AIDS policies and programmes in Nigeria, these bodies have battled with donor and partner organisations including some corporate bodies to redress the menace. But given the number of HIV/AIDS victims, the number of ART sites and the dearth of professionals in the sector, it is clear that the burden on government is overwhelming.

It is against this background that other players in the Nigerian economy have intervened in one way or the other to reduce the impact of the spectre on the national psyche. One such example, is the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), which has bought-in on all national policy frameworks for tackling the HIV & AIDS pandemic in Nigeria , particularly in the Niger Delta region.

One of the ways through which the company has contributed, as a responsible corporate citizen of Nigeria, and indeed, the Niger Delta, is the adoption of an organisational workplace policy on HIV/AIDS for staff in line with government's strategy. This is in addition to active participation of the company in the annual World AIDS Day celebrations, the sponsorship of media-based campaigns on HIV & AIDS, organised sessions for 10,000 students and 250 teachers, drama and distributed notebooks branded with HIV/AIDS prevention messages, organized seminars/workshops and sensitization fora on the scourge for staff, health workers, faith-based and civic society groups, host communities, among others. Besides, SPDC has also sponsored Shell AIDS School .

But beyond all these, SPDC has taken a quantum leap in its intervention strategy by investing in initiatives to complement government's efforts to scale up access to ART through the upgrading and equipping of five of the 27 health facilities to provide HIV and AIDS care, treatment and support services to PLWHAs in the Niger Delta. Conceived under the Niger Delta AIDS Response (NiDAR) project, the initiative targets Otuasegha Cottage Hospital in Bayelsa, Erhoike Cottage Hospital in Delta, Oben Cottage Hospital in Edo , Owaza Cottage Hospital in Abia and Edagberi Cottage Hospital in Rivers. The project will also strengthen Okolobiri General Hospital as well as Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, all in Bayelsa, to deliver HIV comprehensive care services to victims.

The goals of SPDC, Dr. Babatunde Fakunle, corporate community health manager, SPDC, said are to strengthen the human resource and capacity of the affected health facilities to provide high quality and comprehensive HIV and AIDS care services as well as establish strong linkages of the various components of HIV and AIDS care services within the facilities and other available HIV & AIDS programmes in the states.

Dr Fakunle said at the maiden NiDAR Project Stakeholders Roundtable in Port Harcourt, last month that the deliverable benefits of the new intervention strategy, include the provision of access to HIV/AIDS services to over 50,000 people in the first year alone while serving as a catalyst for the development of HIV/AIDS strategic response framework for the Niger Delta. He also listed other benefits to include increased access to HIV/AIDS -related information and prevention activities, reduced HIV/AIDS transmission, improved healthcare delivery and overall quality of life for host communities as well as PLWHA, and to further boost relations between SPDC and communities in the region.

The community-level response strategy is seen as the first of its kind in the country's effort to sustain integrated care, treatment and support services for HIV/AIDS victims. The NiDAR Project, Fakunle noted, is part of SPDC's bold step to "support FHI and the various state action committees on AIDS" and other specialized NGOs to improve "access of the communities to comprehensive and quality assured HIV/AIDS care and treatment services". He said this will increase the number of ART centres as well as check the prevalence rate in the rural communities in the Niger Delta. This, again, shows SPDC's leadership in responding to the needs of the people of Niger Delta.

In his presentation at the roundtable, the corporate community health manager highlighted three key objectives and deliverables of the forum, which include to adequately inform key stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS on the scope and operations of the NiDAR project; to garner the support of key players at community, state and national levels for effective implementation of the project; and to agree on workable/practicable modalities for achieving qualitative results as set out by the project.

One exciting aspect of the NiDAR project is the commitment of SPDC to provide funding for all activities as listed in the proposal document; provision of logistical support for the project management team; renovation and appropriate re-allocation of space in the five cottage hospitals; infrastructural and laboratory upgrading and provision of equipment for the facilities; provision of logistic support for manpower training as well as plans to boost on-going support for procurement of essential drugs, reagents and consumables. These are not all that the SPDC's NiDAR Project promises the people.

Dr Akin Fajola, public health adviser,SPDC, catalogued other special initiatives in the project, among which are the funding of the Bayelsa State Strategic Framework on HIV/AIDS with technical assistance from FHI, plans to set up voluntary counseling centres in five of six SPDC-supported health facilities, provision of HIV/AIDS care services in three facilities, and on-going arrangements to set up groups to support PLWHA. Further steps, he said, are on to conduct HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in target communities, conduct orientation workshops for healthcare providers on social mobilization and community participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and design, produce and distribute Information Education and Communication materials.

Another milestone of the roundtable was the formation of a central hospitals advisory committee drawn from each of the participating states and facilities, and SPDC. With these achievements, the concerns of stakeholders on the rising spate of HIV/AIDS in the region's rural areas are half addressed. But more could be done, if other corporate organizations think along that line. This is the best approach!

Police Commissioner is not Throwing a Tea Party for Criminals (The Sun)

The new Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has warned criminals that he is not in the state for a tea party.Addressing officers and men in the command, he said there was no hiding place for criminals.

He said that policemen would be rewarded to encourage them to do their best. Indeed, as a starter, 15 policemen were given letters of commendation and cash reward for their act of gallantry in combating robbers.

According to him, his action was also in line with the first item on the nine-way test resolution of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to operate a transparent and accountable administration. He said: "I want the good people of Lagos State to know of our further determination to protect them. Henceforth, policemen who excel in the performance of their duties will be openly commended as a motivational tonic to ginger them for higher performances."

The CP added that any policeman who does not excel would not get any commendation. He seized the opportunity to reveal that more than 47 suspected robbers were held in six days of his assumption of office. He said 25 assorted arms and 102 ammunition and various magazines of AK47 rifle, two barreta pistols, five pump action guns, one revolver pistol, one max pistol model 1950 and 17 locally made single and double barreta guns were recovered from them.

The bandits were held by the 15 brave policemen from different divisions. Among those arrested was a four-man gang who usually snatched flashy cars from victims in traffic snarl in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos. One barretta pistol and three locally made pistols were recovered from them.

While revealing that he would, from time to time, pay unscheduled visits to police commands to make sure that policemen were on their toes, Abubakar further said: "The inspector general of police has directed and empowered police officers to arrest and prosecute bullion van drivers, unauthorized individuals and companies that use siren to intimidate other road users. Henceforth, violators of this directive will be sanctioned in Lagos State."

According to him, the hide-outs of suspected criminals were raided during the week and 640 suspects held. He said after investigations, 101 were charged to court, insisting that the exercise was a continuous process of cleansing the state of criminals.

Abubakar disclosed that additional 312 street urchins were held within the period under review.

"The command is in a serious discussion with the state government on modalities of rehabilitating majority of the social miscreants."

The new CP also has good news for those whose cars may have been snatched or stolen.

"Recently, 36 stolen vehicles were recovered in different parts of the state. Owners of these recovered vehicles were advised to check newspapers for their locations for collection or crosscheck from the office of the police public relations officer."

The CP said accurate and reliable information on criminals was required for a proactive policing as well as detection of crime. He promised to treat such information with utmost confidentiality.

He added: "My administration will operate an open-door policy where all and sundry will have unhindered access to me on all important issues that will make the command sustain its war on criminals."

He wants people to call these numbers 01-7745705, 01-7745706, 08034420406, 08023335749 and 08060357795 if they have information for the police.

Nigeria Security Update #2 190707

Youths Threaten to Blow Up Shell Facility (Vanguard)

Youths of Obe community in Orhionmwon Local Government Council of Edo State have threatened to blow up the Shell flow station this weekend, should the state government fail to re-constitute the membership of the newly constituted Oil and Gas Producing Communities Commission and appoint some body from the area as the chairman.

The angry youths had last Tuesday shut down the flow station protesting the composition of the committee but with the intervention of the over one thousand mobile policemen deployed to the area by the state Police Commissioner, Mr Bala Hassan, the flow station was brought back to life against the wish of the youths.

The crisis in the area erupted after Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor sent a list of seven members and three ex-official members of the committee to the state House of Assembly for approval.
The youths insisted that as the highest oil producing community in the three oil producing Local Government Councils in the state, the area should produce the chairman of the committee.

The youths led by Prince West Ogienwonyi asserted to Vanguard in Benin, yesterday, that “because they are controlling the police and the soldiers they went and opened the flow station. But we want to say that our resolve on the issue has not changed. If by weekend and that committee is not re-constituted as we demanded, we are going to blow up the entire flow station.

“Is it because we have been keeping quiet and they think that we are fools. If one visits our community you will not know that you visited an oil producing community. They have marginalised us in infrastructural development and that is why we said we want our person to be made chairman of the commission because he knows our problems better than some body who hails from where they produce little or no oil” he argued.


New Militant Group Holds Expatriate Hostages

There is apprehension over the failing health of two expatriates currently being held hostage by a militant group at Alabeni, Ekeremor Council in Bayelsa State.

The hostages, a Bulgarian and a Scot, working for Peak Petroleum, a contracting firm to Chevron/Texaco, were abducted last Monday by some militants aboard a marine vessel, "Monipo", which was reportedly hired by the firm.

The hostages’ poor health may not be unconnected with the absence of medical facilities in the area.

Reports said the vessel was halted by armed youths who invaded the area with four speed boats. They fired several shots into the air before kidnapping the foreigners.

Already, a group, Authentic Emancipation of the Movement for Peace and Development in the Niger Delta (EMOPEND), has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

The group threatened not to release the foreigners until its demands are met.



U.S. Ambassador Pledges Support (This Day)

The United States (US) has said it would continue to stand beside Nigeria in its journey towards sustainable development and democratic governance.

US High Commissioner in Nigeria, Sir John Campbell yesterday restated his country's commitment to Nigeria Project at a briefing in Abuja, adding that the US would strengthen trade relations with Nigeria, especially in oil and gas among other common areas of interest to both countries.

Campbell seized the briefing to comment on the US visa process, stating that "our visa service have been improved by opening of our consular section in Abuja. We strive to provide the best consular service we can to all Nigerians whether dual citizens or those seeking to visit their families."

When asked to mention some areas of US-Nigerian relations, the out-going ambassador said the relationship between Nigeria and the US "is multifaceted," noting that his country "relates well with Nigeria in oil and gas."

According to him, with respect to stable economic growth and development, I would like to see our trading relationship become stronger, and more foreign investment by American companies in Nigeria.

He called on the governments to improve its infrastructure, educational system, power and communication sectors, remove trade barriers and other tarrifs in order to make Nigeria more competitive for direct foreign investments (FDIs).

He said: "Nigeria must continue to work for peace, stability and economic progress because democracy building is a never-ending process. "The United States will continue to stand beside Nigeria on its pilgrimage toward democracy. Through the US Agency for International Development, we provided fifteen million dollars for technical and other assistance with 2007 elections, and we will continue supporting both Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigerian Civil Society in strengthening electoral law, the tribunal system and the independent courts and assemblies. This is vital to build a strong nation.

"The notable economic and political reforms achieved over the past few years can be broadedened and translated into an improvement of the living standard of all Nigerians," Campbell stated.While commenting on the monumental growth experienced by Nigeria since its transition to democratic regime, Campbell assured that the US would hesitate to assist Nigeria-both in kind and cash-in such areas as education, health and investment among others.

"I have been glad to experience a growth in ties between America and Nigeria's Muslim community during my time in Nigeria. Our example is Arewa House's project to catalogue, preserve and make bettwer known Nigeria's wonderful collection of Islamic manuscripts, supported by Northwestern University, the Library of Congress and this Embassy.

"America has a significant Muslim community, and we welccome students and visitors, especially from Nigeria, and value their contribution to our culture, society and educational system," he stated.

Drwaing inference from a native America proverb common in the Sioux tribe which says with all things, in all things, we are relatives, Campbell said "this saying is apt because of the strong partnership that America has with Nigeria. Our ties are cultural, political, educational, economic financial and familial among others.

Campbell said millions of Nigerians had dual Nigerian-American citizenship, adding "millions more have their family members living in the United States."

Niger Delta in Turmoil - An Analysis (This Day)

Against a background of incessant hostage taking and communal strife borne out of poverty, concerned citizens seek elusive peace for the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta region. Abimbola Akosile reviews inputs made by various stakeholders at home and abroad on a vital process

Toddler Dimension

In the past few months, some desperate inhabitants in the Niger Delta region have resorted to kidnapping innocent citizens and returning them for ransom. Scores of expatriates from different nations of the world have suffered this fate, and some only secured their release after money exchanged hands.

However a more frightening dimension to the kidnap saga is the taking of little kids for money. Three of them who were kidnapped in recent times include 3-year old Michael Somiari-Stewart, son of a Rivers State law-maker; 2 year-old Samuel Amadi, son of Eze Francis Amadi; and 3 year-old Margaret Hill, daughter of a British father and Nigerian mother.

Although the three kids have since been released, a frightening precedent has been set, and only quick intervention can save the region from further toddler kidnapping and anarchy.

Turning Spears into Plows

In the restive Niger Delta region, aggrieved youths have been accused of hostage-taking, bank robberies and other crimes. A recent attempt to convince said youths to down their weapons in exchange for implements of peace was boosted at a reformatory home in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A notable attempt to find a lasting solution to the continual violence and restiveness in the Niger Delta took place in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State; at a skills acquisition center, where youths, some aged 14, and numbering well over a hundred, gathered and camped for weeks.

Above scheme, mid-wifed by a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) named Academic Associates Peaceworks (AAP) led by Dr. Judith Asuni, was in conjunction with various leaders of the cult groups who have resigned and are pursuing a reversal of roles they had played so that up coming youths would not fall into the vicious circle of violence.

Another aspect of the programme was to ensure that there would be elections in the Niger Delta region, to ensure emergence of credible and true leadership that would lift the region out if its current economic and infrastructural doldrums.

Above programme, an eye-opener, is a welcome development in the restive Niger Delta region. Such youth programmes, when combined effectively with government peace and developmental efforts in the region, would go a long way to clean up a previously un-conducive atmosphere; and in turn usher in an era of peaceful co-existence and rapid growth. Kudos to AAP and other concerned stakeholders.

Executive Neglect

According to Professor Julius Ihonvbere, Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and Evaluation to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, leadership has failed in the Niger Delta region of the country.

The activist-technocrat, while presenting a book titled "Towards an Integrated Development of the Niger Delta", which was compiled by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in Abuja, chided the Niger Delta governors (especially the out-gone executives) for not managing the resources that accrued to them for the overall benefit of the people of their states.

He said these States received over N600 billion since 1999, which they failed to channel into developmental projects. According to him, if the governors had spent at least N30 billion effectively, problems associated with the people of the Niger Delta would have been adequately solved.

Ihonvbere called on the government to put in structures at the local government levels, to help take governance closer to the people, tackle militancy in the region and resolve abject poverty.

The detailed book was compiled through research by the trio of former Executive Director of CDD, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Miss Stella Amadi, Regional Coordinator of CDD and Ololade Bamidele. The book has six chapters and 270 pages.

To underline the vital importance of the issue of the Niger Delta, among the personalities who attended the book presentation were Dr. Tajudeen Abdulraheem, Chairman of CDD Governing Council; Dr. Kole Shettima, Africa Country Director of MacArthur Foundation; Professor Omafume Onoge; Honourables Dino Melaye and Femi Kehinde of the House of Representatives.

Others included Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, current Director of CDD; Mr. Turhan Saleh, UNDP Representative in Nigeria; Odia Ofeimun of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), who reviewed the book; Mr. Waziri Adio of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI); Barrister Femi Falana, President of West African Bar Association (WABA); Miss Nyree Triptree of United States Embassy; and the chairperson Ms Nkoyo Toyo of Gender and Development Action (GADA).

Toward a Lasting Solution

According to Dr. Chukwuma Nwaonicha, a Nigerian living abroad, the solution to the Niger Delta crisis requires honest dialogue backed with infrastructural or public utilities developmental efforts from the stakeholders.

These include the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), State and Local governments, the international and local organisations and other agencies operating in the Niger Delta region.

He claimed hostage taking and killings are wrong, and the use of force to settle the problem of the Niger Delta, a wrong agenda. "The criminal activities, including bunkering, killings, and hostage taking in the Niger Delta had become an obstacle to the development of the region. Hostage taking is no fun. It is a serious criminal act. What the militants are demanding is unrealistic goal".

He believed that if it takes over forty-six years to 'destroy or neglect' the region, it may equally take more than forty-six years to develop it. "Development does not occur overnight, and development cannot occur along side violence. Development is a gradual and continuous process", he said.

To Nwaonicha, the key factors in developing the Niger Delta region and promoting peace are good governance, enforcement of the rule of law, public trust, fairness, peace, safety and security among others.

"We strongly encourage the stakeholders; the Federal, State and Local governments to be committed in spending the resources meant for developing the region in the region. This region cannot be developed if funds budgeted for the region are not honestly used or embezzled. You can't eat your cake and have it".

He also recommended that the various governments should set-up necessary developmental goals for the region. These include short-term goal of community policing, peace initiative and conflict resolution committees, various types of job training (1 year); mid-term goals of infrastructural development (low capital intensive projects) thereby creating jobs (five years) and long-term goal of high capital intensive infrastructural development projects there by creating jobs (more than five years).

To him, the Federal, State and Local governments need to do better for the Niger Delta region and the other states in the nation; and the difference between development and destruction is awareness.

Implementing an Action Agenda

Timely adoption and implementation of a seven-point development agenda recommended in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2006 Niger Delta Report would ensure desired progress in the restive region.

Agenda 1: Peace-Building

Peace in the Niger Delta has been adversely affected by militarisation of the region, lack of effective dialogue, lack of negotiation of conflict between interests, lack of access to economic benefits and opportunities, and inability to protect human lives and enforce human rights. Past efforts at addressing genuine grievances have been ad hoc and flowing top-down rather than from the communities themselves.

Recommendations

- Set up credible institutions whose membership will include interest groups and people acceptable to aggrieved communities and other stakeholders; address the issue of resource control to ensure community ownership and use of natural resources for development and environmental protection. True fiscal federalism should be practiced. In the interim, the percentage of derivation should be increased to 50 percent;

Agenda 2: Local Governance

Democratic local governance is crucial to solving the crises in the Niger Delta. The prevailing reality is that there is no participatory local governance. Both the Federal and particularly the State Governments have hampered autonomy of the local governments. Local government autonomy is therefore a key goal in the attempt at resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta. There is need to devolve power and create mechanisms to assure that local governance is transparent and accountable to the people.

Recommendations

- Provide a legal framework to ensure constitutional autonomy of LGAs as opposed to the present practice of making them just administrative third tier of government; promulgate laws to recognise and regulate Community Development Associations (CDAs) as an integral component of local governance;

Agenda 3: Economic Diversification

There is high dependence on oil and gas resources, which provide over 90 percent of the foreign exchange earnings of the country, thereby making it a monolithic economy. The oil sector has limited capacity for employment and spread of industrial development. Agriculture has been relegated to the background and food security is threatened.

Recommendations

- Encourage oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta to establish ancillary industries to add value and boost employment opportunities for the people of the region. Recommended areas include electricity generation, refineries, petrochemicals and others which could produce the much needed oil and gas sector-based goods and services that are still imported.

- Provide easy access to micro-credit and extension services for farmers and those engaged in agro-allied industries; create awareness and sensitise the people on the opportunities available in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors.

Agenda 4: Social Inclusion

Sustainable development in the Niger Delta has been considerably hampered by the limited involvement of women, youths, children, physically and mentally challenged and disadvantaged groups in the conception, planning and implementation development programmes.

Recommendations

- Build capacity of community institutions for participatory development with greater involvement of disadvantaged groups; provide increased access to quality education, including building structures, massive supply of science equipment and recruitment of science teachers, especially in rural/riverine communities; provide infrastructures for skill acquisition relevant to the Niger Delta, and greater access to credit facilities by disadvantaged groups;

Agenda 5: Environ-mental Sustainability

The continued degradation of the Niger Delta environment makes the path of sustainable development challenging and difficult, if not impossible to attain. Traditionally, the deltans were farmers and fishermen, hence the loss of their environment is a major threat to their traditional occupation. This has therefore denied host communities the needed sustainable livelihood opportunities and human development.

Recommendations

- Undertake a comprehensive assessment of the physical environment of the Niger Delta taking into consideration impact of oil spillage and exploration; and democratise access to environmental information; build affirmative actions for host community participation in the oil activities; enforce environmental laws and compensation regimes for the oil gas activities; and empower communities to participate in community budgeting and environmental protection measures and processes.

Agenda 6: Integrated Approach to HIV & AIDS

There is increased prevalence of HIV&AIDS in the Niger Delta attributable to poverty, limited education/ awareness, frequent job mobility, presence of oil and gas workers, military and para-military personnel and harmful traditional practices, with the most vulnerable groups being women, youths and children. It was also observed that malaria, tuberculosis and cholera are serious health issues afflicting the people.

Recommendations

- Promote behavioral change, through social mobilisation and access to information; ensure empowerment of state and local action committee on AIDS (SACA and LACA) for them to be more result-oriented in their primary mandates; increase access to comprehensive gender-sensitive preservation, care, treatment and support services for the general population, including free ant-retro-viral drugs for the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA), Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and mitigate HIV/AIDS impact on the people and economy;

Agenda 7: Building Partnership for Sustainable Devt

There is absence of partnership coordination in the region. In addition to the fact that oil companies' community development activities are not integrated into the mainstream development planning, international development partners also operate in the region in an uncoordinated manner. In fact, most Niger Delta states do not have database of development partners' activities in their domain. Capacity building is desirable for partnership.

Recommendations

- Establish, immediately, a unit that will coordinate partnerships in the region. Also establish project monitoring units (PMUs) in all the states of the Niger Delta region to monitor various development activities. Unlike what happens in the past, there should be a steering committee comprising of representatives of CDAs, NGOs, private sectors, religious bodies and government officials. The PMUs are to undertake the Monitoring & Evaluation of development programmes and projects based on established indicators.

Unveiling a Crisis Report

A detailed report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) claimed root causes of the Delta insurgency are well known. Violence, under-development, environmental damage and failure to establish credible state and local government institutions have contributed to mounting public frustration at a slow pace of change under the country's democracy, dogged by endemic corruption.

Nigeria had estimated oil export revenues of $45 billion in 2005 but the slow pace of systemic reforms and the lack of jobs, electricity, water, schools and clinics in large parts of the Delta have boosted support to insurgents such as MEND.

Observers warn that a worst-case scenario could lead to a one to two-year shutdown of the oil industry in the Delta, where most of Nigeria's 2.3 million daily barrels of crude oil originate, the report said.

Illegal oil 'bunkering' has accelerated the conflict and provided militant and criminal groups with funds to purchase arms. Another factor is the scale of poverty.

Community groups frequently charge that projects are derailed by bad management, compounded by corruption at local, contractor and company levels. These accusations are often difficult to judge, although several oil company officials have privately acknowledged that internal corruption is a serious problem they are trying to address. Broken promises and charges of favouritism have further soured relations between oil companies and communities.

Resolution Steps

Governments and corporations must change direction if they are to lessen the likelihood of violent meltdown in the Niger Delta. Attempts to secure energy production have too often been heavy handed, alienating large segments of the population and boosting support for militants, the report stated. While laudable attempts have been made to initiate development, many have been poorly executed or hijacked by outsiders and local elites.

Although Delta militants are responsible for their own share of the brutality, it is a symptom of a wider problem that has created a reservoir of anger against the government. Care should be taken not to reward violence or encourage copycat attacks, by merely co-opting individual militant leaders into the Nigerian elite.

The militants' demands for devolved resource control is legitimate, however, and steps should be taken to bring this about transparently, increasing oversight of elections and elected officials and allowing broad-based community structures to play a leading role in their own development.

Defusing the militant time bomb requires a commitment to negotiate with residents that goes beyond the commissions and committees of the past. There has never been a better opportunity to increase state and local resource control, according to the report.

Urgent measures are needed to promote transparency and stiffen penalties for corruption. While the Yar'Adua Government does a better job than its predecessors at opening its financial activities to scrutiny, it is not enough to reveal financial allocations to the states and localities. How that money is used is key to resolving the conflict in the embattled oil-rich region.

Nigeria Security Update #1 180707

Shell Pipelines on Fire

An oil pipeline feeding Shell's Bonny export terminal in southern Nigeria is burning in six separate places but there is no impact on production, a company spokesman said on Tuesday.

Precious Okolobo said Shell became aware of the fires on the Trans-Niger pipeline in early June and had been negotiating with local communities in the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta to try and gain access to the sites.

"We have been denied access. We are deeply concerned about this situation and we are asking for access so that we can go in and fight these fires," Okolobo said.

"Production has been continuing but a little bit of oil has been pouring out from the six holes that have been drilled in the pipeline and burning off," he said.

Local rights group the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) called for the closure of the pipeline, which had been attacked twice in May by protesters in the same area, forcing Shell to halt up to 170,000 barrels per day.

MOSOP said the pipeline fires were started by local youths angry with the company over what they said were unfulfilled promises of jobs and benefits. Such disputes between communities and oil companies are common in the impoverished Niger Delta.

Oil production from Nigeria, the world's eighth-biggest exporter, has been reduced since February 2006 because of militant attacks on the industry in the lawless delta. The shortfall now stands at 547,000 barrels per day or 18 percent of Nigerian output capacity.

Attacks on oil facilities are just one facet of violence in the delta, where a dearth of jobs and basic public services fuel crime and militancy. At least 11 foreign workers are being held hostage by various delta armed groups.

HISTORY OF PROTESTS

Shell suspended production in Ogoni 14 years ago because of popular protests over pollution and lack of development, but the area is still criss-crossed by pipelines and many residents are still aggrieved about oil spills and what they see as neglect.

Okolobo said the government of Rivers state had asked local authorities in the affected area to allow Shell access and negotiations had taken place as recently as Tuesday afternoon in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

MOSOP gave a different account of the situation, accusing Shell of failing to recognise legitimate community leaders. It blamed the company for severe environmental damage.

"Farmland beside the fires has been polluted while nearby villages have been constantly living under a cloud of smoke and pollution," it said in a statement.

MOSOP was Shell's main critic in Ogoni in the early 1990s when the protests were at their peak. The organisation's then leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was hanged by the military government in 1995 after being convicted of murder on what were widely seen as trumped-up charges.

Ever since Saro-Wiwa's execution, which reflected badly on Shell in the eyes of many environmental and human rights activists around the world, the company has been trying to mend ties with MOSOP and with the broader Ogoni community.

But a government-sponsored peace process has failed to quell protests and discontent in the area.


Shell Gas Plant Shut Down

Angry youths of Oben community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State on Tuesday shut down Oben Gas Plant belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited.

The youths, led by one Prince West Ogienwonyi Uyigue, told our correspondent that they were protesting the failure of the Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, to appoint the Chairman of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Communities Development Commission from Oben, said to be the highest oil and gas producing community.

They sang protest songs and vowed that they would not leave the plant unless the state government gave in to their demand. They said they embarked on the closure of the plant as a last resort after their consultations with the government in Benin failed.

But several detachments of mobile policemen from Edo and Delta states moved in a few hours later and displaced the youths from the plant.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Peter Ogboi, said the action was a ”minor protest”, which had been put under control. He told our correspondent that the police moved in as soon as they got signal of the development and restored order.

The protest came just as the governor submitted the names of the members of the commission to the House of Assembly for approval.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Isaiah Osifo, who had been handling matters relating to the oil and gas producing communities, told our correspondent that the youths from Oben did not have to take their protest too far.

He said before the governor appointed members of the commission, he consulted widely among the oil producing communities, and that the traditional rulers and people of Oben even nominated their own representative of the commission.

He said the law setting up the commission gave the governor the prerogative to appoint the chairman from any of the three recognized oil and gas producing local governments of Orhionmwon, Ikpoba/Okha and Ovia North East.

He said having appointed the chairman from Orhionmwon Local Government Area, the governor appointed a full-time member of the commission from Oben community, which had been adjudged the highest oil and gas producing community in the state.

Freedom Fighters Demand Kingdom

NIGER-DELTA Freedom Fighters (NDFF), the militant group in Egbema kingdom of Delta State, which kidnapped four American workers of the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), May 8, and released them after 22 days in captivity, yesterday, called on the Federal Government, Delta State Government and the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to urgently begin the provision of development infrastructures and employment for the youths in the Ijaw province.

NDFF leader, Egbema One, told Vanguard that before the four Americans who were taken hostage by the group to draw government’s attention to the underdevelopment in the area were released May 30, “Negotiations were made, committee set up and promises were made, but these promises have not been fulfilled and no effort or positive steps taken to concretise these promises.”

According to him the demands of the people were made known to the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) during his recent visit to Okerenkoko in Warri South-West local government area but the NDFF was yet to see any serious effort to address the issues.

Egbema One said it was because of the discussions during the recent visit of the Vice President to the state that the group has restrained its fighters from launching further attacks, saying,“Enough is enough, we want an urgent solution to these issues or else, we will take the other option, which will render Niger-Delta ungovernable.”

In a letter to the chairman of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), dated 14 July, made available to Vanguard in Warri, yesterday, the NDFF leader said the government could put a final stop to hostage taking and other related crisis in Egbema kingdom and the Niger-Delta if qualified Niger-Delta graduates and school leavers were engaged to earn a living.


Cultist Warfare Plagues River State

Rivers State on Tuesday again witnessed an outbreak of violence when suspected cultists killed three persons in Umumei and Umuolu communities of Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

The cultists, said to be fighting for the control of communities in the local government area, also blew up the home of the Paramount Ruler, Chief Ugudu Nyeche.

Our correspondent learnt that the two cult groups started fighting around midnight and continued till 5am, wounding several persons and destroying properties worth millions of naira.

A source in the community confirmed that the paramount ruler had fled from his house before it was bombed.

The source said that cultists also blew up the homes of Mr. Sam Nwulu and Mr. Chibuike Ozu, all indigenes of the community before they disappeared into the bush.

The source however gave the names of those shot dead as Aham Wogu, Ogechi Ndawe and Akawu Olajide.

While the fighting was spreading to all parts of the affected communities, a report was made to the headquarters of the State Police Command said, the source said.

The police, it was learnt, immediately deployed troopers to the area in the early hours of the day to engage the cultists.

When the assailants could not match the fire power of the police troopers, they retreated into the bush.

Riot policemen were patrolling the communities when our correspondent visited the area in the evening while some resident who had fled in the wake of the fighting were seen coming back to their homes.

The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, who confirmed the attacks, noted that his men had brought the situation under control.

Kidnapping as Business (Vanguard)

THE reaction to the kidnapping of three-year-old Briton, Margaret Hills, was typical – so much noise that police failed to arrest the kidnappers, and the terms that returned the child to the parents remain unknown.

Kidnapping of children in Port Harcourt is not new. The poor security situation in Port Harcourt, where criminals can take over the city without an appropriate response from the security agencies makes the city a fertile ground for criminals. When criminal groups can invade the police headquarters, burn it, free suspects, and get away with it, what security will residents of the city have?

Hills got much attention, perhaps, because the father is British. Children are kidnapped on regular bases. It is doubtful if all the cases get to the police. The affected parents often resolve the matter quickly in favour of the kidnappers to save their children from coming to harm.

In the last two months, the kidnapping of two-year-old Sam Amadi is the fourth reported case of child kidnapping in Port Harcourt. The child of a Rivers State legislator, and another belonging to a businessman were also taken. In all the cases, the children were on their way to school. Armed men took the children, and in each case, demanded ransom from the parents.

The kidnaps absolutely reflect the collapse of security in Port Harcourt. They need to be checked before they spawn similar criminality in other places. It would be too bare to see security just in terms of some armed people moving around, thinking their presence would scare criminals away.

What is the profile of those carrying out these acts? Are they unemployed? Would they abandon crime if they had jobs? How are they able to evade our security system? Is the ransom the motivation for the crime or is it used to cover activities that are more criminal? Is anyone protecting them from the law? Kidnapping is organised crime, there is no acceptable reason for condoning it.

No society that wants to make progress would accept this situation. The solution, however, does not lie in the limpid threats of military action in the region. Already there is too much militarisation of the zone, a ready admission of the police’s failure, and a confession of government’s unwillingness to make the police the premier security agency in the country. Unfortunately, for the populace, there is still no substitute for the emasculated police.

The inherent danger in consistently ignoring the problems in the Niger Delta, or addressing them with speeches, is that new levels of lawlessness develop. Government’s inability to tackle new crimes, embolden new converts to try something new, and of a more dangerous dimension.
Parents everywhere in Nigeria should be scared of this new business.

As we grapple with this new reality we wonder when Section 14 (2) b of the 1999 Constitution which states, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” will be effected.

New Hopes for Peace in Niger Delta (ISN)

With a new president taking office, Nigerians hope for a fresh start in the talks to quell the restive Niger Delta region.

By Dulue Mbachu in Lagos for ISN Security Watch (19/07/07)

When Umaru Yar'Adua assumed office as Nigeria's new president at the end of May, he pledged that his top priorities would include bringing peace to the country's troubled Niger Delta oil region, where violence has recently escalated as armed militants and criminals target the oil industry, deeply cutting into Nigeria's lifeblood crude oil exports and causing jitters in the world oil markets.

At least a quarter of Nigeria's oil exports of three million barrels per day have ceased in the past 18 months - a period that has also seen the kidnapping of more than 200 foreign oil workers. Most of the hostages have been freed unharmed after ransom payment. Militants fighting for greater local control of the oil wealth produced in the region say they will shut down the entire industry if their demands are not met.

Within two weeks of taking office, Yar'Adua freed Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the top militia leader in the region who had been jailed by his predecessor Olusegun Obasanjo on charges of treason. Dokubo-Asari's release was a key demand of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the main militia group spearheading attacks on the oil industry for the past two years.

Working in Yar'Adua's favor is his choice of vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, a former state governor in the Delta and an ethnic Ijaw, the dominant ethnic group in the oil region from which the militias draw most of their fighters. Jonathan has ventured into the winding creeks of the Delta without his security escorts to meet with Dokubo-Asari to persuade the militia leader and his followers to give the government a chance to deal with the impoverished region's grievances.

"The emergence of Jonathan has put our struggle in a dilemma," Dokubo-Asari told ISN Security Watch in Lagos during an interview. "The majority of the Ijaw people support Jonathan and want us to give him a chance. And we're going to give him a chance."

All-out war

Dokubo-Asari, who led the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF), declared an "all out war" in September 2004 against oil multinationals operating in the region - which produces more than 95 percent of Nigerian oil - including Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and ENI subsidiary Agip. The threat helped lift world oil prices to over US$50 for the first time.

A worried then-president Obasanjo invited Dokubo-Asari for talks, pledging to address the Delta region's demands for more local control of the oil wealth, which is mostly in the hands of the central government dominated by the bigger ethnic groups. Obasanjo granted the militia leader amnesty, but this truce unraveled when the government appeared slow in addressing the militants' demands. When he announced that he would fight for the break up of Nigeria, Dokubo-Asari was arrested in September 2005.

However, his arrest and trial triggered a dramatic escalation of violence against the oil industry. With their commander in jail, many militia fighters took to banditry or joined MEND, which emerged as the vanguard of the Delta's militia groups in place of the NDPVF. Militias and bandits alike attacked oil installations largely unimpeded due to the military being unfamiliar with the terrain.

"It was a serious error of judgment on the part of Obasanjo to have incarcerated Dokubo-Asari," Johnson Ekong, a Nigerian oil industry security expert, told ISN Security Watch. "The consequence was that there was no known leader of the fighters to talk to and at the same time the military had no solution to the violent activities going on in the creeks."

MEND, which claimed most of the attacks on oil installations, has no known leader. The group only communicates with the outside world through e-mails sent from a Yahoo account by a "Jomo Gbomo," which is most likely a pseudonym. The group's kidnappings have spawned copycat attacks by regional criminal gangs who seize hostages - recently including children- and release them in return for ransom, making the Niger Delta by number of incidents the most dangerous oil region in the world after Iraq.

With the release of Dokubo-Asari, who has pledged not to renew attacks on the oil industry, the government hopes he will help rein in the violence that currently rules in the region. Yar'Adua has also met with political and community leaders representing various aggrieved ethnic minorities in the area to discuss ways to accelerate the long-neglected region's development.

"If the people can see that their leaders are honest, they will understand, but once they see that their leaders are in power to make money there will be a problem," Yar'Adua told ISN Security Watch.

According to Dokubo-Asari, since his release from prison early in June, he has been in contact with key militia commanders active in the Delta in an attempt to convene "a central command meeting" to seek ways of ending the current banditry sweeping the region. Yet, he is quick to warn it will not be an easy task.

"We can't stop this kidnapping immediately because those involved have enjoyed the money and will find it hard to give up," he said. "It may take six months to another one year before it will begin to die down."

Inalienable rights

In the meantime, the militants are holding on to their demands that the federal government cede more control over the oil wealth produced in the Delta to the region's inhabitants and expect Yar'Adua's government to propose concrete options about how to achieve this.

Outlining the militants' position, Dokubo-Asari said the treaties signed between the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta and the former British colonial power never included forcing them into a country called Nigeria. According to the Ijaws, if they must belong to Nigeria, the terms of membership will have to be negotiated.

"The issues at stake are fundamental," Dokubo-Asari told ISN Security Watch. "We have inalienable rights and it is our fundamental right to own our land and its oil."

People close to Yar'Adua expect some form of compromise will be agreed upon. One such person, former president Shehu Shagari,says the crisis in the Delta is the biggest problem facing Nigeria. As he sees it, dialogue is the only solution.

"They [people in the delta] have been placed in a difficult terrain and they deserve the sympathy and support of their brothers and sisters in the hinterland," Shagari told reporters recently.

"They should always bear in mind that it could be the other way round. All we need to do as Nigerians is to try and understand each other's problems and join hands to tackle them sensibly as a team," he added.