Cheat Sheet Week 41 2009

Monday 5 October 2009

A post amnesty post mortem: One topic today as the amnesty finally ended at midnight Sunday night.

In Brief:  Dagogo disarms/ Ateke’s arms and ammunition/  Tompolo surrenders/  MEND manoeuvres/ A huge success?/  Abuja and the next phase/  The PDP pat themselves on the back

So why the deal and why now?: Why the amnesty and why now.

Post amnesty – pause for thought…

Pre election promises: Assume us to be cynics who believe that this peace deal has only been a means to an a very personal end.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

French man missing in Ogun: A French national was reported missing from an estate in Ogun State.

Children kidnapped in Lagos: OOL sources confirmed reports of the abduction of two children from their school in Lagos on Friday 2nd October.  They have been released unharmed.

Abduction in Edo State: Unidentified gunmen in Benin, Edo state abducted the General Manager of Independent Television Radio on Saturday.

Asari acts against amnesty: The Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force Hours led by Dokubo Asari claim that the amnesty is illegal as the President does not have the power to grant it under the constitution. 

Post-amnesty plans begin: The Media Coordinator of the Amnesty Implementation Committee, Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, said Tuesday morning that the post -amnesty programme has started.  .

Questions over militant legitimacy: Could the militant activities be qualified as, “an armed political rebellion, or armed banditry? [...] a legitimate and justifiable liberation struggle or sheer criminality?

Budget plans for 2010: Finance Minister Mansur Muhtar said on Monday that Nigeria is currently basing its budget plans for 2010 on an oil price assumption of $50 a barrel although the figure could be raised higher if energy prices remain resilient.

$2 billion bailout from crude account: The Federal Government will release $2 billion from its excess crude account (ECA) to stimulate its economy, leaving between $6 billion and $7 billion in the fund, Finance Minister Mansur Muhtar confirmed on Tuesday. 

Lufthansa introduces additional flights: Lufthansa, announced on Monday that it would start flying 14 times a week into three destinations in Nigeria from October 25th. 

Wednesday 7 October 2009

French national killed in Ogun: The French national employed by Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc who went missing, was abducted on Monday 5^th whilst his body was later that day found opposite Oluwakemi Petrol Station, near Ishofin Estate.

Expat kidnapped in Delta: A Lebanese employee of Bredero Pipeline Company was abducted in a speedboat at the Okwagbe River, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State last week.

More militants protest in Bayelsa: ‘Repentant’ militants in Bayelsa’s state capital, Yenagoa, went on the rampage again on Monday, protesting non payment of the allowance promised to them by the government if they laid down their weapons.

Women’s group voices concern: The Niger Delta Mothers’ Initiative for Peace protested the anmnesty arguing that “the near- exclusion of women in the entire processes is lamentable.” 

ECOWAS commend amnesty: Ecowas on Tuesday praised Nigeria for granting amnesty to Niger Delta rebels. 

Troops to remain in region after amnesty’: The troops deployed to the Niger Delta are to remain there despite the acclaimed success of the government’s amnesty programme, defence officials said Tuesday. 

In Brief:  Bank bailouts

Thursday 8 October 2009

MEND threaten to resume attacks: MEND in a statement on Wednesday evening said it will resume attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta after the October 15th expiration of its cease-fire agreement. 

In Brief:  Are they strong enough?/  Are they armed enough?

Weapons shipment seized: A 40ft container full of arms and ammunition has been intercepted by customs officers during a routine inspection at Apapa Port, Lagos.

Related:  A maritime security agency

Post amnesty protests continue: Militant leader of Camp 15 in Delta State, Austin Oges, threatened to pull his group out of the rehab centres citing poor living conditions, food shortages and non payment of promised stipends.

Related:  Rules for some but not for others?

In conclusion:  So should the words of MEND be taken seriously? 

Friday 9 October 2009

Amnesty numbers announced: Chief Coordinator Committee on Amnesty, Lucky Ararile, said Thursday, that some 8,299 militants surrended incl.  287,445 ammunition, 2,760 assorted weapons, 18 gunboats, 763 dynamites, 1,090 dynamite caps and 3,155 magazines.

President and militants to meet: The president was to meet former militant leaders on Friday  to discuss the second phase of the amnesty

Lawyer accuses government of renting militants: Lawyer Oko Ofem Obono-Obla said that Cross River State government only rented militants to deceive the FG. 

Jackrich says ignore MEND: Soboma Jackrich, a former MEND field commander who accepted President Yar’Adua’s pardon last week  said that remnants of MEND should be ignored, since all its leaders have disarmed and accepted a government amnesty.

In conclusion: Recent months have been comparatively calm in Niger Delta terms,  with very few attacks or incidents to report but many feel that is not sustainable. 

Hostage Watch:

Kidnapped: A Lebanese employee of Bredero Pipeline Company abducted in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State week 40.

Two foreign nationals employed by Dana Company abducted 11 September in Aba, Abia State

 Three Indian nationals abducted from Obajana Cement Factory, Kogi State, 25.08.09.

 18 crewmembers of the MV Pusan Reafer, nationalities unknow, reported abducted 15.05.09

2 filipino crewmembers of the MV Spirit hijacked 13.05.09,