Cheat Sheet Week 45 2008

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Monday 3 November 2008

Oil crew kidnapped off Cameroon:

7 French, 2 Cameroonians and a Tunisian were kidnapped by gunmen on Friday from the vessel Bourbon Sagitta, contracted by Total, off the coast of Cameroon. The Bakassi Freedom Fighters and the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council claimed responsibility and gave the Cameroon government seven days to start negotiations, while MEND offered to help release the hostages.

Fire razes 400 shops in Kano:

A midnight fire outbreak razed at least 400 shops in the Sabon Gari market in Kano. There were no immediate reports of injuries or death. Acc. to some the fire started by an electrical fault, while others said it started by splinters from a fire lit overnight by security guards to keep themselves warm.

Anti-graft drive threatened:

The Financial Times of London in a report said that the redeployment of the former EFFC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his key lieutenants was part of the grand design to render the agency impotent adding that the nation’s courts were used to stifle the progress of the anti-graft agency.

EFCC takes credit for naira’s stability:

 The EFCC in its annual report 2007 has taken credit for the sustenance of the stability gained by the naira over other foreign currencies also saying that as a result of the measures put in place at home the migration of fraudsters from Nigeria to neighbouring countries had grown.

South Korea offers to bail Nigeria out of energy crisis:

At the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Conference in Seoul, South Korea offered assistance to fix the countries energy industries by asking Nigeria to submit projects, provided they would be large so as to justify the costs

Related: Nigeria suspends Chinese and Korean deal:

Nigeria has suspended a railway deal with China because of cost inflation and lack of funds and threatened to revoke two oil licences awarded to South Korea if it failed to pay the signature bonus.

MTN beefs up its coverage:

MTN says it has improved its coverage in Nigeria so much that the industry regulator has lifted the ban on advertising its services.

 

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Gunmen kidnap Lebanese engineer:

Monday 30 year old Lebanese employee of Homan, was kidnapped from the road project he was working on just outside Port Harcourt. No group claimed responsibility but ransom demand had been made.

Ex-governors to face corruption trial in Nigeria:

Femi Babafemi, spokesman for the EFFC announced it is ready to put 10 ex-governors on trial for corruption, money laundering and abuse of office, without disclosing the names of the affected governors.

Nigeria Ghana gas pipeline to start next month:

 The $620 million West African gas pipeline, operated by Chevron and connecting Nigeria’s natural gas supplies to Ghana is expected to begin operations in December, nearly a year behind schedule, according to a senior official with the Nigerian Gas Company.

Nigeria wants emergency talks on DR Congo crisis:

ThisDay in an article cited Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe calling for the on the African Union to hold emergency talks on the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the deteriorating character of the conflict which he said ” was becoming a major threat to continental peace and security”.

Yar’Adua saves $238m:

A presidential dissent saved Nigeria $238m as the country back pedalled on an earlier resolve and confirmed its willingness to host the FIFA Under-17 tourney next year. The country would now host the tournament for $76m instead of the $314million initially calculated by the LOC.

Wednesday 5 November 2008

MEND says it foiled plot to kill commander:

MEND, in a statement, said today it had foiled a plot by the country’s military to kill one of its senior commanders, Farah Dagogo, saying that he was alive and well.,

Lawmakers approve budget supplement:

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved $5.8 billion new public spending for 2008 as proposed by President Umaru Yar’Adua last month with much of the money going to the ailing power sector.

Nigeria & South Africa discuss repatriation fee:

NAN reports that the meeting of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission opened yesterday in Pretoria with the payment of repatriation fees and prisoner exchange expected to be top on the agenda.

Total expands Obite gas project:

Total plans to expand the Obite natural-gas project, expecting to rise daily capacity from 370 million to 550 million cubic feet by completion 2011 to meet growing demand.

Total invests in offshore licences:

Total signed agreements with OMEL Energy Nigeria Limited (OENL) and OMEL Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (OEPNL) to buy 25.67% of deep offshore licence OIL 285 and 14.5 percent in deep offshore licence OPL 279. No financial details were disclosed.

Nigeria cancels crude oil export cargoes as part of OPEC cut:

Nigeria canceled at least four crude cargoes scheduled to load in November and December after government said it would comply with the output cut announced by OPEC last month.

Nigerian anger at Newcastle snub:

The London-based businessman, Chris Nathaniel, fronting the Nigerian bid to buy Newcastle United has reacted angrily to suggestions that the offer is not real.

Thursday 6 November 2008

MEND free hostages: MEND, in a statement, claimed to have released the Lebanese hostage kidnapped on Monday adding they also released Mr. Patrick Akorodu, a manager with Zenith Bank Omoku branch in Rivers state from the same captures.

JTF deny paying $3m to kill militant leader:

Rivers State government and the JTF denied claims by MEND that they infiltrated the group to kill Farah Dagogo, a for a fee of $3 million. Monday the JTF had announced that Farah Dagogo had been killed by forces in Rivers State.

Bakassi militia claim hostage killed in rescue bid:

Ebi Dari, commander of the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC) militia which claimed the kidnapping of 10 men on monday, said one of the hostages was killed in an attack by Nigerian marines, without giving out the indentity of the deceased.

Yar’Adua congratulates Obama:

President YRD has sent a letter of congratulations to the President-elect of United States, Senator Barack Obama, in which he described his election as a “defining moment in the evolutionary history of the democratic world.”

Funding crisis is trouble for Nigeria oil:

Industry executives say Nigeria’s, by NNPC, inability to fund its share of joint venture oil projects with oil majors means it could struggle to keep output at current levels in coming years, let alone meet an ambitious target of doubling it, stating that, with just two months left, discussions are still ongoing with partners to finalise billions of dollars in financing to cover its costs for the 2008 joint venture budget.

Crude exports seen sharply lower:

in line with a 1.5 million barrel a day output rollback agreed by the OPEC last month, traders stated that five oil export cargoes are to be cut from the November plan in addition to a 5% cut from the total volume and for December, up to eight cargoes will be cut, in addition to a 5% cut from the total volume.

And then there’s this… U.S. Elections – Iwu condemns process:

Chairman of the INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, has condemned the USA’s style of election process, and told them to take a lesson or two from Nigeria, stating that the Nigerian electoral system was better than that of the U.S.

Friday 7 November 2008

MEND admits presence of foreign instructors:

MEND this week admitted having foreign military instructors for weapons familiarisation and other courses, but denied having foreign fighters as claimed by the Defence Headquarters.

Military confirms Lebanese hostage released:

Lieutenant-Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for the JTF, confirmed the release of a Lebanese engineer kidnapped on Monday, released on Wednesday.

Bakassi militia retracts report hostage killed:

The Bakassi militia group NDDSC retracted reports that one of the 10 hostages kidnapped last week was killed by saying that all the hostages were still alive. France’s foreign minister said one of the hostages was wounded, not killed, in what he called a “Nigerian attack”.

Oil thieves clash with military, one dead:

 According the JTF gunmen in around 20 speedboats launched a coordinated attack on a military position at Clough Creek in Bayelsa on Wednesday trying to secure safe passage for crude oil thieves. The military claims to have repelled the attack while one civilian was killed by the gunmen’s retreat. No group has claimed responsibility.

German president to visit Nigeria on bilateral ties:

 Local media report German President Horst Kohler to visit Nigeria Friday for a weeklong visit to participate in the German-African forum and undertake a state visit
This Chief’s Briefs Cheat Sheet was compiled for your review by OOL Member: homealonemum
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