Cheat Sheet Week 1-2 2009

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Friday 02 January 2009

MEND Threat

OOL sources said that there had been a credible threat by MEND to attack a FPSO, possibly Bonga and the Sea Eagle.

Obasanjo:

 Tighten your belts in 2009:

 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo told Nigerians to brace up for tough challenges this year, as the country is not insulated from the effects of the current global economic recession.

Nigeria earns over N31 trillion in nine years:

According to the RMAFC Nigeria’s earnings from revenue sources mounted over N31 trillion, with the NNPC accounting for N6 trillion in the last 9 years.

Over 1,000 okada riders arrested:

 About 1,097 Okada riders were arrested nationwide to show the seriousness of the FG in enforcing the law on the use of crash helmets by motorcyclists.

Passenger service charge to rise in 2009:

Director-General of the NCAA, Harold Demuren said that passenger service charge may increase in 2009 for a dedicated insurance scheme.

World events fall off the map in U.S. media:

 The U.S. news media missed or underreported a lot of big stories in 2008 half of which were in Africa or Latin America.

Monday 05 January 2009

Gunmen seize Bourbon vessel:

Sunday, gunmen hijacked the Bourbon Leda, holding hostage 4 expats and 5 Nigerians enroute to Shell’s Bonga facility after it had cleared the Okwori Field, 25 nautical miles from the Fairway Buoy.

Saboteurs blow up Agip pipeline:

 Saboteurs blew up an Agip oil pipeline on Friday between the villages Odimodi and Ogulagha in Delta state. Agip officials didn’t comment and it is not clear if production was affected.

Related: MEND hails attack:

 In a statement MEND denied involvement in the Agip pipeline attack but commended the youths executing it, adding training and more powerfull explosives would be provided to communities as soon as the ceasefire is called off for future attacks.

Oil prices? Watch Nigeria:

As oil moved above $46 on Friday and investors think economy is at the bottom it would be interesting to see what Nigeria’s influence could eventually be in pushing up the oil price.

Opposition urges FG to look at economy:

 In the new years statement the AC, amongst other things, urged the FG to immediately unveil an economic rescue package to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians in 2009 and beyond.

Hostage family speak of fear:

Emma Dean the partner of one of the British hostages, Mathew Maguire, spook out to journalist about the impact on her and the kids of his continued detention.

Tuesday 06 January 2009

Bourbon speak on pirate attack:

In a statement Bourbon confirmed that the Leda and 9 crew members (5 Nigerians, 2 Ghanaians, 1 Cameroonian and 1 Indonesian) were seized during the night of Saturday 3rd to Sunday 4th January.

Attempted attack in Okwori Field:

 At about 23:59hrs of January 5, the Bourbon vessel Ajax, Okwori field, South west of Scarabeo 3 came under attack, but viligance of the captain and crew members prevented the pirates to board.
The Vera Cruz was attacked a few hours earlier 16 nautical miles away from Okwori.

MEND denies report to fight kidnappers:

MEND, in an online statement, refuted reports that it planned to battle kidnappers in the region and dissociated itself from Ajija Bounanawei who they say does not represent MEND.

Shame! FG budget N2 billion for generators:

The FG, its agencies and the National Assembly budgeted over N2 billion for the fuelling and maintenance of their generators in 2009, as if to show that epileptic power supply has become a permanent feature in Nigeria

Lagos doctors strike:

Doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild, embarked on an indefinite strike action on Monday in all Lagos State hospitals to press home demands for improved welfare and conducive environment.

Market capitalisation downbeat:

Market capitalisation of the NSE opened Monday on a downward note with N6.817 trillion from N6.936 trillion recorded at the end of trading Friday. All share index dropped from 31,357.24 points recorded at the close of transactions Friday to 30,816.23 points, while investors staked N1.249 billion naira on 197.63 million shares in 6,424 deals.

Hostage family speak with BBC;

The partner and father of one of the British hostage, Mathew McGuire, have spoken with the BBC about their ordeal.

 

Wednesday 07 January 2009

 

Breaking News…:

Doneax barge, operating in Addax field OML-123 was boarded at 01:40hrs January 7 by pirates taking away valuables. The pirates then tried to board the Adanga platform by climbing platform legs in which they failed.

Bourbon hostages released:

 The 9 crew members of the Bourbon Leda and their vessel, held hostage since January 5, have been freed.

Chevron lifts force majeure on Escravos output :

 Chevron said that per January 1, it had lifted the FM declared on November 19 on oil output from Escravos terminal, after saboteurs forced it to shut in around 90,000 b/day.

Labour leaders insist on wage increase:

Despite the global crisis, labour leaders on Tuesday urged the FG for an improvement in the salary of Nigerian civil servants, calling for the implementation of N52,000 minimum wage.

Minister urges reduction in telecom tariffs:

The new Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, said Nigeria should enjoy one of the cheapest telecom rates in Africa, considering its huge potential and liberalised market.

Nigeria insists on Guinea’s suspension from ECOWAS:

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe sharply condemned Guinea’s ruling military, after they seized power in last months coup. Nigeria, holding the chairmanship of ECOWAS, is leading calls for Guinea’s suspension from the 15-member bloc.

Related: U.S. suspends aid to Guinea:

 The US, by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Tuesday that it suspended aid to the military regime in Guinea.

EFCC nabs fake policeman:

The EFCC said it arrested Chief Egbe Akparakwu, 41, who posed as one of its own officials to extort money from members of the public when they tried to report cases of graft..

Okada riders wear calabash crash helmets:

 BBC reported that motorcyclists have been wearing dried pumpkin shells on their heads to dodge new laws forcing them to wear helmets.

 

Thursday 08 January 2009

Gunmen raid ExxonMobil platform:

 Gunmen attacked an ExxonMobil oil platform off the coast of Akwa Ibom in the early hours of Wednesday taking away valuables during a two hour raid.

Recent pirate activity:

 At approximately 01:40hrs, Wednesday 7 January, the WAOS Donaux barge, in the Adanga North B in OML 123 field was boarded by pirates, valuables were taken. Then they went to Adanga platform trying to climb the platforms legs which failed.

At about 23:50hrs on Tuesday 6 January, the African Sea Worker, a barge working for Exxonmobil and Utue PP was boarded by about 6 armed pirates who came in speed boats.
Another supply vessel, MV Oil Charger, which was in the area was also boarded, taking away valuables.
The Captain of one of the vessels was badly beaten up. There was no casualty or hostage taken.

And another recent incident which has not been reported elsewhere – the tug boat Lamnalco Nyala was visited by bad boys on 31st December taking away valuables. No-one was reported injured in this attack either and the boat continues in service.

Friday 09 January 2009

 

Naira in free fall:

Free fall for the Naira in the interbank and parallel markets on Thursday, as it lost N4.50. The Central Bank CBN suspended further sales of forex.

Shell lifts force majeure:

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has lifted force majeure on crude exports from its Bonny, Forcados and Bonga oil facilities at 17:00 GMT Wednesday.

PENGASSAN, NUPENG threaten strike;

 Oil workers gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to reverse the appointment of a pre-shipment inspector for crude exports or face the risk of industrial action.

Helmet hijinks:

A new law in the country is forcing drivers and passengers to wear helmets. Nigerian ‘bikers’ are testing ways to flout the regulations and Yes – we just wanted to use the paint can picture – AGAIN!

Kidnapped Russians alive, say Police:

The Akwa Ibom state Police Command yesterday confirmed that the two kidnapped Russian employees of UC RUSAL ALSCON were alive despite media reports to the contrary.

Hostage Watch

Militants Kidnap Elf staff member in Port-Harcourt:

 Militants abducted a contractor with Elf Company, Mr. Thank God Elenwo Ikwegbu from his residence in Rukpokwu in Port Harcourt at about 01.30 hrs, demanding a N200 million ransom

In a press statement the Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL), condemned the rising number of abductions in the state, urging the state government to redefine its approach in addressing the issues plaguing the region.

Also held:

 Today marks Day 124 in captivity for two British men who were taken from the HD Blue Ocean in
September.

Incident and Abduction Database

Already this year – we have recorded 4 new expatriate hostages and several violent incidents of piracy aimed at oil service vessels and offshore platforms.
Last year – we recorded 81 expatiate hostages and 4 criminal/militant related expatriate fatalities in Nigeria.
We have upgraded and updated our OOL ‘Abduction and Incident Database’. It is now even easier to use than before and includes links to news stories on the site, forum threads and Chief’s Briefs editions.
We hope the analysts, researchers and our readers, who use it, find the new and improved format useful. The 2009 version is now live.

And then there’s this…

Police need N767m to feed animals: Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, said the exclusion of N767.5 million in the 2009 budget proposals for feeding of their dogs and horses might lead to their death.

This Chief’s Briefs Cheat Sheet was compiled for your review by OOL Member: homealonemum

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