Cheat Sheet 4 2009

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 Monday 19 January 2009

Gunmen attack CLP Bonny:

Approx. 22:00 hrs, 17 December, gunmen attacked Bonny’s CLP, shooting and boarding the tanker MT Front Chief using the Lamnalco Wax Bill and MV Gabrielle both service boats, leaving the captain of the Lamnalco Wax Bill dead and kidnapping one crew member. MEND claimed the attack was carried out by one of their “affiliates”.

MEND say hostages ‘moved’:

MEND, in a statement, claimed it had moved the two British oil workers hostages after the military raided the communities of Ajakaja, Udungama and Okukpor in Rivers State Friday and Saturday in what they said was a botched attempt to rescue the hostages leaving only civilian casualties.

JTF deny rescue attempt:

JTF spokesman Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa denied and dismissed MENDs claim of the rescue attempt of the British hostages saying that the operation was aimed to flush out militants from identified militant camps.

Military dismiss MEND war declaration:

JTF spokesman Col. Rabe Abubakar dismissed MEND’s threat, to attack soldiers in the Niger Delta in response to the killing of Tubotamumo Angolia (Boy Chiki), as a ‘mere empty threat’.

Navy declares fresh war on militants:

The Navy announced that they were deploying 4 new MANTRA Class Seaward Defence boats, 7 Seaward Defence boats and two new Augusta Helicopters to the Niger Delta in a bid to stamp out piracy, bunkering and kidnapping in the region.

Nigeria and UAE sign deal to develop Niger Delta:

 Reports from Abuja suggested that a $16 billion bilateral agreement had been signed by the FG and the UAE, focusing on areas like dams, electricity, agriculture, mineral resources, development of the Federal Capital Territory and the Niger Delta area.

Unions unite on minimum wage:

Nigeria’s two labor unions are to present a united front to government in forthcoming talks about a new minimum wage.

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Sharia police block women’s rally:

Sharia police, Hisbah, in Kano told organisers of a protest by divorced women planned for 29 January to cancel the event. The organisers agreed to postpone their protest.

Naira gains shutdown trading:

 On Monday the Naira closed at 138.6 per dollar, about 6.8% higher than the 148 on January 16, prompting a shutdown in the market after breaching limits on fluctuations, traders said.

Soldiers call for intervention in mutiny trial:

 28 soldiers standing trial for mutiny called on the NSA to the President and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Paul Dike, to intervene against the backdrop of the allegation of bias on the part of the President of the court martial, Brigadier Ishaya Bauka.

Australia updates travel advice:

A copy of the updated travel advice is to be obtained by sending an e-mail to cheifoyibo@oyibosonline.com , including Australia in the subject box.

Nigeria, 5 others in Joint Radar Coverage:

Nigeria announced plans to collaborate with Chad, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, and Niger under a proposed joint radar coverage plan to enhance air safety in the WA sub-region.

And then there’s this…Rivers to spend millions on mono rail:

Rivers State is to spend 188M Euros on the construction of a mono-rail in PHC aiming to ease transportation difficulties resulting from the ban on okadas.

Total hostage freed after ransom paid:

Total executive Ikechi Anozie, seized on 12 January was freed Monday after a ransom was paid according to a security source.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Tanker attack near Bonny FWB:

 OOL Sources said the tanker MT Meredith was attacked early Wednesday morning on route from PHC to Lagos in the vicinity of the Bonny Fairway Buoy, kidnapping a Romanian.

Piracy, robbery targeting ships on the rise:

International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center, in its 2008 annual report, reported an uprise of 11% in incidents compared to 2007, ranking Nigeria second in the world with 40 reported incidents including 27 vessels boarded, five hijacked and 39 crew members kidnapped

Another suspected killer syrup on the market:

Lagos health commissioner Jide Idris alerted, in a statement, for a suspected killer paracetamol syrup, two months after a teething mixture killed dozens of children.

And then there’s this…Mattress firm capitalizes on Obama’s dreams:

The Mouka mattress firm advertised with Obama wrapped in a quilt, snoozing on a mattress with the tagline: “With nothing but a funny name and an awesome dream, you’ve shown the world that if we can dream it, YES WE CAN achieve it,”

Thursday 22 January 2009

MEND say affiliates targeted tanker:

 Military spokesman Sagir Musa said gunmen had used dynamite during the attack on the The MT Meredith, whilst MEND in a statement said the attack was carried out by an affiliate group in the Bonny Axis.

China rail contract to be reactivated:

The FG will reactivate an $8.5 billion rail rehabilitation contract awarded to China Civil Engineering Company after a temporary suspension in October

CBN criticizes US energy investment plans :

 The Governor of the CBN, Chukwuma Soludo, Wednesday criticised plans by the US to invest in alternative energy sources in Nigeria saying that it would pose a treat to the nation’s economy.

Four officers convicted over peacekeepers’ pay:

A military court convicted 4 army officers and a soldier of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars earmarked for U.N. peacekeepers.

Opposition party disowns presidential candidate:

AC disowned its presidential candidate of 2007 general elections and party chief Atiku Abubakar, after his visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday.

Friday 23 January 2009

Breaking News:

Another vessel attacked:

 Supply vessel, MV Ngoni, working for Exxon Mobil, was attacked and boarded Friday morning around 07:20 hrs, approx. 12 nautical miles south of BFWB by gunmen in 2 speedboats taking away valuables, briefly kidnapping the Captian and 2 engineers and leaving some crew members with minor injuries.

Romanian crewman released:

The Romanian seized from the MT Meredith on Wednesday, was released on Thursday. Army spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Musa, confirmed the release but had not further details.

Yar’Adua submits final census report:

The final report of Nigeria’s 2006 national population census placed Kano State as the most populated with about 9.3 million followed by Lagos with approx. 9 million inhabitants.

Petrol now N65 a litre:

The FG on Thursday announced a slash in the price of fuel from N70 to N65 a litre.

‘Obama donors’ refunded:

The EFCC refunded a total of 59 million naira to 57 individuals and organisations that contributed to an Obama solidarity fund that was later declared illegal.

And then there’s this… Police parade goat as robbery suspect:

The Vanguard newspaper reported that the officers of the Kwara State Police Command have paraded a goat as an armed robbery suspect.

Expatriate Hostages:

Held:

Two British nationals who were abducted on 9 September 2008. Today marks Day 139 of their captivity.

Also Held:

Two Russian nationals who were abducted in late December 2008.

‘Abduction and Incident Database’. The 2009 version is now live.

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

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