Cheat Sheet Week 11 2009

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Monday 9 March 2009

Public holiday

Tuesday 10 March 2009

Plot to attack Chevron facility:

Monday the military claimed to have uncovered a plot to attack Chevron’s Abiteye flow station and blow up pipelines. Additional manpower and equipment were dispatched to the area.

Shell stops some shipments:

Shell said it called force majeur on Saturday on Escravos shipments after an explosion on the Escravos pipeline a week before.

Related: Shell lays off thousands:

 SPDC started sacking employees as part of reducing costs of operations in response to the increasing wave of attacks and kidnappings.

Total confirms Akpo oilfield startup:

Total said on Monday the Akpo deep offshore oilfield started operations with production expected to reach 175,000 barrels per day this summer.

UN seat: Nigeria taunts South Africa, Egypt:

With the possibility of a permanent seat allotted to Africa in the UN Security Council, African countries have began to lock horns over which country will occupy the seat.

And then there’s this…Chief’s Worst Acronym Award:……

 goes to the NGO called International Human and Community Rescue Assurance Project , which spells as INTERCRAP. www.intercraprescue.com

 

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Unions to strike over fuel subsidies:

Abdulwaheed Omar, president of NLC, Tuesday said the union would stage a nationwide protests to force the FG to rescind plans to scrap oil subsidies and privatise oil refineries.

NLC gives ultimatum on minimum wage:

 The NLC also demanded the FG to open discussions with it on the proposed N52,000 minimum wage. Failure to do so, it said, would result in a call for mass action.

YRD approves expansionary budget:

 President Yar’Adua on Tuesday signed into law a 3.1 trillion naira ($21.2 billion) budget for 2009.

Related: Oil output down to 1.6 million bpd:

YRD in his budget speech said that Nigeria’s average oil output had dropped to 1.6 million b/day as a result of OPEC quota and activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

Related – Weak Naira:

The naira has fallen by about 25% against the dollar over the past few months.

NITEL to sack 1,500 workers?:

 According to the Daily Trust, NITEL plans to lay off 1,500 employees, representing half of its current workforce and affecting mostly auxiliary staff, including drivers and messengers.

And then there’s this…Church acquires N4bn aircraft:

The Redeemed Christian Church of God acquired a new aircraft, a Gulfstream 4XP, at the price of N4 billion ($28 million).

Thursday 12 March 2009

Minimum wage is unrealistic – Govt: The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria said that the new minimum wage demanded by the organized labour sector is not feasible.

Gay activists speak out against legislation:

 Nigerian gay rights activists told the country’s law makers that a new bill to outlaw same sex marriage would lead to widespread human rights abuses.

Diesel scarcity looming:

 Diesel importers expressed concern over a looming scarcity as credit from banks dries up and the weakened naira against the foreign exchange makes the product more expensive.

CBN sets new rules on foreign exchange:

The CB said it had set up measures targeted at stabilising the naira with effect of today.

BPE begins search for NITEL investors:

 The NCP gave the BPE approval to begin searching for investors to acquire 51% equity stake in Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) and its mobile arm, M-Tel.

Unicef: Meningitis kills 562:

A meningitis outbreak has killed 931 people in four West African countries since January, with most of the deaths occurring in Nigeria (562), the UN children’s fund said on Wednesday.

Friday 13 March 2009

Election reform ‘U-turn’:

The cabinet rejected reforms to empower the judiciary to pick the chairman and board members of the INEC. The commission will be revamped to allow the participation of media and civil society groups.

Another tanker boarded off Lagos:

Reports indicate that a chemical tanker was boarded by pirates at 0400hrs on Wednesday 11 March, at least two crew members required medical treatment.

Unions insists on salary increase:

 Labour unions repeated yesterday that its demands for salary increases are firm and that they will not back down. The national minimum wage is currently set at ₦7,500.

Experts suggest ways out of energy crisis:

President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Oye Ibidapo Obe said alternative energy sources to provide regular electricity would be the way for Nigeria to overcome its current power shortages and achieve the objective of being among the top 20 economies in the world by 2020.

Naira weakens as FX demand rises:

The CB sold $699.86 million at 146.60 to the U.S. dollar at its bi-weekly foreign exchange auction on Wednesday, far below the $1.30 billion demanded by end-users, traders said.

Hostage watch:

 Matthew McGuire and Robin Hughes were abducted on 9 September 2008 from the HD Blue Ocean. Today marks Day 187 in captivity for these men.

Also held:

 Lebanese national Jimmi Rahjah, Manager of Samchase Construction Company working on the Oloto road, Okitipupa, Ondo state was kidnapped on 11 February from the company site.

Also held:

a Lebanese national, employed by Elite Construction Company, kidnapped on March 4, at Sabagria in Kolokuma/Opkuma Local Government Area, Bayelsa state.
This Chief’s Briefs Cheat Sheet was compiled for your review by OOL Member: homealonemum
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