By Hugo Odiogor
VISA processing and issuance procedures have become a major source of capital flight as Nigeria loses N3.6 billion through a web of criminal conspiracy between officials of government, embassy staff and consular officers of some embassies on one hand; desperate intending travellers and agents, their agents and proxies, making the West African country the most lucrative consular operating centre in the world.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Shell raises alarm over oil theft
LAGOS (AFP) – Shell raised the alarm on Monday over repeated damage to a key pipeline in southern Nigeria by what it said were thieves seeking to siphon off crude for sale on the lucrative black market.
The Anglo-Dutch oil giant said the Nembe Creek Trunkline had been hit by an increased number of attacks by thieves “barely 16 months after the old line was replaced due to repeated sabotage attacks.”
While highly organised crude theft — locally called “bunkering” — has long been a major problem in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, authorities have warned that the practice has been on the rise.
It involves thieves tapping pipelines to siphon off oil either to be sold as crude or to be treated at makeshift refineries. The oil is often directed toward waiting vessels.
The Anglo-Dutch oil giant said the Nembe Creek Trunkline had been hit by an increased number of attacks by thieves “barely 16 months after the old line was replaced due to repeated sabotage attacks.”
While highly organised crude theft — locally called “bunkering” — has long been a major problem in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, authorities have warned that the practice has been on the rise.
It involves thieves tapping pipelines to siphon off oil either to be sold as crude or to be treated at makeshift refineries. The oil is often directed toward waiting vessels.
MEND resumes hostilities
Blows up Agip trunk line in Bayelsa
BY EMEKA MAMAH & EMMA AMAIZE
WARRI – AFTER cessation of hostilities for some months in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, weekend, threatened to bomb telecommunications giant MTN, SACOIL and other investments by South Africans in Nigeria over alleged interference of President Jacob Zuma in its struggle for justice in the oil producing communities.
The militant group also bombed a trunk pipeline at Brass in Bayelsa State. The pipeline belongs to Italy’s Eni SpA, ENI, which lost “around 4,000” barrels per day of “equity production” from the incident, the Rome-based company said in an e-mailed statement yesterday confirming the attack.
The pipeline carries crude to an export terminal in the coastal town of Brass, about 250 kilometres south west of the oil-industry hub of Port Harcourt.
BY EMEKA MAMAH & EMMA AMAIZE
WARRI – AFTER cessation of hostilities for some months in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, weekend, threatened to bomb telecommunications giant MTN, SACOIL and other investments by South Africans in Nigeria over alleged interference of President Jacob Zuma in its struggle for justice in the oil producing communities.
The militant group also bombed a trunk pipeline at Brass in Bayelsa State. The pipeline belongs to Italy’s Eni SpA, ENI, which lost “around 4,000” barrels per day of “equity production” from the incident, the Rome-based company said in an e-mailed statement yesterday confirming the attack.
The pipeline carries crude to an export terminal in the coastal town of Brass, about 250 kilometres south west of the oil-industry hub of Port Harcourt.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Akpabio donates N50m to Xmas Day bombing victims
The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has donated N50 million to the victims of Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
About 43 persons were confirmed dead and more than 100 others injured in the attack which the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for. Victims of the bomb blast were recently buried in a mass grave.
About 43 persons were confirmed dead and more than 100 others injured in the attack which the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for. Victims of the bomb blast were recently buried in a mass grave.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Forensic evidence: Ngige, Akunyili know fate Tuesday
BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA – Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka yesterday ruled that it would next Tuesday decide whether or not to reject written statement of the forensic expert that investigated the votes cast in April 26 senatorial election for Anambra Central senatorial zone.
The tribunal is handling the petition brought by Prof Dora Akunyili who contested the election on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, against Sen Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
AWKA – Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka yesterday ruled that it would next Tuesday decide whether or not to reject written statement of the forensic expert that investigated the votes cast in April 26 senatorial election for Anambra Central senatorial zone.
The tribunal is handling the petition brought by Prof Dora Akunyili who contested the election on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, against Sen Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
Robbers cart N96m at Lagos Airport
By ALBERT AKPOR, LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE
ROBBERS, Wednessday night, carted away US$600,000 (N95, 969, 998.17 million) from a Bureau De Change operator inside Murtala Muhamed International Airport Lagos.
A source at the airport told Vanguard that the robbers stormed the car park which is usually in darkness and shot sporadically into the air, wounding a woman, before dispossessing their victim of the said amount at about 8.30pm.
The incident, according to the operator who simply identified himself as Salisu took place without any intervention from the security agencies stationed at various locations at the airport.
Salisu said the robbers who arrived with sophisticated weapons traced a Dubai bound passenger that came to change his money into American dollars, adding that the operator ran into the robbers and was disposess of the foreign currency.
However, efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police, at MMA Command, Mr. Gwari Alkali proved abortive as he did not pick his calls or reply the SMS that was sent to him.
The Command Public Relation Officer, Mr Denis Ifijen was also contacted on telephone to confirm the incident but his phone number did not go through.
ROBBERS, Wednessday night, carted away US$600,000 (N95, 969, 998.17 million) from a Bureau De Change operator inside Murtala Muhamed International Airport Lagos.
A source at the airport told Vanguard that the robbers stormed the car park which is usually in darkness and shot sporadically into the air, wounding a woman, before dispossessing their victim of the said amount at about 8.30pm.
The incident, according to the operator who simply identified himself as Salisu took place without any intervention from the security agencies stationed at various locations at the airport.
Salisu said the robbers who arrived with sophisticated weapons traced a Dubai bound passenger that came to change his money into American dollars, adding that the operator ran into the robbers and was disposess of the foreign currency.
However, efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police, at MMA Command, Mr. Gwari Alkali proved abortive as he did not pick his calls or reply the SMS that was sent to him.
The Command Public Relation Officer, Mr Denis Ifijen was also contacted on telephone to confirm the incident but his phone number did not go through.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/robbers-cart-n96m-at-lagos-airport/
Arrested kingpin not our spokesman – Boko Haram
MAIDUGURI(AFP) – A member of Islamist group Boko Haram has confirmed one of the group’s high-ranking members was arrested, but refuted reports that the detained person was its spokesman.
In a phone conference with journalists in the northeastern city of Maiduguri late Thursday, the man said Boko Haram’s head of “public enlightenment” Abu Dardaa was arrested and not spokesman Abul Qaqa.
The man speaking on the phone claimed to be Abul Qaqa himself, but his voice sounded different from previous such conferences in which the purported spokesman has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks.
In a phone conference with journalists in the northeastern city of Maiduguri late Thursday, the man said Boko Haram’s head of “public enlightenment” Abu Dardaa was arrested and not spokesman Abul Qaqa.
The man speaking on the phone claimed to be Abul Qaqa himself, but his voice sounded different from previous such conferences in which the purported spokesman has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks.
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