Nigeria LNG to buy six ships from Samsung, Hyundai

Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company will sign agreements with South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai to acquire six LNG carrier ships this week, two sources claimed.

France's BNP Paribas and Nigeria's GT Bank are brokering a $1.6 billion loan to help fund acquisition of the vessels and expect to sign the financing documents next week, a banking source said.

AfDB Approves U.S $300-Million Loan to Nigeria

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved Wednesday in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a loan of US $300 million to finance the Transport Sector and Economic Governance Reform Program and the Nigeria Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the period 2013-2017.

The loan aims to support the Nigerian Government to accelerate reform implementation in the areas of transport sector governance, and public expenditure management. Reform measures include the establishment of a Federal Road Authority, National Road Maintenance Fund, Road-Tolling Policy, and Axel Load Control Policy.

In the areas of public financial management reform, the program involves the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Internal Audit Modernization Plan, Treasuring Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Public Financial Management (GIFMIS), and Transparency and Compliance in Procurement and Audit Practices.

The program will also create fiscal space for increased investment in road infrastructure development. It is an integral part of a broader set of interventions of the Bank designed to support Nigeria's Transformation Agenda with emphasis to economic governance and infrastructure development.

The Country Strategy Paper outlines the Bank's engagement and assistance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It will focus on two strategic pillars, namely supporting the development of a sound policy environment, and investing in critical infrastructure to promote the development of the real sector of the economy. The strategy is aligned with the Government's long term development agenda.

Bombs explode in northeastern Nigeria city during meeting of political opposition parties Bombs explode in northeastern Nigeria city during meeting of political opposition parties

Witnesses say several bombs have exploded in a northeastern Nigeria city which is hosting a meeting of opposition political parties.

The blasts happened today(Thursday)afternoon in the city of Maiduguri, long under assault by a radical Islamic sect known as Boko Haram. A security official said he believed some soldiers were killed in the blasts, but did not have any other information. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

The All Progressives Congress, a recently announced amalgam of opposition parties in Nigeria, was holding a meeting Thursday in the city that had drawn powerful politicians.

Meanwhile, police in the eastern state of Taraba said foreigners working for a construction company escaped a kidnapping attempt Wednesday night that killed two police officers.

source:AP

Nigeria in 'massive manhunt' for French hostages

Security forces are searching for a family of seven French tourists kidnapped by suspected Islamist militants in Cameroon three days ago and taken into Nigeria, police said on Friday.

There has been a surge in clashes in recent days between suspected members of Islamist sect Boko Haram and the military in Nigeria's northeastern town of Maiduguri, near the border with Cameroon.

Security forces and Western diplomats believe it could be an attempt by Boko Haram to draw Nigerian troops into conflict within the city and limit their search and rescue capability.

"There is a massive manhunt ongoing," National Police spokesman Frank Mba told Reuters.

"Security operatives are working around the clock with search and surveillance to solve this."

The French hostages and kidnappers were near a small town called Dikwa at one point on Thursday, a Nigerian military source in Maiduguri said, asking not to be identified.

Dikwa is about 50 miles from Maiduguri and about the same distance to the border with Cameroon, where the three adults and four children were taken hostage on Tuesday.

French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday the hostages had probably been separated.

French gendarmes backed by special forces arrived in northern Cameroon on Wednesday to help locate the family, a local governor and French defence ministry official said.

The abduction was the first case of foreigners being seized in the mostly Muslim north of Cameroon, a former French colony, and highlighted the threat to French interests in West Africa since Paris deployed thousands of troops to Mali to oust al-Qaida-linked Islamists who controlled the country's north.

The region - like others in West and North Africa with porous borders - is considered within the operational sphere of Boko Haram and fellow Nigerian Islamist militants Ansaru.

On Sunday, seven foreigners were snatched from the compound of Lebanese construction company Setraco in northern Nigeria's Bauchi state, and Ansaru took responsibility.

Boko Haram frequently clashes with security forces in its stronghold Maiduguri but witnesses said there has been a surge in attacks in the last three days.

The military in Maiduguri declined to comment.

Many people were killed when suspected members of Boko Haram blew up a customs office, destroyed roadside stalls and fought gunfights with the military on Thursday, three witnesses and a military source said.

"After the explosion the Boko Haram started sporadic shooting with rapid propelled guns leading to the death of many people," a commander in the military Joint Task Force told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Two corpses lay outside a police station on Friday, believed to be those of militants, witness Aminu Hakuri said. Three people were killed on Wednesday when a bomb targeting the security forces exploded in central Maiduguri.

Northern Nigeria is increasingly afflicted by attacks and kidnappings by Islamist militants. Ansaru, which rose to prominence only in recent months, claimed the abduction in December of a French national who is still missing.

Three foreigners were killed in two failed rescue attempts last year after being kidnapped in northern Nigeria. Ansaru, blamed for those abductions, warned this could happen again.

source:NBCNews

Court jails S53,000 Romance Fraudster

Bike John Niye

A 22 years old internet fraudster, Bike John Niye has been sentenced to one and half years imprisonment by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja,  for defrauding one Laura Wallmam of Indiana, United States of America the sum of $53,500. Justice A Akinlade slammed the prison term on Niye having found him guilty of the four count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and attempt to obtain money by false pretense, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Reports showed that Niye presented himself to Wallmam as businessman who operates a ‘moving’ company and needed money to get some of his goods out of storage. He met Wallmam in a dating site and has been in a relationship with her using a fictitious name, Toby Encore. 

His journey to prison began on May 27th, 2010 when officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and DHL Courier Services intercepted a suspicious parcel containing a Teddy Bear and a Blackberry handset sent from the USA to the convict by Wallmam.  The parcel was examined and it was discovered that it contained the sum of $40,000, a Blackberry handset, and a white lady's photograph concealed in the Teddy Bear. The parcel was to be delivered to an address in Alapere, a suburb of Lagos with the name Tobi Encore and a Nigerian phone number also belonging to the same recipient. With the phone number, the convicted fraudster was traced and upon finding him, he was handed over to the EFCC for further investigations.

Upon investigation, Operatives of the Commission discovered that the name Tony Encore was used by the fraudster to deceive the American in order to defraud her.  It was found out that his real name is Bike John Niye.  The operatives also discovered that it was Niye who instructed the victim to conceal all the items in a Teddy Bear.

Investigations also revealed that Niye has been receiving various sums of money from the victim via Western Union totaling about US$25,000 before the parcel which finally landed him in jail. To enable him collect the sent funds via Western Union , findings revealed that Niye obtained a Driver's license with a forged identity bearing the name Nathan Omarkeh. He usually destroys the identity card after collecting money sent to him. 

In addition to the one and half year jail term, Niye is to refund the sum of $48,500 as restitution to the victim.

FG Sends E-waste Laden Vessel Back To UK

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sent note of warning to countries that view Nigeria as e-waste dumpsite by sailing  back to the United Kingdom a ship, MV Marivia, detained for carrying two containers of e-wastes to the Nigerian waters from UK.

Dr Ngeri Benebo, director-general, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), confirmed that the ship owners had met the bail conditions given by the Federal High Court, and added that a bond was processed by the ship owners to the tune of $500,000.

According to her, the agency was asked to verify the payment, which it did and consequently instructed that the ship be released to sail.

The two containers of e-wastes were also loaded on board the ship way back to the exporters in the UK.

The MV Marivia, charged with importation of electronic harmful wastes on Jan. 9, 2013, was recently granted 500,000 dollars bail by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The wastes comprised used televisions, computers, DVDs, microwaves, pressing irons and stereos.

OPC to Deploy 30, 000 ‘Foot Soldiers’ to protect Oil Facilities

Frederick Fasehun, President of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), has committed the organization towards partnering with relevant governmental organization in protecting the nation’s vast network of oil pipelines.

Dr. Fasehun, expressed worry over the high spate of attacks and vandalisation of the oil pipelines across the country stated that the OPC has the capacity to provide security for the oil facilities.

“The problem persists because agencies saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and securing the pipelines, have compromised. That is why experts and observers alike strongly recommend that the government must think outside the box for the ultimate solution,’’ Fasehun stated.

Fasehun who spoke during a courtesy visit to Kingsley Kuku, special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee, said his organization has the discipline to muster resources to keep the oil facilities secured using the experience garnered in bringing peace to the South West flash points.

“We promise to dispense that same level of dedication, discipline and efficiency that today guarantees safety and security for lives and properties in our home zone. We promise zero-tolerance for pipeline vandals and pipeline vandalism,” said Fasehun.

Outlining the OPC strategies to curb the ugly trend in the South West geo-political zone, Fasehun said: “We have outlined strategies and equipment required for securing the entire pipeline network in the South-West. And by the grace of God and Federal Government, pipeline vandalism within the (South West) zone will be completely wiped out in the next 12 months.”

The OPC leader said the organization will put together a 30, 000-man strong team within a short time when the given the green light on the project.

 “We will be pulling well over 30,000 foot soldiers into this assignment. That means a minimum of 30,000 jobs for a minimum Nigerians. We shall be working in synergy with the NNPC, the PPMC, the Police, the Navy, the SSS and allied security agencies to ensure that we wipe out the problem of pipeline vandalism once and for all,” Fasehun stated.

Dan Alabra, Special Assistant on Media and Communications at the Amnesty office told Nigerian CommunicationsWethat the OPC leaders’ ideas on security for the oil pipelines gives sufficient hope for the economic development of the zone and the nation at large.

He noted that Kuku will be presenting the OPC agenda before the President.

In recent times, oil thieves have invaded several oil facilities in the South West zone leading to loss of lives and causing damages amounting to billions of US dollars.

Nigeria Spill Fines on Shell, Chevron, Not Backed by Law

By Elisha Bala-Gbogbo 

 Fines amounting to $8 billion sought by Nigeria from Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and Chevron Corp. (CVX) for oil spills are not backed by law, said Bukola Saraki, chairman of the country’s Senate Committee on Environment.

“Under the existing law, there is no penalty for oil spills apart from just to clean it up,” Saraki, a senator representing the ruling People’s Democratic Party from central Kwara state, said in an interview in Abuja on Jan. 29. “You only pay 1 million naira ($6,362) for late reporting.”

Without the backing of law it is difficult for the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, or Nosdra, to enforce fines levied on oil companies, he said. Lawmakers have moved to amend the law and stipulate tougher penalties, according to Saraki.

Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron, Total SA (FP) and Eni SpA (ENI) run joint ventures with state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. that pump more than 90 percent of the output of Africa’s top oil producer.

Nosdra recommended to the government in July that Shell should pay $5 billion for a December 2011 rupture from its offshore Bonga field that spilled about 40,000 barrels of oil, the country’s worst in more than a decade. The agency is also seeking $3 billion from Chevron for a rig explosion that caused a 46-day blaze in January last year on Nigeria’s Atlantic coast. It has been unable enforce the penalties because “there’s no law,” Saraki said.

Additional Penalties

The government is studying existing laws as they relate to oil spills and will make pronouncements in due course, Environment Minister Hadiza Mailafia said yesterday in Abuja without giving further details. Precious Okolobo, Shell spokesman in Nigeria, declined to comment when contacted on his mobile phone. Chevron obeys the laws of the countries in which it operates and won’t “comment on political matters,” Jim Craig, a San Ramon, California-based spokesman, said in an e- mailed response.

A new National Oil Pollution Management Agency Bill proposes fines of 250,000 naira for every barrel of oil spilled and will compel producers to pay compensation to affected communities, Saraki said. The bill proposes additional penalties of 15 billion naira for every onshore spill incident and 5 billion naira if it happens offshore, he said.

While improving the law will “definitely strengthen” Nosdra’s capacity to monitor energy producers, tough measures are unlikely to be enforced against companies engaged in partnerships with the government, Nnimmo Bassey, executive director of Environmental Rights Action, an affiliate of Friends of the Earth campaigning against oil pollution in Nigeria, said by phone today from Benin City. “I think that’s the political issue we still have to confront, no matter how good the law will be.”

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 160 million people, relies on oil for 95 percent of export earnings and 80 percent of government revenue, according to the Petroleum Ministry. With pipeline networks spread over the 70,000 square- kilometre (43,500 square-mile) Niger River delta region and largely unguarded, oil companies blame sabotage for most of the spills.

A Dutch District Court in The Hague ruled on Jan. 30 that Shell must pay compensation in one of five claims by Nigerian villagers from the Niger delta for a spill from its facility that affected their livelihood. Judge Henk Wien said Shell wasn’t liable for four other claims.

Bonny Light crude, Nigeria’s leading export grade, rose less than 1 percent to $117.41 as of 10.06 a.m. in London. The naira declined 0.1 percent to 157.20 a dollar as of 11.08 a.m. in Lagos, the commercial capital, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

CURRENT HARMATTAN WILL END SOON, says NIMET D.G

The current harmattan being experienced in many parts of the country will subside in the next one week, the Director General of  the Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NIMET), Dr Anthony Anuforom has assured.

He said the harmattan would not negatively affect flight operations as a result of improved navigational aids installed in the country.

According to him, a lot of positive improvement was going on at NIMET to ensure correct and verifiable meteorological services in the area of adequate facilities to operate within the internationally acceptable standards as obtained anywhere in the world.

The NIMET boss explained that the agency was working in conformity with stipulated international standards.

 Anuforom also disclosed  that two upper air stations would be installed in the country to bring to seven, operational upper air stations in the country to enhance accuracy.

 “We actually have seven of them but two are yet to be installed. Within this quarter we hope to increase it to seven upper air stations so the higher the density, the higher the accuracy. This is what this administration is doing in the spirit of transformation agenda”

Nigeria's Security Kills 13 Boko Haram Militants

*As Massacre of Christians Continues

The Nigerian armed forces have fought back against the Islamic militant group Boko Haram, killing 13 suspected combatants in an attack on their stronghold in the town of Maiduguri on Tuesday.

The news was confirmed by the Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order, who said that they lost one soldier in the gunfight, CNN reported. Military spokesman Sagir Musa said that that Boko Haram have been carrying out "incessant callous, brutal, barbaric and impious killings," and Human Rights Watch estimate that the Islamic group, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege," have killed more than 2,800 people in the last several years, including at least 34 since Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, raids on two separate churches resulted in the deaths of 12 worshippers, including a pastor. Another 15 Christians were massacred six days later on Sunday at another church in Northern Nigeria.

"We had warned that Boko Haram would continue its tradition of killing Nigerian Christians on Christmas day. Last week marked the third straight year that the terror group has murdered Nigerian Christians in the church on a Christmas day," a statement by the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans noted, calling for more action on behalf of authorities.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said that despite these setbacks, Nigeria has been battling the terrorists, and a number of those who carried out the attacks have been apprehended "as a result of the diligence and steadfastness of law enforcement agents and security operatives across the country." Jonathan made the remarks at a New Year's service at Saint Anglican Church in Abuja, but did not reveal how many in total were in custody, AllAfrica reported.

Boko Haram have been bombing and burning churches and attacking Christians across the Muslim-dominated northern Nigeria for years, specifically targeting Christians in their mission to eradicate them from the country.

"The Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state," the militants stated in no uncertain terms back in June.

Despite the slaughter of Christians and innocent people in Nigeria, the U.S. government has been reluctant to designate Boko Haram a terrorist organization, even though it has said some of its leaders are terrorists.

Nigerians have created a petition to the U.S. government asking for this to change.

"Our government in Washington DC, especially the White House and the State Department are fully aware of what is going on. But both President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have simply tolerated this impunity by their inaction," the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans said about the petition.

"Already, American citizens have been affected, and the United Nations building in Abuja has been attacked by these terrorists. The U.S. Congress has affirmed that Boko Haram is a threat to the U.S., especially with the group's suspected links to al-Qaeda."



Source:CPAfrica

EFCC Attack Dogs And Citizen Babalakin

Nigeria is, once again, retrogressing into the dark era of selective prosecution of perceived opponents of the ruling government, using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a willing tool.
The recent siege by the attack dogs of the country’s anti-graft agency, EFCC, on the premises of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, where the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin, was on admission is definitely a pointer to this.
By this single action, targeted at an unarmed citizen, which many consider as naive and brutal, EFCC may just be telling Nigerians that the inglorious do or die era, with its clear signature of oppression and ruthlessness, is simply back with them.
It however took the wisdom and determination of the LUTH management to prevent the EFCC goons from carrying out their mission as the dogged LUTH officials denied the EFCC army of occupation access to the private ward where Babalakin was being admitted.
The invading army of the EFCC initially attempted to bulldoze its way into Babalakin’s ward, resulting in a heated war of words with the hospital staff. The late night confrontation, in fact, lasted till the early hours of the following day. It’s quite frightening that after failing in their mission, several policemen and plain-clothes operatives remained at the entrance of Babalakin’s ward and its adjoining areas.
It is worthy to note that Bi-Courtney, a company which Babalakin owns, had been in court with EFCC over allegations of fraud against him. And EFCC appears to be getting frustrated as Babalakin’s proposed arraignment, alongside four others, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, over their roles in an alleged N4.7 billion Delta State money transfer fraud could not be pursued due to his ill-health.
Being a lawyer of repute and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for that matter, Babalakin had embarked on a spirited battle to stop further arraignment at the Lagos High Court. He, in fact, secured a Federal High Court (FHC), Lagos, leave to apply for certiorari (an order quashing an action) and prohibition.
Justice Mohammed Idris gave the order, following a motion ex-parte filed by the applicant’s counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), seeking an order of court for leave to apply for certi-orari and prohibition against the respondents, restraining them from taking further steps in the arraignment, pending the hearing of the motion before the FHC.
The curious dimension to Babalakin’s harassment by the EFCC could be traced to the fact that the Federal Government, claiming breaches, had terminated the concession contract for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway granted to Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited on May 8, 2009; an agreement that was signed on May 26, 2009.
Apparently, the EFCC hounding of Babalakin’s Bi-Courtney amounts to a clear violation of a citizen’s rights and an attempt to thwart justice. Head of Communication for Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, said, “This is a new trend in judicial administration in Nigeria and it reflects desperation by EFCC to violate provisions of the law and constitution in order to circumvent justice, and a violation of the basic human rights of the citizen.”
According to Kehinde, “It is noteworthy that this brings back the sad memories of the days of Gen. Sani Abacha, when the rights of Nigerians were trampled upon with ease.”
It is unfortunate that despite an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, EFCC had been trailing Babalakin without let or hindrance. And the anti-graft agency seems not to agree that a court had issued an order against it. EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in fact, said: “Our commission has no order restraining us from arresting him. What Babalakin sought was an order of certiorari to quash the charges. 
The court only granted him leave; so we are keeping eyes on him. If he is still in the hospital, our men will be there, if he moves to his house, our men will equally go there.”
According to Uwujaren, “The order does not prevent us from arresting him. The order was only for leave to apply for an order of certi-orari to quash the charges against him and for it to act as a stay of proceedings at the Lagos High Court where he is facing criminal charges of money laundering.”
Recall that EFCC had filed a 27-count charge against Babalakin, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited as well as Alex Okoh and Remix Nigeria Limited for allegedly fraudulently assisting former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, to launder various sums of money through third parties to some foreign accounts under the guise of buying a Challenger Jet.
Many observers of the development, however, believe that the EFCC should apply civilised principles in prosecuting its so-called war against corruption as it definitely smacks of mischief that it was only when Babalakin had a disagreement with the Federal Government over the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession that the EFCC decided to wake up from slumber on the money laundering case.
The attack dogs of the EFCC would do well to remember this proverb: “A freeborn asked to do the job of a slave should at least apply the work ethics of a freeborn.”
The nation should resist any attempt to return it to the evil days of military rule when the courts amounted to nothing, as the EFCC appears to be leading the evil march back to barbarism. Its attack dogs must therefore be called to order immediately in the interests of the good health of the Nigerian nation. 
We must also empathise that the EFCC has failed to win the anti-corruption war for which it was initially set up to combat. Politicians, civil servants and their cronies in the private sector have stepped up the looting of billions of Naira from the treasury of Federal, State and Local Governments.



source: THEWILL