Niger Delta farmers sue Royal Dutch Shell

A group of Nigerian farmers are suing Royal Dutch Shell over an alleged oil spill in the Niger Delta region that they say ruined the livelihood of local villagers. The farmers claim that badly maintained pipelines of a subsidiary of Shell spilt oil that contaminated fish ponds and farms in Bayelsa State in 2005. Backed by environmental group Friends of the Earth Netherlands, the farmers took the case to a Dutch civil court yesterday. They are demanding compensation and hope the court will force Shell to clean up the area affected. The company has denied any responsibility for the incident, arguing the leak was caused by sabotage. The court is expected to announce on 30 December whether it will proceed with the case.

Nigeria free of guinea worm according to Dr. Donald Hopkins

After a 20-year battle against a parasitic worm that causes cripplingly painful infections, Nigeria is believed to be free of the guinea worm. In 1989, when the US-based Carter Center began its eradication programme, there were an estimated 653,000 cases in Nigeria. In the last 12 months not a single worm has been found in the country, according to Dr. Donald Hopkins, chairman of the Carter Center’s International Task Force for Disease Eradication. However, it will take two years for the World Health Organization to make it official. People are stricken when they drink stagnant water containing the worm larvae. The thin, translucent worms can grow as long as 3ft and finally emerge by exuding acid that bursts the skin, causing crippling pain for months. The worms are still found in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali and Sudan.

Niger Delta Summit cancelled

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan announced after a Niger Delta stakeholders meeting at the State House late on Wednesday night that “basically, what we have agreed today is that if there are problems in the Niger Delta, what are these problems, what caused these problems, what is the way forward, the challenges, the issues? So we have agreed that a committee would be set up to raise these issues and then the issues would be presented to the President. Then the journey starts from there. The committee will raise the fundamental issues, what we believe are the challenges and present it to the Federal Government and make recommendations on the way forward. So when the document is presented to the President, we will look at it and then move from there.”

Nigerian Victims Reject Pfizer $10 Million Offer

Out-of-court settlement talks between pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and the Kano State government broke down at the weekend after the government and representatives of victims’ families turned down an offer of $10 million compensation from the company.

This was disclosed to newsmen yesterday by chairman of the victims’ association, Alhaji Mustapha Maisikeli shortly after a Kano High Court presided over by the acting Chief Judge, Justice Shehu Atiku, adjourned the case to October 6 and 7.

Jack Stone released by Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

Thu Jun 19, 2:58 PM ET
Militants from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta said they released an American oil worker captured in an attack on an offshore oil facility earlier on Thursday.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said U.S. captain Jack Stone from oil services company Tidex was freed at 12:45 p.m. EDT.
(Reporting by Randy Fabi and Nick Tattersall)

Kombo Abedimo killed in Bakassi Peninsula ambush

Intelligence sources have confirmed the gunning down on Monday, June 9, of the Divisional Officer, DO, for Kombo Abedimo in the disputed Bakassi Peninsula.
Felix Fonya Morfaw, a Gendarmerie Brigade Commander and four soldiers were reportedly shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen. Their bodies, arms and boats are said to have been carted off to an unknown place by their assailants.

Bakassi Peninsula to be formally handed over to Cameroon by Nigeria

The Federal Government will tomorrow handover the severeignty of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula formally to Cameroon amidst fierce opposition from indigenes of the local government area in Cross River State.

Nigerian govt seeking compensation for losses incurred by Nigerians in South Africa

The Nigerian government is seeking compensation for losses incurred by Nigerians in South Africa during the recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe said a list of Nigerians who lost their properties is being compiled. Meanwhile, the South African government has announced plans to set up seven camps around the country for homeless migrants. Many people have been staying in increasingly unsanitary conditions at temporary shelters.

Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar summoned to explain lavish spending

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have been summoned by the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel to appear before it on Monday, May 12, 2008, to explain their roles in the alleged expenditure of huge sums of money in the power sector between 1999 and 2007 without commensurate result.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello says she is not a criminal via letter

Obasanjo-Bello, who is the 12th accused person, is charged with count 55 and 56, which reads conspiracy for retention of proceeds of criminal stolen property: “That you Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, now at large, some time between December 2007 and March 2008 at Abuja, within the judicial division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, while serving as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health dishonestly received the sum of N10 million belonging to the Federal Government, having reason to believe such/same to be stolen by you, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 317 of the penal code Act Cap 352 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja, 1990.”

Margret Idisi kidnappers want one billion naira

A family member told AFP the abductors want one billion naira (8.5 million dollars, 5.3 million euros) before Margret Idisi, wife of the chief executive of Lonestar Drilling, based in the restive port city, could be released.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello where are you?

The search by the Senate for the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello is long-drawn and yet unproductive.

Margret Idisi kidnapped in Port Harcourt

Margret Idisi, wife of the chief executive officer of Lonestar Drilling Oil company, was abducted from her residence Saturday night and taken to an unknown location, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Sagir told AFP.

Yar’Adua asks Niger Delta fighters lets ‘lay down our arms’

AllAfrica: “I want to take the liberty of this ceremony to, once again, appeal to our brothers who have taken to arms in the Niger Delta to give peace a chance. Meaningful development cannot and has never thrived in an atmosphere of rancor, resentment, in-fighting and civil disobedience.

“Let us bury the hatchet, sheath our swords, and lay down our arms and give peace a chance. Let us give government an opportunity to redress the perceived injustices suffered [hmmmm] by the region in the past. The benefits of broad-based education may elude our children who will be saddled with the leadership roles in future if the present state of insecurity persists, and the culture of peace especially in the Niger Delta is not consolidated”, the President pleaded.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello on the run in Nigeria

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has not been seen since Tuesday, when officials tried to arrest her on a corruption charge, and now the Senate is going to try to find her.

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta warns oil companies

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, (MEND) has warned oil companies working along the coastal region of Nigeria to be ready for war, just as it said the military was not in a position to protect them.
“On Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 2230 hours, commandos from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), sabotaged a major Shell Petroleum Company pipeline at Adamakiri in Rivers State of Nigeria. That pipeline crosses from the Cawthorn channel to Bonny,” the group said in an e-mail signed by Jomo Gbomo and sent to journalists.

Nigeria runs out of fuel for Nigerians! These house negroes have to go!

do you need more evidence that ALL these sambo house negroes in Africa have to go? they need to be removed from power day before yesterday.  [Petroleum plays a large role in the Nigerian economy, accounting for 40% of the GDP. It is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves and the country was also a founding member of OPEC.]