Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 25

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Bakassi: Displaced Persons Not Forgotten -UN

The United Nations (UN) said last weekend that it had not abandoned its commitment to the people displaced by the handing over of the Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon. The Deputy Coordinator, Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, Mr. Adei Sami Almasarweh, that the UN would step up efforts towards the resettlement of the people. Almasarweh stated that the UN was embarking on need assessments in order to make impact on the people.

Militants Attack NDDC Reclamation Project in Bayelsa

Militants in the Niger Delta Region, penultimate Saturday, blew up a multimillion naira NDDC project in Oporoma community in Bayelsa state. The project manager of dredging Atlantic Nigeria Limited, Mr. Henry Okolia said the attack was a serious setback on Niger Delta Development Commission's (NDDC) effort to help the Oporoma community and his company. The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Mr Omini Nelson Izonibie, condemned the attack on the reclamation project, because this is entirely a community based project and is supposed to impact positively on the people.

Mother, Children, Others in SSS Net over Kidnapping

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) working in collaboration with the State Security Services (SSS) have smashed a gang of hoodlums terrorizing the Ogoni axis of Rivers State. Arrested in the operation was a 56 year old mother with two of her sons and three others who claimed innocence. The Director of SSS said the gang had been on the run for the past four months, stressing that it is important for members of the public to come forward to volunteer information. Some of the weapons recovered from them include one General Purpose Machine Gun, three G3, One AK 47, and one SMG, three magazines and over 69 ammunitions.

Bayelsa United FC Captain Shot Dead

The victory party in the camp of newly crowned 2008/2009 Globacom League champions Bayelsa United was short-lived following the killing of its captain, Abiel Tabor, by suspected armed robbers. Tragedy struck when the player left the team's camp around 10pm to travel to Warri, his home town, from Oghara, Delta state. Reports from the team's camp revealed that Tabor was driving in company of his younger brother and a friend in a car when they ran into the armed men, but as he tried to avoid them by turning the car around, the bandits chased and shot him straight in the head.

Shell Confirm Attacks in Rivers State

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) Sunday confirmed an attack against an offshore oil platform, the third militant operation against its Nigeria subsidiary in 24 hours. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for three attacks against Shell in Rivers state. MEND had said in an earlier statement that the Shell pipelines at Adamakiri and Kula locations were attacked, a claim confirmed by Shell. Attacks on offshore platforms -part of unrest that has shut down up to 1 million barrels-a-day of output.

Amnesty Deal Threatened

Militants in the Niger Delta region say the government’s Amnesty offer lacks a “confidence-building mechanism, especially in the face of recent developments.” The amnesty offer has remained contentious since the military onslaught against militants in the region began. It is believed that the government’s efforts to enlist the support of prominent indigenes of the region to prevail on the militants to accept the offer were not yielding positive results. This is even as militants in the region have vowed not to accept the rapprochement until what they describe as “useful mechanisms” are put in place.

Ateke to Accept Amnesty

Leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement, Ateke Tom, has vowed to lay down his arms as soon as President Yar’Adua defines the terms of the amnesty he has offered militants in the Niger Delta. But, while Yar’Adua lauded this move, the Rivers state government dismissed Ateke’s position, saying that Ateke had promised surrender severally but has never kept his word.

Rights Commission Cautions S'East Govs on Death Penalty

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday urged governors from the South-East to review new laws being passed which seek to impose the death penalty on kidnappers in their state. The commission said there was need for the governors to tread cautiously on the efforts to pass death penalty on anyone convicted of kidnapping. The commission's Executive Secretary, Mr. Roland Ewubare, said that global trends were clearly moving away from imposing the death penalty on anyone, regardless of how heinous the crime he has been convicted of.

Ex-Commissioner’s Wife, 2 Others Kidnapped in Ebonyi

Three persons, including the wife of former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Francis Okorie, son of the state Accountant General and a son of a local government treasurer in Ebonyi state were all kidnapped. The former commissioner's wife was rescued after about nine hours in captivity, while the whereabouts of the others remained unknown. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chris Anyanwu, said he had directed his men to be on alert.

Police Repel Attack on Gunboat

Unidentified Gunmen, suspected to be militants and security operatives, Thursday, clashed in Oron LGA of Akwa Ibom State in an attempt by the militants to steal bullet-proof gunboat belonging to the marine police. Security operatives in the area were said to have been attracted to the scene following sporadic shooting by the militants to scare away people. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Walter Rugbere, confirmed the story, indicating that no life was lost on the part of police.

Nigeria’s Oil Production Drops by 1.3m bpd
•Shell confirms attack on pipeline

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday shut in some production owing to Wednesday’s attack on its Trans Ramos pipeline in Aghoro- 2 in Bayelsa State. The recent upsurge in attacks on oil facilities has reduced Nigeria’s crude oil production to about 1.3 million barrels per day (mbpd). The SPDC explained that the company had to shut in some oil production to avoid damage to the environment. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which claimed responsibility for the incident, has in the last three weeks launched several attacks on the facilities of Chevron, resulting in the shut in of quantities of the company’s oil production.

Police Promote 16 for Foiling Bullion Van Robberies

The Nigeria Police have promoted 16 officers in Rivers State who recovered two bullion vans separately snatched by armed robbers in Imo and Abia States last year and took them to Rivers State where the monies were recovered. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Hassan, told the officers that there was no limit to the good things they would get if they were committed to their duties.

Amnesty, Others Call for Release of Child Prisoner in Nigerian

Amnesty International on Tuesday led a delegation comprising 14-year-old students to deliver a petition to the Nigerian High Commission, asking for the immediate release of a child prisoner, Patrick Okoroafor, who has been in jail for armed robbery since 1995 when he was 14. Okoroafor has spent 14 years in jail for the robbery he denied taking part in, and still has to spend another 10 years in prison. Amnesty noted that Patrick was questioned by police alone, with no legal representation and he alleges that he was tortured. The Executive Director of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFUCA), Debbie Ariyo, also condemned the continued imprisonment of Okoroafor.

Council of State to Decide Terms of Amnesty

Terms that will guide the amnesty extended to militants in Niger Delta would be drawn up by the Council of State.  President Yar’Adua summoned a top meeting of security chiefs and governors of some Niger Delta states on Thursday to discuss issues on the amnesty offer following the preparedness of one of the militant leaders, Ateke Tom, to embrace the offer.

Anambra Governorship Aspirants' Mother Kidnapped

Mother of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Okey Chukwuogo, has been kidnapped. The kidnappers, who were armed with guns, came in police uniform, abducted her last weekend, while the treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State, Chief Peter Orji, has been rescued from kidnappers. Orji, who was kidnapped last week, was freed by men of the Nigeria police in a thick forest in Isiala Ngwa LGA of Abia State.

FG Urged to Return 67 Oil Wells to Cross Rivers State

The Federal Government has been urged to restore the 67 oil wells recently ceded to Akwa Ibom from Cross River State for the sake of social justice, transparency and the respect for the rule of law. According to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) the ceding of the oil wells was unconstitutional and hence should be condemned. Earlier this month, the Cross River State House of Assembly had in a resolution called on the Federal Government to compensate Cross River State for its loss of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon following the World Court judgment and the controversial and illegal ceding of Cross Rivers 67 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State by the Nigeria’s National Boundary Commission (NBC).

Village Chief Roasted in Rivers

The Assistant Secretary of Rukpokwu Council of Chiefs and Village Chief of Rumuokwuala Village in Rukpokwu, Rivers State, Chief Charles Azubuihe Nyemachi was in the early hours of Friday, assassinated and roasted in his house by unidentified gun men. Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Rukpokwu, CSP Aderemi Adeoye, said at the time we got there, they had fled and we discovered that the Chief had been shot and his house burnt.

A’Ibom Govt Donate Vehicles, Equipment to Police

The Akwa Ibom state government has donated 31 Hilux vehicles and three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCS) to help strengthen the operations of Nigerian Police Force in the state. The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Mike Okiro, while on a two-day working visit to the state, commissioned the vehicles along with 31 tractors, 40 inter-city buses and six 911 trucks for traders. Okiro commended the governor for the provision of the vehicles to the police. Okiro stressed the need for government at the three tiers and the public to partner with the police in the fight against crime.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

JTF Apprehends Five Oil Thieves

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta, last weekend, arrested five suspected oil thieves in Delta State. Spokesman of the JTF, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said that Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were on their way to Emereje, Delta State, to dispose of the crude oil found with them.  They have been handed over to our Military Police detachment for further investigation. The suspected owners of the tanker fled on sighting the JTF troops but one of them was arrested.

Muslims Call for JTF, Militants’ Ceasefire

Muslims in the Niger Delta have called for an immediate ceasefire in the face-off between the military and militants in the region and urged President Yar’Adua to stop the battle that has claimed several lives and properties. President of the Delta State Muslim Indigenous Association, Alhaji Abdusalam Paxman Ekpuze, said the current escalation of violence in the Niger Delta was sequel to the reckless manner in which fellow Nigerians were killed when there was no declaration of war by the Federal Government. He, however, warned against any attempt to impute religious connotation to the current crisis explaining that no true religion advocates violence.

NPDC Discovers More Oil in Delta State

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has discovered crude oil from its Oil Mining Lease (OML) 64, otherwise known as Kukaku-1 well, situated in Delta State. Group Public Affairs Manager of NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, confirmed that the well was drilled to a total depth of 11,150 feet and encountered six major hydrocarbon intervals, three out of which are bearing oil with a net thickness of about 50 feet. He said the initial test on the well indicates that the oil is similar to most oil discovered in Nigeria, which is sweet light crude.

FG to Probe N/Delta Killings as Militants' Video Shows Soldiers Killing Civilians

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, on Tuesday said the Federal Government will probe reports of alleged extra-judicial killings by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta. This comes as a video of soldiers executing two unarmed brothers in the Niger Delta has is being circulated via the internet, with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) calling it a "war crime" and demanding an inquiry. The video on YouTube shows a man on the floor of a Naval ship beside a lifeless body, while some soldiers barked questions at him before shooting him dead. However, Joint Task Force (JTF) Spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, countered that the video is another ploy dramatised by the militants to hide their illegal activities.

FG to Halt Military Campaign

The ongoing military exercise in the Niger Delta will soon be over, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, disclosed. The military campaign against militants in the Niger Delta has been received with mixed reactions across the world, with reports of humanitarian crisis provoking criticism from human rights activists. While saying the campaign was long overdue, Maduekwe said the Federal Government was not planning to set up an army of occupation in the region.

Edo PDP Chairman, Son Die in Auto Crash

The chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Samson Ekhabafe, his first son, and a police escort lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident along the Benin–Auchi highway, penultimate Sunday. The accident occurred when a tanker loaded with petroleum products lost control and ran into his vehicle.

Two Killed in Edo State over Levy Payment

Two persons were feared dead on Wednesday in Benin, Edo State as violence erupted over the payment of levies recently introduced by the state government. Trouble started when a levy collected allegedly pushed a commercial motor cycle operator to the road. The man was immediately crushed by a truck.  This infuriated onlookers, who immediately descended on the levy collector and clubbed him to death. Governor Adams Oshiomhole's Special Adviser on Public Affairs and Strategy, Eric Osagie, condemned the act.

Chevron Commences Evacuation of Staff at Escravos terminal

Chevron has begun a phased evacuation of its over 10,000 staff at the Escravos Tank Farm in the Gbaramatu area of Delta State, following sustained attacks by militants in the past few days. Reports indicated that the company may also declare a force majeure if the prevailing situation persists. Chevron had since the commencement of ‘Hurricane Piper Alpha’, declared by the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), suffered at least four attacks on its facilities in Delta State within 10 days.

Man Gets 7 Years for Manslaughter

A Benin High Court, Wednesday, sentenced Mr Roland Enobakhare, 60, to seven years in prison with hard labour for manslaughter. Enobakhare was found guilty of stabbing one Felix Akemwonyi to death in August 2003. Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje held that there was no direct evidence about the incident that led to the death of Akemwonyi. The judge also noted that Enobakhare's wife, who was the only eyewitness, died before the commencement of the trial. The court held that the defence of provocation canvassed by counsel to the accused on what transpired between the accused and the deceased was in favour of the accused.

Fire Razes Delta Broadcasting Service Building

A midnight fire sparked off by electrical fault on Sunday gutted the main building of the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) in Warri. No life was lost, the account department and other offices were completely destroyed before firemen extinguished the blaze. Conspiracy theorists have alleged internal sabotage, as DBS is embroiled in a leadership tussle which prompted the state government to dissolve the board and placed the General Manager, Willy Sowho, on indefinite suspension.

JTF Claims to Foil MEND’s Attack on Oil Facility

An alleged attack on oil facilities in Delta State by militants has been refuted by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Monday, saying that it foiled the attempt on Abiteye flow station. The facility is owned by Chevron, an American oil firm. The JTF said the militants came in their dozens to carry "out the nefarious acts" but were overpowered. JTF spokesman, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in the ensuing gunfire, the militants were "forced to flee in disarray with various degrees of gunshot wounds."

Six Killed in Edo Road Accidents

Five persons were, Monday, burnt to death in a motor accident involving two tankers, a Toyota Hilux pick-up van, a Sport Utility Vehicle and a motorcycle along the Benin-Auchi road in Edo State. The Zonal Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), Zakari Nda, said three survivors sustained various degrees of injuries in the accident. In another incident, one life was lost on Sunday in an accident in Umunede, along the Benin-Asaba Highway in Delta State.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Coroner Holds Police Responsible for Awosika’s Death

A coroner court in Lagos on Tuesday delivered its findings in an inquest into the death of late Modebayo Awosika. Chief Magistrate Philips Ojo, in his findings, held that Awosika was shot by a police Inspector, Benjamin Oyigie, adding that it was clearly a homicide shooting. The coroner urged the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command to declare Benjamin Oyigie wanted as well as reopen investigations into the matter. Policemen had allegedly killed Awosika, a banker, in October 2008 after his vehicle rammed into the RRS patrol vehicle at the Lekki roundabout. The police had initially claimed the deceased was killed by armed robbers.

Counter-Claims over Casualty in Lagos Pipeline Explosion

Counter-claims on Monday trailed the body count following a petroleum products pipeline explosion which rocked Ilado Phase 3, a Lagos suburb on Saturday night, with security operatives saying up to 25 bodies had been recovered, while management of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) said it was not aware of any body count. Investigations revealed that there was a stampede following gun shots fired into the air by naval personnel on patrol who arrived at the scene and found people siphoning fuel from the affected pipeline. A police officer at the Snake Island Police Station also revealed that lives were lost following the incident, adding that a search for survivors has been mounted on the waterways.

Police Arrest Alleged Kidnapper of Ondo Officials' Wives

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested the suspected kidnappers of the wives of some top state government officials last Sunday in Akure. According to the police, the kidnap kingpin was apprehended at a village in Kogi State. The arrest was made by a joint team of the police and other security agents. One of the kidnappers was shot dead, while two policemen were injured in the ensuing gun duel. Mrs Iyabo Basaru, wife of the Ondo State Commissioner for Lands, Alhaji Sikiru Basaru and her friend, Mrs Sola Alli, wife of a newly appointed permanent secretary in the state were, penultimate Sunday kidnapped at the commissioner's residence in Akure.

Peaceful Protest in Ondo Varsity Turns Bloody

At least two persons were killed on Thursday in Ondo state when a Peaceful protest by students of the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), turned bloody, while several others were injured. The students were protesting their recall for examination, when the university authorities had unresolved issues with the school’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU). The protest turned bloody when a bullet allegedly fired by a police officer killed an indigene, infuriating the students and the indigenes, during which a police station was burnt, while another man was killed. The state government immediately ordered the closure of the University.

Police Arrest 3 Suspected Fraudsters

Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police yesterday smashed two gangs of suspected fraudsters who allegedly used fake bank documents to defraud some businessmen of about N500million. The sum of N56million has since been recovered from the suspects. One of the suspects, identified as Christopher Ndilim is said to be a staff of a new generation bank in Lagos. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 2, Command, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed this.

GENERAL

Impounded Aircraft with Arms Linked to Militants

A Ukrainian aircraft impounded by defence operatives at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday for carrying 18 crates of arms and ammunition is suspected of having links with Niger Delta militants, sources disclosed. It had been reported that the aircraft might have made an emergency stop in Nigeria because of technical problems on its way to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, but security sources said that the suggestion may not hold, in view of the fact that some documents and weapons recovered by operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) during their raid on militants’ Camp 5 allegedly established that Ukraine was a major source of arms and ammunition to the militants.

No Genuine Maloxine in Nigeria -NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has declared that any ‘Maloxine’ anti-malaria drug in Nigeria is fake and dangerous. The agency disclosed that that the importer of the original brand of Maloxine, St. Michael Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has stopped the importation of the product since 2003 and warned Nigerians against buying such, while further directing all pharmaceutical outlets who still have Maloxine in stock to turn them in to the nearest NAFDAC office. It also warned that increasing use of Mono-therapies, especially fake mono-therapies like Artesunat, could give rise to resistant strains of malaria parasites.

NSA Raises Alarm as 6,000 Tonnes of Poisonous Rice Head for Nigeria

Relevant security agencies in the country’s borders and seaports have been placed on the red alert to watch out for a shipment of about 6,000 tonnes of poisonous rice believed to be on its way to Nigeria from Sierra Leone. The warning came through intelligence reports from the office of the nation’s National Security Adviser (NAS).

Nigeria Ranks High in Fight against Human Trafficking

Nigeria on Tuesday moved up to tier one status in the United States (U.S.) Department of State's 2009 report on trafficking in persons. In the 175-country report released, is intended to raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons. In the 2009 TIP Report, Nigeria's elevation to Tier 1 status - now makes it to be at par with countries assessed as meeting the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking" following its increased efforts in 2008.

Eight Die, 19 Injured in Fire Razes Borno Community

A mysterious fire in Sagir, a border community in Borno State, has claimed the lives of eight persons, while 19 others sustained various degrees of burns. The Borno Fire Service and the police command are yet to ascertain the cause of the fire but the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday linked the incident to indiscriminate use of fire during the harmattan season. To check such incidents, the state fire service has warned residents and petrol hawkers to desist from indiscriminate use of fire and storage of petroleum products in residential areas. Chairman of Ngala Local Council, Alhaji Goni Sheriff, said 40 houses and livestock were also destroyed when the residents could not bring the fire under control.

FG To Audit NNPC's N1.15tr Subsidy Claims

An independent audit has been ordered by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) into subsidy claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) estimated at N1.15 trillion. The FAAC also asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to refund the one per cent charge on the Paris Club debt exit payment. Minister of State for Finance and FAAC Chairman, Remi Babalola, also disclosed that N329.08 billion was shared at the meeting by the three tiers of government from May revenue, an increase of N11.61 billion over that of April.

Court Awards Business Man N10m from Police over Right Abuse

An FCT High Court, Friday, ordered the Inspector-General of Police to pay N10 million as damages to a Maiduguri-based businessman, Nnamdi Okonkwo for illegal detention in a police cell in Abuja for six months without trial.  Okonkwo was arrested in March 2008, and was detained under degrading conditions until September 2008 when he was released after his lawyers went to court.

Nigerians Lament Sexual Abuse in Children

Concerned Nigerians have raised alarm over the rising increase in child sexual abuse in the country, lamenting that most of the offenders go unpunished due to inadequate time frame for prosecution. The Director from the Office of the Public Defenders (OPD), Lagos State, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi said that the law only provided two months within which an offender should be prosecuted, lamenting that only five offenders have been prosecuted out of hundreds of cases lying before the office due to so many constraints, ranging from timing and lack of forensic evidence, inability of parents to allow their wards to testify and social stigma.”

FG To Reward FRSC Official for Honesty

The Federal government is to formally reward Assistant Corps Commander Joseph Oyeride for honesty. The reward, which may come as a national honours award, is for Joseph Oyerinde’s honesty in returning over $55,180 to relatives of deceased accident victim. Nigeria’s Information and Communications Minister, Processor Dora Nkem Akunyili, disclosed government’s intention on Monday in Abuja,

MEND Threatens FIFA Junior World Cup in Nigeria

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has warned the world football governing body, FIFA, against letting Nigeria host the under-17 World Cup tournament, as the safety of international players and visitors cannot be guaranteed due to the current unrest. In a swift reaction, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the football tournament said that the federal government is well on top of the situation, adding that FIFA is not so fickle to buckle under the threats of a band of elements that have axes to grind.

Jos Youths Protest as Security Operatives Torture Man to Death

The city of Jos, capital of Plateau State, was once again thrown into confusion on Wednesday as News that some soldiers tortured a man to death at Filin Ball area of Nasarawa Gwom broke out, prompting youths in the area to stage a protest. The situation was, however, brought under control by the timely arrival of security operatives drawn from both the army and the police. Plateau State Police Command has, however, appealed to the people of the state to ''remain calm as event that generated the panic has been brought under control.

Police Declare Niger Speaker, 8 Others Wanted

The Niger State Police Command, last weekend, declared the new Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Saidu Ndako Idris, and eight others wanted over misappropriation of funds. Idris is being trailed by the police over his indictment on alleged malpractice relating to the award and execution of contracts to the tune of N89 million when he was the Chairman of Mokwa LGA of the state. He was also asked to refund over N97 million illegally withdrawn from the LG treasury. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Richard Oguche, confirmed this.

Protest in Taraba School over Missing Genitals

Taraba State College of Agriculture has been closed down after students protested over cases of missing genitals. Three male students of the College had reported that their genitals disappeared after body contact with another student. The state Police Public Relation Officer, Sani Baba, said 10 cases of missing genitals had been reported in the state and they are working with doctors from the state specialist hospital and Federal Medical Centre for proper examination of victims. He appealed to the public to report any suspected cases of missing genital to the police for proper investigation and caution against killing of suspect.

Nigeria, 16 Others Plan Nuclear Power Plants

Nigeria and 16 other African countries may soon start power generation from nuclear plants, under a power base diversification programme being backed by the Austria-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  Already, IAEA has organised a regional training programme for personnel from countries participating in the project. The countries decided on the project with the conviction that nuclear plants are more economical to run, while their availability and productivity have risen with less down-time for maintenance.

DPR Proposes Fine for Gas Flare Defaulters

Emphasis is being shifted from setting deadlines for the elimination of routine gas flaring in the nation's oil and gas industry to proposing a number of penalties for defaulters in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). According to Mr Billy Agha, Acting Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the agency is not only looking at the capacity of projects initiated by the operators to help eliminate gas flaring, but have also submitted a number of recommendations to the National Assembly on temporary gas flaring penalties, covering limited flaring allowed during pre-commissioning and commissioning operations, equipment maintenance and operation upsets.

Oronsanye Takes Over as Head of Service

Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, formally assumed duties on Tuesday as Head of Service of the Federation, effectively taking over from Ms. Amma Pepple who retired on Monday from the Nigerian Civil Service.  Orosanye, while taking over mantle of leadership of the civil service,  called on civil servants across the nation to brace up for the challenge to re-engineer the civil service to rank among the best organised and managed in the world.

FG Plans Anti-kidnapping Squad

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it would set up an anti kidnapping squad to deal with the menace of hostage taking in the Niger Delta. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan noted that kidnapping was an evolving process which started as a genuine agitation against environmental damage caused by oil exploration activities in the region, but has now developed into a full blown crime.

Yobe Police Breaks Notorious Robbery Gang

The police in Yobe State have arrested two suspects of a 3-member gang of notorious armed robbers, but the third suspect was still at large. Items recovered from them include a Cerato KIA car, a Toyota Corolla car and a Peugeot 505 Estate car. Also recovered were two locally made pistols with 10 rounds of cartridges, two expended cartridges, two Nokia phones, N7, 255.00 as well as some foreign notes of RM Bank Negara Malaysia and Bangue Dublin Mille livre (1000 note).

INTERNATIONAL

North Korea Threatens Military Action if Provoked

North Korea has warned of a "thousand-fold" military retaliation against the United States and its allies if provoked. Reports indicate that North Korea is preparing an additional site for test-firing a long-range missile capable of striking the United States. Russia's deputy defence minister has said Russia would shoot down any missile headed its way. New UN sanctions are aimed at depriving the North of the financing used to build its nuclear program. The resolution also authorised searches of North Korean ships suspected of transporting illicit ballistic missile and nuclear materials. US President, Barack Obama, has declared North Korea a "grave threat" to the world, pledging that recent UN sanctions will be aggressively enforced.

Nigeria at Frontline of WHO Pandemic Flu Battle

Worried by the possible impact of Influenza A (H1N1)/swine flu pandemic on the country's health system, the Federal Ministry of Health, has stepped up measures to mitigate a possible outbreak. Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said developing countries, including Nigeria, where medical care systems are weak and supplies of antivirals insufficient; will be the frontline of its battle against pandemic. Latest reports from the WHO indicate that no fewer than 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths.

ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Send Team to Guinea-Bissau

The Chiefs of Defence Staff of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have dispatched a contact mission to Guinea-Bissau over the recent killings in the crisis-torn country. The mission, led by the Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, is expected to help find practical solutions to the many political and security challenges threatening to plunge the country into lawlessness and deeper political instability. The Chiefs of Defence Staff also provisionally approved the proposed structure of the ECOWAS Standby Force Main Brigade. They are expected to give their full endorsement at the next meeting, which will take place in Freetown, Sierra Leone in the next quarter.

7 Feared Killed in Iran’s Post Election Protests

Clashes in the Iranian capital on Monday left seven people dead after an "unauthorized gathering" following a mass rally over alleged election fraud. Rioting and protests broke out after penultimate week’s disputed elections, which returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected. The government has barred foreign media from covering issues on the crisis. As Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after an examination into the fraud allegations, described Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's win as "definitive" and called for an end to the protest, opposition leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi, issued a direct challenge, calling for a mass rally to protest the disputed election results and violence against his followers.

AU Deplores Foreign Fighters in Somalia

The African Union (AU) has condemned foreign jihadists in Somalia who are helping local Islamist insurgents. International concern has been rising this year at the presence of foreign fighters among Islamist rebels fighting President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's government and AU peacekeepers. A two-year insurgency, the latest cycle in 18 years of conflict, has killed about 18,000 civilians, left one million people homeless. Meanwhile, the European Union has agreed to extend an anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia until the end of next year and to expand its area of operations.

Mogadishu Police Chief, 16 Others Die in Clashes, Security Minister Killed

About 17 people including a top police chief were killed after Somali government forces on Wednesday attacked rebel strongholds in Mogadishu, Police spokesman, Col. Abdullahi Hassan Barise, disclosed. The fighting was occurring after a surge of violence in Somalia's capital in May had killed about 200 people as insurgents battled the government and its allies. The UN says the conflict has displaced more than 122,000 people. The country’s Internal Security Minister, Minister Omar Hashi Adan, was killed Thursday in a suicide car bombing in central Somalia, the country's president, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, announced. He blamed the attack on international terrorists who have invaded Somalia.

Autopsies Suggest Air France Broke Up Mid Air

Autopsies on about 50 bodies recovered from the crash of Air France, have revealed fractures in the legs, hips and arms, along with the large pieces of wreckage pulled from the Atlantic suggest that the plane broke up in the air, experts said. More than 400 pieces of debris so far, have been recovered from the ocean's surface. The top French investigator expressed optimism about eventually discovering what brought down the plane. Still missing are the plane's flight data and voice recorders, thought to be deep under water.

Brown Condemns Romanian Racial Attacks in N'Ireland

British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Wednesday condemned a wave of racist attacks in Northern Ireland, which forced more than 100 Romanians to flee their homes. The situation came to a head on Monday when youths disrupted an anti-racism rally, throwing bottles and making Nazi salutes. Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said the attackers were "racist criminals" who should be arrested and prosecuted. There have been racial tensions in the area ever since trouble broke out around Northern Ireland's 3-2 win over Poland in the 2010 football World Cup qualifier in March.

ICC Orders Congo's Ex-Warlord to Stand Trial

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered former Congolese rebel warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba to stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Bemba, who was arrested in Belgium in May 2008, denies all the charges. Judges at the Hague-based ICC said there was sufficient evidence to try Bemba on some of the charges. But his lawyers are appealing, saying the militia was not under his command once they had crossed the border. The defence counsel for Bemba argue their client cannot be held responsible for crimes committed by his troops because they were under the "command and control" of Patasse's government.

OPEC Oil Output Rises by 300,000 Barrels Per Day

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased crude oil production by 300,000 barrels per day (b/d) to 28.39 million b/d in May, according to a survey. Production had already risen in April for the first time since August 2008.

Death Toll Rises in Indonesia Mine Collapse

Search efforts continued on Wednesday for 14 people feared trapped by a mine collapse on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The death toll from the collapse on Tuesday climbed to 28 Wednesday, said Rustam Pakaya, head of crisis management for the Indonesian health ministry. Seventeen other people sustained burns in the explosion.