Weekly Security Report Weekly Report week6 week6
GENERAL
N50bn Police Fund: Two Helicopters Missing
The scandal at the Police Equipment Fund (PEF) continues as two helicopters supposedly bought by PEF coordinator, Kenny Martins, were reportedly flown back to Ukraine after inspection in 2007and have not been seen since then. Tunji Abayomi , lawyer to PEF has dismissed the such reports describing them as unfounded and malicious.
22 Suspected Human Traffickers In Police Net
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police commissioner, CP Haruna John has said that the command nabbed 22 human traffickers as they attempted to traffic children ages 5-13 years to be used for slave labour and prostitution.
Global Fake Drugs Hit N3.6 Trillion
About N3.6tr ($32bn) worth of unwholesome drugs are manufactured globally, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dora Akunyili, has said. She also lamented that it had dealt a crippling blow of $46bn annual loss to the pharmaceutical industry world-wide.
Senate To Give EFCC, ICPC More Powers
The Senate on Tuesday resolved to give more powers to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that offenders are adequately and effectively investigated and subsequently prosecuted.
Police Kill 8,000 Nigerians In Eight Years –HRW
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Nigeria Police of killing 8,000 Nigerians in questionable circumstances in eight years. Some of the victims, it said, were suspects in criminal cases such as robbery.
Guidelines to Check Oil Spill Out Soon
Problems between Multinational oil companies and host communities arising from oil spillage and non-compensation may soon be over as guidelines to check such menace are being worked out by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.
Niger Delta: IMO May Suspend Crude Exports
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has warned that it will not hesitate to sanction Nigeria if she does not find urgent solutions to the crises in the Niger Delta. Accordingly, the maritime body said that if the nation failed to meet its approval, it might bar it from further export of crude.
Crude Oil Theft: FG to Install Metres at Flow Stations
The Federal Government is considering installing metres at flow stations to determine the volume of crude oil exported from the country. Between 200,000 and 300,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen or unaccounted for every year.
FG Stops Payment Of Bonus To Oil Companie
The FG has scrapped payment of Reserves Additional Bonus (RAB) to multinational oil and gas exploration and production companies operating in the country, replacing the scheme with the regular Petroleum Profit Tax Act (PPTA) regime. This followed the termination of all agreements on fiscal incentives given to the companies.
Power Sector: Obasanjo Spent $16bn, Not $10bn –Bankole
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole has revealed that contrary to the $10bn claim as the amount spent on the power sector by the last administration, government actually sunk $16bn into that sector. This comes as the Committee on Power and Steel began investigations into expenditure in that sector.
House Members Demand Pay Rise
The House of Representatives Wednesday asked for approval of a new salary structure for members of the House befitting their status.
Killings: Fishing Trawlers’ Workers Petition Yar’Adua
Fishing Trawlers Workers Association on Wednesday stormed the office of the Governor of Lagos state to protest the massive killings of their colleagues by sea pirates. They have called on President Yar’Adua to wade into the matter.
Kogi Speaker Sworn in as Acting Governor
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday nullified the April 2007 governorship election in Kogi state which had returned Ibrahim Idris to power. Chief Clarence Olafemi, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, has been sworn in as the Acting Governor of the state. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the ex-governor to immediately vacate the government house, Lokoja.
FG Puts Army on Alert over Chadian Crisis
Nigerian military have been placed on “high alert” in anticipation of a spill over of the crisis in neighbouring Chad. The alert is to ward off a possible backlash of the crisis that has enveloped Nigeria’s north eastern neighbour.
Ex-ICPC Boss Wants FG To Finance Corruption War
Former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi, has said that the Federal Government must finance the fight against corruption to eliminate it completely.
Senate To Quiz Ex-Minister, Others Over Missing N17.5bn
A former minister and some past chief executives of some aviation organisations may soon be quizzed by the committee set up by the Senate to investigate the disappearance of over N17.5 billion in the aviation industry in the past one year.
NNPC, Asian Firms Form LNG Service Firm
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation signed a working agreement with a group of Asian firms to provide support services for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export operations.
NLNG Extends N2bn Contract For Baker Energy
Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has renewed a three-year maintenance services contract for Baker/OTS Nigeria, Limited. The $17.4 million (N2.001 billion) is to cover for the three year span at $5.8 million (N667 million) a year.
Nigeria Moves To Terminate Onshore MoU With Oil Firms
Royal Dutch Shell Plc said the Nigerian government has indicated its intent to terminate a memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 that governs onshore production and replace it with a standard tax plan. The company had received a written request from the FG.
Non-Oil Exports Grow By 46 Per Cent
The Acting Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Aliyu Lawal, has said that the nation’s non-oil exports rose to about 46 per cent in the year 2007. Over $1bn was earned from non-oil exports from the country during the period.
NNPC To Seek Alternative Sources For JV Funding
The FG has decided to incorporate Joint Venture oil and gas assets, which will free it to seek alternative sources of funding for the projects. Joint Venture cash calls for year 2008 is said to be experiencing a shortfall of almost $4bn.
Navy To Get Modern Boats —Yayale
Defence Minister, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, has said that the Nigerian Navy would soon be equipped with modern boats to assist officers and rating in their patrol duties.
Humanitarian Crisis Looms as Chadian Refugees Arrive Nigerian Border
Following heavy fighting between Chadian government forces and rebels in Ndjamena, more than 2000 refugees have fled to the Nigerian border town, Gamboru-Ngala. More than 80 per cent of them were women and children.
Defence Minister Admits Loss Of Arms
Defence Minister, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, has admitted that the Nigerian Army lost some arms in its armoury in Kaduna but said he could not confirm if they found their way to the Niger Delta. He told House of Representatives Committee on Defence that the military had begun investigation into the matter and would make its findings known afterwards.
Govt Spends N540bn On Fuel Subsidy
The Federal Government spent over N540Bn on Petroleum products subsidy in the last two years, according to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). The agency also said that it had cleared all arrears it owed oil marketers. Government spent over N279 billion in 2007 and N261 billion in 2006.
Govt Asks Shell To Suspend Restructuring
Until the queries raised over its planned restructuring are satisfactorily answered, the Federal Government has directed Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) to put the exercise on hold. The management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is also not comfortable with the programme. An NNPC official said that the corporation, as the principal partner in the NNPC/Shell/Agip/Elf joint venture arrangement, should be properly briefed before an action of such a magnitude is taken.
PPPRA Loses Power To Fix Fuel Prices
The House of Representatives on Thursday stripped the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) of the power to determine the prices of petroleum products. This followed PPPRA Amendment Act Bill, which now vests the power to approve increases in the prices of petroleum products on the National Assembly.
Oil Prices May Fall, Say IMF Chief
Oil prices are expected to dip further as the global economy continues to slow down, an International Monetary Fund (IMF), chief has said. A drop in oil prices is expected to affect the earnings of countries heavily dependent on oil.
Nigeria Loses N219bn Yearly To Dubai Due To Delay On TINAPA
Nigeria may be losing more than N219 billion annually to Dubai due to the failure of the FG to approve the procedures and guidelines for the take-off of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort in Calabar, Cross River State. Checks reveal that about 500 Nigerians spend about N1.2m on travels and shopping at Dubai daily.
Yar’Adua Approves New Gas Policy
President Yar’Adua on Thursday approved a new National Gas Pricing Policy and Regulations to address the nations’ energy and power supply problems. The policy/regulation is aimed at ensuring short and long term gas availability, at affordable prices, for domestic consumption and for sectors with significant multiplier effects on the national economy.
FG Flags off Private Sector Road Maintenance Initiative
•To fix railway infrastructure within 12 months
Federal government has commenced the implementation of an initiative to involve private sector in the financing, construction, development and operation of road transport infrastructure in the country. Government would also in the next 12 to 18 months undertake rehabilitation of the railway facilities to reduce traffic on roads.
Niger Delta, A National Embarrassment –VP ...Bankole Decries Violence
Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan has described the Niger Delta crisis as a national embarrassment, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, stated that nothing justifies violence in the region as he called for dialogue as the best means to resolve the crisis.
Senate Panel Asks Police To Arrest NNPC Boss
The Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream Sector) has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, to arrest the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abubakar Yar' Adua and produce him before the Committee on Tuesday. The committee said the order became necessary because of the refusal of Yar' Adua and the NNPC management to receive its members who were on an oversight visit to the NNPC, Thursday.
United Nations Demands Eritrea End Fuel Blockade
The United Nations (UN) Security Council has demanded that Eritrea immediately allow its peace mission personnel access to fuel. The council had renewed the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, (UNMEE) for six months. Eritrea contends that a continued UN presence on the border would be tantamount to an occupation.
Judiciary Workers’ Strike Paralyses Tribunals, Courts
The strike embarked upon by judiciary workers paralysed court proceedings around the country. In Abuja, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal could not sit.
Techno Oil Exports Motor Oil To Brazil
Techno Oil Limited, a Nigerian company, has added Brazil to the growing list of countries buying its range of motor oil. The company also began the construction of a 5,000 metric tons (MT) of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tank farm.
Peru Oil Tanker Sinks After Explosion
A Peruvian navy oil tanker sank penultimate weekend after an explosion injured 15 sailors and caused an oil spill. The tanker BAP Supe, leased by U.S. oil and gas exploration company BPZ Resources, was carrying 1,300 barrels of crude oil when it sank in flames off the port of Zorritos, 1,000km (622 miles) northwest of Lima.
OPEC Resists Push On Oil Output
OPEC has kept oil supplies unchanged, debating the U.S. financial crisis and its effect on future supply levels. The decision to ignore U.S. calls to up supply levels is based on the prediction of a crude inventory build for the first part of 2008, with the forecast in-line with seasonal trends.
Nigeria Loses Gas Worth $32bn Yearly – OWA
Nigeria loses about $32bn worth of gas every year due to gas flare and inability to harness the commodity, according to the offshore West Africa Conference in Abuja. Bringing the three planned Liquefied Natural Gas plants on stream, on time and a strategic plan to gather gas and stimulate domestic consumption will help to reduce the loss.
Petroleum Projects: FG, IOCs Seal Agreement on Funding
The Federal Government has sealed an agreement with some International Oil Companies (IOCs) on a short term strategy for funding projects in the oil and gas industry. Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia acknowledged that the biggest challenge for Nigeria is the funding of the industry and security.
Pirates Seize Russian Ship Off Somalia's Coast
A Russian ship has been seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Somali coastal waters are now considered to be among the most hazardous in the world as pirate attacks in the region had become more violent and were better armed
PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS
11 Dead In Pipeline Gun Battle
Three Navy officers were killed in a gun battle at an SPDC oil pipeline in Bayelsa State, penultimate Saturday. The Navy claims eight of the assailants died in the battle. The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility, saying it was to prove that there was no truce with the Nigerian government on the Niger Delta issue. Shell says oil production is unaffected.
N’Delta: FG Orders Crackdown on Militants
More soldiers have been deployed to Nembe in Bayelsa State where three Naval officials were killed as the FG has ordered that those responsible be fished out. In response, the Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta on Thursday raided villages along the Nembe Creek in search of militants who killed the three naval officers.
Shell Declares Force Majeure
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has declared force majeure on Bonny Light Off-take programmes for February and March, following deferments caused by its inability to effect repairs on three leaks on Nembe Creek trunkline.
Police Arrest Man For Alleged Sale Of 9-Year-Old Boy
Abia State police command has arrested a 23-year-old man for selling a 9-year-old boy, Prince Ahamefula at Aba. He allegedly sold the boy to one Mohammed Hamma, who posed as buyer, but planted some police men to arrest the trafficker.
Brass LNG: Sylva Warns Saboteurs
The Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva has warned those wishing to sabotage the Brass Liquidfied Natural Gas project steer clear of the process. He said that the project in the state would boost the economy and create employment.
Oil Service Companies Lament Effect Of Niger Delta Crisis On Operations
Oil service companies operating in the nation's upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry have once again cried out to the Federal Government to expedite action in solving the ongoing Niger Delta crisis as it still affects their businesses.
CBN To Open Currency Office In Bayelsa
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has planned to set up a Currency office in Bayelsa state to facilitate financial transactions.
Gunmen Kidnap Lulu-Briggs’ Wife, Ex-Provost
Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday invaded the Port Harcourt home of a former chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Lulu-Briggs, and kidnapped his wife, Seinye, killing a security guard. She has so far been released but a former provost of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Port Harcourt was kidnapped.
More Cultists Surrender in Bodo
Over two hundred cultists have renounced cultism in Bodo City, Gokana LGA of River state by publicly swearing an oath at the Bodo Town Square. This is apart from the first batch that did same a week earlier.
Stakeholders Identify Factors that Encourage Child Trafficking
Participants at a forum in the fight against child trafficking have identified poverty, ignorance and absence of adequate birth control measures as the factors encouraging child trafficking. They called for proper education of parents and students to check the social menace in Abia State.
BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS
Militants Threaten More Attack
Security agencies in the Niger Delta region have put their men on the alert following intelligence report that some armed groups plan to launch massive attacks on government structures and Oil companies in the region.
Seafarers Want Niger Delta Declared War Zone
The International Trade Union Federation (ITF) is pressurizing shipping associations and firms globally to declare the Nigeria territorial waters ‘a War Zone’ in order to recognize the dangers of operations there following the rise in violent attacks on merchant shipping by suspected Niger Delta Militants.
Bandits Hijack SSS Director's Car in Church
Some armed men, penultimate Sunday, attacked the car of the State Security Service (SSS) Director in Delta State and shot dead his driver at their Church premises in Asaba. Details remain sketchy.
Students Flee as Cultists Invade School
Students of Okotie-Eboh Grammar School, Delta state, Tuesday, fled the school following the invasion of the school by teenage cultists in a reprisal attack. A cultist in the school had allegedly stabbed another over a girlfriend. The victim is receiving treatment at the Hospital. Investigation is ongoing.
Arrest of Robbery Suspects
Men of the Delta state police command arrested four members of an Eight man armed robbery gang near Eku after a robbery operation. Three guns with live ammunitions were recovered from them suspects. In related development, the state police command smashed a four man armed robbery gang terrorizing Asaba the state capital, killing one of them.
Auto Mobile Crash
Over six persons were, Saturday, burnt to death along Benin-Asaba highway in Delta when a passenger bus crashed into a stationary trailer. A fully loaded petrol tanker was said to have also crashed into them and went up in flames burning the victims to death.
Two Suspected Bunkerers Arrested In Delta
The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected bunkerers at Ndokwa East LGA. The items recovered from them include one big hardboard engine boat, containing five tanks of 500 litres, loaded with substance, suspected to be crude oil, speed boats, pumping and drilling machines spare parts. Meanwhile, two members of a robbery gang were also arrested.
Fuel Lifting Resumes at Warri Refinery
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, has said that the Warri refinery is ready for full operation. However, the refinery would operate at about 60% capacity and step up production steadily until it hits the expected 90 per cent of installed capacity.
Modular Refineries: Youths Protest Delay In Delta
Youths from the five oil producing communities in Delta State on Wednesday embarked on protests in Warri over the delayed take- off of the five modular refineries initiated by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission. The refineries are expected to employ 16,000 persons, among other benefits, when operational.
MTN Staff, Others Nabbed For Using Uduaghan’s Phones For Fraud
Four persons, including two staff of MTN (a mobile telecomm company) have been arrested by men of the State Security Services (SSS) for manipulating the GSM lines of Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, for fraud. Two of the suspects had succeeded in using the lines to swindle associates of the governor of money.
Return to N’Delta or Quit, FG Orders Oil Firms
All oil and gas companies that fled the Niger Delta region in the wake of activities of militants have been ordered to return to the region or stop business. Minister for Special Duties, Chief Godsday Orubebe said any company which refuses to heed the advice to return would be stopped from operations.
Robbers Kill Three Policemen In Bullion Van Attack
Three policemen were shot dead while five others sustained serious injuries on Friday in Edo State when robbers attacked a bullion van conveying N125m from Anambra State branch of Zenith Bank to another in Benin City. However, policemen stopped the robbers from carting away the money.
Touts Set Police Station Ablaze
Motor Park touts during last weekend set a newly built Police Station at Okirigwe Motor Park in Sapele, Delta State on fire in protest against the citing of the Police station. They had opposed the building of the police station close to the park in the face of the no love lost between the motor park touts and the Policemen.
Naval Men Abduct Mopol
A mobile policeman was allegedly abducted from a bank in Warri, Delta State by some Naval officers after he asked a senior Naval officer to syop making phone calls in the banking hall, but has been freed.
Car Hijack
Ten vehicles were reportedly snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Warri and its environs during the week. Six of the said vehicles have been recovered, while investigation to recover the rest is ongoing.
LAGOS AND ENVIRONS
Late Ogun SSG’s Driver Charged for Manslaughter
The driver of late Secretary to Ogun State Government, is being charged for manslaughter, following his survival in the accident that claimed the lives of the late SSG and his orderly. This has attracted reactions from the public, who expressed shock on the development.
Chevron Drills For Oil, Gas In Lagos
Chevron has began the drilling of the Aje-4 appraisal well offshore Lagos on Tuesday to further ascertain the presence of oil and gas deposits in the field.
Day Of Reckoning For Robbery Suspects, Others in Kwara
The Kwara State Police Command has paraded 17 suspects. Among them was an armed robbery suspect. Items found include: two black masks, two cutlasses and a black coat. Another suspect was found with a half decomposed skull of a child. He claims that he dug out the skull from a cemetery for ritual purpose.
Hold Political Class Responsible For Problems In Nigeria – Oyinlola
Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has said that the political class should be held responsible for the failures of the various democratic experiments.
Ondo Community Raises Alarm On Sea Incursion
Ayetoro, the oil-rich community in Ondo State, has cried out over sea incursion in the area, calling on the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to come to its aid before it is washed away.
Police Ask Coys To Upgrade Their Security Infrastructure
The Police in Lagos State have urged corporate organisations in the state to upgrade their security infrastructure, to stem attacks from criminals.
Lagos State Command Nabs 360 Suspected Robbers In One Week
Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, the Lagos State commissioner of police has said that about 360 armed robbery suspects were nabbed within one week, while 16 assorted arms and ammunition were recovered from them. About 32 vehicles were also recovered within the last one week.
NDLEA Discovers 27 Acres Of Indian Hemp
About 27 acres of Indian hemp was Saturday discovered by the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Orile Owu. The planters were also apprehended.
EFCC Raids Siemens Office
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raided the Lagos office of German telecommunications, Siemens AG, in connection with the alleged payment of bribes to some former Nigerian public officers by its officials.
4 Killed As Fire Razes House In Lagos
At least four persons were feared dead and property worth millions of naira razed on Thursday, at the Peoples’ Plaza, near Mandilas building on Lagos Island. The victims were still being trapped in the rubbles. Some witnesses traced the cause of the fire to electrical fault occasioned by power fluctuations.
Car Snatching Syndicate Nabbed
Presently, four members of a notorious car snatching gang are in police net and are being detained at Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) cells where they confessed on their modus operandi.