Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 44

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Expert Faults Presidency over LNG Project

A concerned Nigerian and Publisher of the Oil and Gas Magazine, Mr. Franklin Akintilo said the alleged refusal of President Yar'Adua to grant approval for the production and shipment of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargoes from Train six project of Nigeria LNG Limited in Bonny may amount to a clog in the progress achieved so far in the nation's oil and gas sector. Akintilo described this as a gross disrespect for the sanctity of contracts in the sector and called for the reversal of the decision in the interest of the Nigeria.

Police Gun Down Eight Bullion Van Robbers in Port Harcourt

Eight suspected robbers were gunned down on Wednesday by men of the Rivers State Police Command during an attempt to raid a bullion van belonging to a new generation bank, along Trans-amadi in Port Harcourt. The suspected robbers, about 15 on motorbikes, had attempted to rob the van but were given a hot chase by the police. In an ensuing gun battle eight of them were killed while two were arrested. Three locally made pistols, five magazines, nine handsets; wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine were among things recovered from them.

MOSOP Demands Apology over Saro Wiwa

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has told former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Lt-General Jeremiah Useni to apologise to the Ogoni for saying the late Ken Saro Wiwa deserved to be hanged. In a statement MOSOP reaffirmed that the late Saro Wiwa was a man of peace who was murdered by a military cabal because of his firm position against naked exploitation.

Julius Berger Pulls Out of East-West Road Project

Construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, says it is withdrawing from site in its section of the expansion of the East-West Road in the Niger Delta over renewed security threats. A top official of the company said they have to look for solutions on how to come back to the site and that it was not their idea to abandon work. But other companies handling other sections of road such as Setraco Nigeria Limited, RCC Nigeria Limited and GZ Nigeria Limited, said in spite of the fact that they expend an average of N20-N35 million per month on security, they were not pulling out.

JTF Arrests Traditional Ruler Over Association With Militants

Men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State have arrested the paramount ruler of Letugbene, in Ekeremor LGA, King French Tume, over allegations of romance with militants. Letugbene is host to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which has vast operations in the area. According to investigations, Tume was in the process of inaugurating the Peace and Conflict Management Committee of the Iduwini cluster in Ekeki, Yenagoa when JTF men stormed the area and whisked him away.

Shell $1.3bn Power Station Begins Operations

The 450 megawatts Afam Power Station being built by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at the cost of $1.3 billion in Okoloma community, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, has started operation. SPDC’s Spokesman, Precious Okolobo, said that the company has begun commissioning the first turbine of the Afam VI Power Plant, the Okoloma Gas Plant and associated gas wells - collectively known as the Afam Gas and Power Project. He said the Okoloma Gas Plant started supply of gas on October 11. He also said when completed, the project will provide gas equivalent of approximately 20per cent of the current total domestic gas supply.

Piracy: House Wants 104 Abducted Persons Released

The House of Representatives, Thursday, urged security agencies to take urgent steps to secure the release of the eight captains and 96 crew members of fishing vessels who were recently abducted by sea pirates in Bayelsa State. The pirates were said to have demanded a hundred million naira as ransom for the captives. The House adopted a motion that the various security agencies be made to explain their inability to combat the increasing incidences of hijacking of fishing vessels in Nigerian territorial waters.

Abia PDP Petitions Okiro over Extra-Judicial Killings

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State chapter, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over alleged state-sponsored extra-judicial killings in the state. The petition identified the Abia State Vigilante Services (Bakassi Boys) as those behinds the killings and that it feared political opponents could be branded as criminals and killed. The party, therefore, urged the IG to take urgent steps to stop the Bakassi Boys from their alleged criminal activities in the state.

PPA Endorses Move to Build Refinery

The Progressive Peoples Alliance [PPA], at the weekend endorsed the move being made by Abia State Government to build a petroleum refinery in the state without investing the state funds in the project. The party made its stand known against the background of the controversy and criticism generated by the decision of the state government to build a refinery in the state through public/private partnership.

Two Drown in Ebonyi River

Two young men on Monday, drowned in the Umunwagu Idembiam end of the Ebonyi River in Ebonyi State. The incident occurred when the young men tried to cross the river, which runs through the community in Ezza North LGA, in a canoe. The operator of the canoe said he tried to save the young men, but as they clung to him, making it difficult for him to swim, he disengaged to save himself.

Niger Delta: Reps to Dialogue with Militants

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Niger Delta crisis said it is prepared to engage militants in dialogue to achieve lasting peace in the oil rich area. The chairman of the committee, Hon. Abdul Ningi, said on Monday that the committee would dialogue with any militant group that was genuinely concerned about the region’s problems. He said if it was not possible for the militants to come to Abuja for such dialogue, then the committee would meet with them in the creeks in the interest of peace and development of the area.

SPDC Invests $3billion to Reduce Gas Flaring

The Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has said that so far the Anglo-Dutch oil firm has spent a total of $3billion to reduce gas flaring. This revelation was made by the MD, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu in Port Harcourt and added that SPDC has developed a road map to enable it to focus properly on gas development projects to supply to the domestic market. He further stated that Shell is the only oil company that has set up a separate gas company to handle gas distribution to Nigerian manufacturing companies.

Communal Crisis: Ministry Donates Drugs to Victims

The Federal Ministry of Health has donated drugs and other items worth N1.2m to victims of the crisis that erupted between the people of Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi, and Amazaba in Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom State. The donation is coming barely one week after an aluminium company in the state gave food items and drugs worth N2.2m to the victims.

Govt to Declare S/East Disaster Zone

Demands by the South-East geo-political zone for federal action to redress environmental degradation in the area yielded fruit as government on Tuesday pledged to declare the region a disaster area. The decision was taken after the Federal Government x-rayed the ecological problems in the five states of the zone. To this end, a special committee is to be set up to outline special interventions and funding details that will define the solutions expected.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

JTF Urges FG not to Withdraw Troops from N’Delta

The Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, has asked the Federal Government to ignore the calls for the withdrawal of the federal troops from the region. Rimtip said it was premature to canvass the withdrawal of the troops in the face of the prevailing insecurity in the region. He said the calls coming from highly placed individuals in the region were self-seeking and ill-motivated.

Gunmen Kill Corps Member in Benin

A 29 year-old National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member, Miss Osaze Omorodion was murdered weekend in Benin, by unknown gunmen suspected to be hired assassins. According to a nephew of the deceased, Mr. Gideon Eke, they took her to a corner of the house and shot her several times. The assassin immediately fled the scene taking only her two phones.

US Trial: Chevron Paid Soldiers, Court Told

A United States District Court was, Thursday, told that oil giant, Chevron Nigeria, paid the Nigerian soldiers involved in a deadly clash with some villagers in the Niger Delta in May 1998. On May 25, 1998, Mr Larry Bowoto, led a group of over 100 villagers to occupy Chevron’s Parabe oil platform, to protest pollution of their water and demand compensation. But Chevron alleged that they demanded ransom of about $100,000, in local currency. After three days of occupation, Chevron invited some Nigerian soldiers who used helicopters to disperse the protesters, killing one person and wounding Bowoto and others.

NDLEA Arrests Policeman, 4 Others over Indian-Hemp

The Edo State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a policeman and four other suspects for being in possession of a large quantity of Indian hemp. The state commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Okey Ihebum, said the suspects were transporting the substance from a border town between Ondo and Edo states to Abbi in Delta State when they were arrested at Ugo in Edo State.

NIPCO Sets December Deadline For CNG Plant Take-off

NIPCO Plc, a key player in the downstream sector of the nation's oil and gas industry, says its multi-billion Naira Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station in Benin is scheduled commence operations by December. NIPCO says the CNG facility would be one of its major contributions to taking Nigeria to greater heights in terms of the provision of alternative vehicular fuels in the country, according to its Manager, Corporate Affairs, Lawal Taofeek.

Bankole Laments Niger Delta Crisis

Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole has lamented the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta, saying the over N5 trillion deployed in resolving the problems of under-development and insecurity in the region in the last eight years has not achieved the desired results. According to him, despite the fact that several measures adopted by government to tackle the Niger Delta problems had not adequately addressed, there is no justification for the violence championed by militant groups and criminals in the region.

Edo PDP Warns against Violence

The leadership of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, loyal to Edo State Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, has cautioned against increasing spate of politically-motivated violence in the state. The Chairman of the faction, Chief Edward Sado, on Tuesday, also dissociated members of the group from the burning of the official residence of the Chairman of the Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal, Justice Roland Amaize.

Uduaghan Gives N34m to Ekpan Fish Farmers

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has given N34.3 million to United Micro-Finance Bank to assist the United Fish Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society of Ekpan, in Uvwie LGA to fund its fish farm and ensure food security in the state. Dr. Uduaghan, who made the presentation, Wednesday, said that his administration would give the communal efforts of the youths, men and women of Ekpan full support to ensure the progress of the first phase of the farm which, he described as the first of its kind in the country.

Chevron Faces Suit over Violent Attack on Nigerians

An American Federal High Court will determine whether the violent attack on 44-year old Nigerian, Larry Bowoto, allegedly by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in 1998 was legitimate or not. The oil firm had drafted an armed security force which wrecked havoc on ‘’ peaceful protesters’’, leaving Bowoto and his group of protesters with gunshot injuries. According to the company, its employees were held hostage for 72 hours of fruitless negotiations before the company requested for military help.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Youths Rally against Unemployment in Ibadan

Unemployed graduates from the South West states, Tuesday, marched round the ancient city of Ibadan in protest against the harsh economic conditions in the country. The group, under the aegis of "Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria" frowned at the increased cases of crime among the youths which they attributed to the unemployment syndrome in the country and appealed to the government to provide gainful employment for young graduates as well as making in place liberal economic policies that will encourage the setting up of small-scale businesses.

Truck Crushes 4 to Death in Osun

Four men ridding on a motorcycle were crushed to death by a trailer in Okuku town, Osun State. Eyewitness accounts said the trailer coming from one end of the road was over speeding leading to a head-on collision with the motorcyclists coming from the other end of the road, while another account said a car dangerously overtook another vehicle pushing the deceased under the trailer.  The trailer was set ablaze by angry mob while the prompt intervention of the police saved the driver of the trailer from being lynched.

Substandard Products: SON Impounds 60 Trucks

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) during the week impounded 60 trailers loaded with suspected substandard products in Lagos. SON spokesperson, Mr Bola Fasina, said all the impounded products did not go through the normal procedure of standards verification and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme certification (SONCAP). Fasina explained that samples of the products will be taken by SON for laboratory testing to ensure that they meet standards.

4 Feared Killed in Church Robbery

Four people were feared killed and several others wounded when armed robbers, Monday, stormed a Catholic Church in Lagos and demanded for the money which the church realised from the previous day's launch, in preparation for its forthcoming Harvest/Bazaar. They succeeded in carting away money, running into several millions of naira and on their way out, shot sporadically into the air, killing four people in the process.

4 Feared Killed in Church Robbery

Four people were feared killed and several others wounded when armed robbers, Monday, stormed a Catholic Church in Lagos and demanded for the money which the church realised from the previous day's launch, in preparation for its forthcoming Harvest/Bazaar. They succeeded in carting away money, running into several millions of naira and on their way out, shot sporadically into the air, killing four people in the process.

US Govt Donates Vehicles to Nigerian Army

The United States government has donated an ambulance and five vehicles to the Nigerian Armed Forces Peace-keeping, Training and Operations Centre. The vehicles were donated under the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) to assist peace and security in Nigeria and the region under the US – Nigeria Framework for Partnership.

Police Kill Suspected Robber, Arrest 3

Four armed robbers on Monday met their waterloo in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when the men of the state police command swoop on them, shot one and arrested three others in a gun battle. The robbers, numbering about ten had been terrorising residents of Oke-oyi and even wrote a letter that the people should be expecting them in a big way.  Items recovered from the robbers include money, valuables, two locally-made shot guns, some live and expended cartridges, cutlasses, one digger and one red axe among other dangerous weapons.

Police Kill Suspected Robber, Arrest 3

Four armed robbers on Monday met their waterloo in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when the men of the state police command swoop on them, shot one and arrested three others in a gun battle. The robbers, numbering about ten had been terrorising residents of Oke-oyi and even wrote a letter that the people should be expecting them in a big way.  Items recovered from the robbers include money, valuables, two locally-made shot guns, some live and expended cartridges, cutlasses, one digger and one red axe among other dangerous weapons.

Osun NUJ Seeks Trial of Extra-Judicial Killers

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State council, has lamented the spate of extra judicial killings that are allegedly being perpetrated by law enforcement agents in the country and has called for immediate prosecution of the culprits. It wondered why some policemen should still indulge in the killing of suspects across the country without being taken to law court for proper adjudication, warning that the trend is capable eroding people's confidence in the police.

GENERAL

Nigeria Records 418 Oil Spills in Six Months

The Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Tuesday, revealed that the nation in the first six months of this year recorded a total of four hundred and eighteen (418) oil spills.

DPR Penalises 116 Fuel Stations in Borno, Yobe States

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Tuesday suspended the operating licenses of 116 major and independent filling stations while 11 were declared as "illegal" because they failed to obtain their operating licenses from DPR Northeast zonal operation department. The suspension of the filling stations followed the refusal to renew their operating licences to lift and sell fuel to motorists.

EFCC Indicts Banks for Money Laundering

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has accused banks in the country of aiding money laundering by supplying incomplete information on financial activities to the anti-graft agency. Waziri charged the banks to live up to their responsibility by giving the EFCC genuine information on money laundering activities in the sector. Meanwhile, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has disclosed that 65 per cent or 91 million economically-active but poor Nigerians lacked access to financial facilities offered by banks in the country.

Taxes May Drive 2009 Budget

In a radical departure from the norm, Budget 2009 may be funded largely from non-oil revenue, especially taxes. President Yar’ adua is turning to taxes to fund the 2009 Federal Budget which proposal is yet to be released because of the drastic crash in the price of crude oil. He has accordingly advised states to, not to depend on the monthly share from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Five Feared Dead in Taraba, Delta Road Accidents

Three persons are feared dead in an accident that occurred along Jalingo-Wukari road in Taraba State. According to sources, the accident occurred when the driver of a Toyota Hilux tried to overtake a Volkswagen car. The two vehicles collided, leading to the death of three passengers, while two others were seriously injured. In a related development in Delta State, two people are feared killed along the Warri-Ughelli road on Monday, when the vehicle in which they were travelling plunged into a River near Beta Glass Industries Limited, Ughelli.

Kaduna: Again, Bomb Explosion Kills 2, Injures 6

For the second time in two months, another bomb explosion has rocked the Kachia military range killing two teenage boys and seriously injuring six others.  The victims were reported to have gone into the shooting range to pick some scrap metals. The Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA), Kachia, Brig-General Mike Nasamu had enjoined the paramount ruler of the area, to warn his subjects against straying into the restricted area.

South Korea Owes Nigeria $213m from Oil Blocks Sale

The House ad hoc Committee investigating the activities of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries on Monday disclosed that the Korean National Oil Company (KNOC) is yet to pay up $231 million signature bonus for the two oil blocs allocated by Federal government since 2005. Chairman of the committee, Hon Igho Aguma who disclosed this, said the two oil blocs are OPL 321 and OPL 322.

Govt Equips Navy for Gulf of Guinea Security

President Yar'Adua has raised the security bar in the Gulf of Guinea and the country's maritime boundaries when he unveiled an equipment improvement scheme for the Nigerian Navy (NN). He said the government in its efforts to make the Navy globally competitive and adequately police the Niger Delta; the Federal Government had procured more patrol boats for the security outfit.

US Govt Donates Vehicles to Nigerian Army

The United States government has donated an ambulance and five vehicles to the Nigerian Armed Forces Peace-keeping, Training and Operations Centre. The vehicles were donated under the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) to assist peace and security in Nigeria and the region under the US – Nigeria Framework for Partnership.

DPR Issues Fresh Rules on Oil Block Allocation

Following controversies that trailed oil block allocations in previous bid rounds, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has rolled out fresh guidelines for future oil block allocations in the country. The Acting Director, DPR, Aliyu Sabo Birnin said only a maximum of 10 oil blocks would henceforth be put on offer in any bidding round and licensing rounds will not be done yearly because, according to the DPR, "when blocks are awarded, the exploratory cycle is usually about three to five years. It is only reasonable to see the performance of those awards as such performance will dictate when the next licensing rounds should take place."

Agency Warns Tanker Drivers against Parking by the Roadside

The Kano State Commissioner for Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba has warned tanker drivers against parking of tankers in congested residential areas. A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Malam Yahya Umar, disclosed that the state government would soon provide a parking lot for the tankers to safeguard the lives and property of the people.

Shell Makes £6bn in 3 Months, ExxonMobil Records $14.8bn

Royal Dutch Shell made nearly £72m a day as it recorded a 71% jump in third-quarter earnings compared with the year before, boosted by the high oil price. The firm made a massive £6.6billion between July and September - a period when oil prices hit a peak above $147 a barrel. The news, which is likely to spark anger by motorists, comes two days after rival BP posted its biggest-ever quarterly profits of £6.4bn. Similarly, US oil giant ExxonMobil shook off economic troubles and hurricanes to post a record third-quarter profit of 14.83 billion dollars, up 58 percent from a year ago, the company said yesterday. The latest report pushed up profits for the first nine months of 2008 to 37.4 billion dollars, putting the biggest oil and gas company toward another record year for earnings.

Nigeria Cuts Oil Export

Consequent upon a recent production cut announced by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria has cut back 12 crude oil cargoes in its November and December lifting programmes. The cut would reduce the country's crude output by 5 per cent.  However, it was gathered that Nigeria has queried the OPEC-sanctioned 113,000 barrels per day reduction in its crude output.  The country's discontent stemmed from OPEC secretariat's adoption of September production level, which is based on third party sources, to calculate the reduction.

Total Sets Zero Tolerance on Ethical Standards

As part of its commitment to Health Safety Environmental and Quality standards in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, Total Nigeria Plc recently charged its suppliers and contractors to ensure strict compliance with the stipulated ethical codes of conduct. It forbade bribery and corruption in all ramifications, be it inducement by suppliers or solicitation by staff.

Chevron Workers Resume Strike

Senior workers of Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc have begun a strike to press home their demands for better conditions of service and adequate severance package. The strike is coming barely two weeks after an earlier strike was called off following disagreements between the parties on the sale of Chevron Corporation’s stakes in Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc.

Ministry, DPR to Streamline Expatriate Quota

Henceforth, all expatriates to be admitted to work in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry must be on the recommendation of the Department of Petroleum Resources before final approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The move is meant to ensure that Nigerians are not unduly short-changed on job offers in the industry. There have been several calls on attention about the increasing influx of expatriates into areas, which Nigerians had adequate capacity.

Minister Decries Airlines' Inability to Compensate Crash Victims

The Minister of State for Air Transportation on Tuesday expressed disappointment that three of the airline operators that had crashes in recent years, claiming several lives, were yet to compensate the victims. The minister stated that the government was doing everything possible to see that families of the victims were given their compensation as stipulated by law. To this end, the minister said the insurance industry needs more support to enable it carry out its functions.

Stock Market Dips as NSE Removes ‘Circuit Breaker’

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday removed the restriction of one per cent maximum downward movement of share prices as efforts to find a solution to the persistent bear run continue. The latest development has excited some foreign investors who said yesterday that the future now looks good for the nation’s stock market following the removal of artificial restrictions. While the downward price move was restricted to one per cent, upward movement was left at five per cent.

Court Summons Niger Govt, Police over Masaba’s Continued Trial

A Federal high court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday summoned the Niger State Government together with the state Commissioner of Police to appear before it on November 12, texplain why Alhaji Bello Masaba, the man with 86 wives, should not be released from detention, with immediate effect. The court also ordered the Superintendent of Minna Prisons to produce Alhaji Masaba before him at the next adjourned to enable him make an order for his immediate release if both the police and the Niger government could not convince him on his continued detention.

Gaslink Reduces Price of Industrial Gas to N24.21K

Following the intervention by the Senate Committee on Gas, Gaslink on Tuesday effected a reduction in the price of industrial gas from N69.27 to N24.21 standard cubic metre (scm). The price is .29 kobo lower than the N24.50/scm with which the price of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) is benchmarked.  The new price of N24.21/scm, which represented a 15 per cent increase from the original price of N21.05/scm, would take retroactive effect from July 1, 2008.

FG Orders Airlines, Others to Pay N8bn Debt

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has received directives from the Federal Government, to issue  two-week ultimatum to airlines, concessionaires, government agencies and other companies owing it over N8 billion. The Federal Government has given express approval to the Authority to employ legitimate means to recover such funds. These are viable debts owed the Authority for about 10 years by active operators, government organisations and companies that have businesses at the nation's 21 airports

NEMA Dispatches Officials to Flood Areas

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has dispatched its technical team to flood affected areas in Kwara and Niger states to inspect the extent of damage and recommend remedies to likely future occurrences. The Director-General of the agency, Air Vice Marshall Mohammed Audu-Bida (rtd) has also called on states to encourage their people to move away from vulnerable areas, owing to the recurrence of such natural disasters due to heavy rainfall and over-flooding.

EFCC Arraigns 58 Suspects over Alleged Cyber Crime

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has arraigned 58 suspects before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on 85-count charge, for being allegedly involved in advance fee fraud through the internet. The offence attracts a term of not more than 20 years and not less than seven years without an option of a fine if an accused is found guilty.

NNPC to Invest N58b in Chad Basin's Oil Search

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to invest about N58 billion in the resumption of oil and gas exploration in the Lake Chad Basin. The exploration will start in November with the hope that oil will be struck in large commercial quantities to justify the investments in the North. The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Alhaji Abubakar Lawan Yar'Adua, disclosed that field personnel would be deployed to the Lake Chad Basin area to work for a period of 12 to 18 months.

Miners' Association Want Mining Sector Revamped

The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to revamp the mining industry. National Chairman of MAN, Mr. Sunday Ekozin, at the weekend, said it was high time Nigerian leaders began to look inward and strive for the country's technological development of the nation instead of the current situation of making Nigeria an import-oriented country.

Oil Firms Risk Shut-In over Gas Flaring

A legislation outlawing gas flaring will ensure that international oil companies operating in the country that fail to meet gas flare-out deadline will be directed to shut-in their wells, according to a Senate panel chief. However, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, has cautioned the Senate to ensure that the law is practicable and would not result in the reduction of revenue earnings for the nation.

INTERNATIONAL

UN Expert Decries Growing Global Violence against Women

A United Nations (UN) human rights expert, Yakin Ertrk, has urged UN member states to take remedial steps to save women from violence and abuses. Ertrk says women around the world will continue to endure violence and abuse because the women often have no recourse to justice.

Ban Urges Disarmament Steps by Nuclear Powers

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the world's nuclear powers to take steps to abolish their atomic arsenals and outlined a set of proposals for eliminating all weapons of mass destruction. The permanent members of the UN Security Council signed the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, under which they pledged to negotiate steps on scrapping their nuclear weapons. While most of the 192 UN member states have signed the pact, UN officials and signatories without atomic weapons have long complained the five nuclear powers have yet to abandon their warhead stocks.

OPEC Cuts Oil Output by 1.5 Million BPD

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) last week decided to effect cut in its quota level.  OPEC had at an emergency meeting announced a 1.5 million barrels reduction in its daily output to stem the "dramatic collapse" of oil prices, but crude prices however, plunged seven per cent anyway as financial markets spiralled across the globe. Under the new output cut, Nigeria is expected to shed about 113,000 barrels per day. The cut is expected to take effect from November 1, 2008. However, the group's Secretary-General, Abdullah al-Badri, said during the week that if prices continue to fall, OPEC would call another meeting and oil prices have actually continued to fall.

Security Council Weighs Response to Rebel Advance in Congo

The Security Council has slammed a rebel push in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as United Nations (UN) planners vowed to redeploy blue helmets to better protect a provincial capital abandoned by government troops. The 15-member body unanimously adopted a non-binding statement that condemned the recent offensive by a force loyal to ethnic Tutsi warlord Laurent Nkunda and "demands that it brings its operations to an end."  Meanwhile the rebel general has said he wants direct talks with the government about security and his objections to a $5 billion deal that gives China access to the region's mineral resources.

Syria Hardens Stance against US after Deadly Raid

Syria has threatened to cut off security co-operation along the Iraqi border if there are more American raids on Syrian territory. The comment came as the United States (U.S.) Embassy in Syria on Wednesday closed its offices because of a mass rally called to protest a deadly weekend commando attack. Thousands participated in the government-sanctioned protest. Though authorities usually keep Syria under tight control and Americans have generally been welcomed; violence against U.S. and European interests at protests has erupted in the past.

Death Toll in Pakistan’s Quake Rises to 215

The death toll from a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in southwest Pakistan rose to at least 215 on Wednesday. Authorities fear the toll may rise further if more bodies are found under the remains of hundreds of mud houses that have been reduced to rubble. The quake rendered between 10,000 and 15,000 people homeless. A quake-induced landslide and buried dozens of homes. The main quake struck just after 4 a.m., about 35 miles (60 km) north-northeast of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. It was followed by a 6.2-magnitude aftershock about 12 hours later, and dozens of smaller ones, according to the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado.

Gas Producers Allay Fears about Supply Control

Russia, Iran and Qatar's have agreed to come together to promote their common interest, even as they allay fears that their union is about trying to control supplies to the market. The new three-nation club, which account for over half of the world's gas, says apart from the exploitation of the huge natural gas reserves in their domains, the group could even improve supply security. Analysts agree the trio is unlikely to lead to supply controls, as gas is harder to commoditize than crude oil. More producers have been signing up to join, all with diverse objectives.

Plot to Assassinate Obama Uncovered

A plot to assassinate US Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama was, recently, uncovered by the country’s federal agents.  The Associated Press (AP) reported that a plan to kill Obama and decapitate 102 black people in a Tennessee murder spree was revealed. Unsealed court records say two Neo-Nazi Skinheads (White supremacists) had planned to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American High School in a shooting spree, with the ultimate target being the Democratic candidate. The two men are held being held by officials without bond. Investigations are on-going.