BNW News Round-up
BNW
Pride of Africa
Tuesday
2 February 2004
Nigeria seen as 'Not Responsible Enough'
to Possess Ballistic Missiles
North Korean ballistic missile know-how in Nigerian hands
would cause a major shift in the balance of power in Africa and compromise
security, a top military U.S. analyst said yesterday. The Nigerian government
last week confirmed that talks between Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his
visiting North Korean counterpart, Yang Hyong-sop, had dealt with the
possibility of Abuja
acquiring ballistic missile technology from Pyongyang.
The United States
subsequently warned Nigeria to
steer clear of military collaboration with the reclusive Stalinist state. State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the U.S.
wanted to "stop North
Korea's missile activities"
and would welcome a decision by Nigeria to
turn down the offer. Abubakar's spokesman, Onukaba Ojo, has denied that his
government has made any commitments, adding that Nigeria
would act in its own interests in any ongoing discussions with North
Korea.
"Our relationship with each country is determined by what we believe is
our national interest," Ojo said. "The fact that North
Korea has been demonized does not
mean that Nigeria
should avoid North Korea."
Ojo said military relations with Pyongyang
could include training and the manufacture of ammunition. But what has raised
eyebrows are claims that Abuja wants
North Korean help to strengthen its defence, specifically in the area of
missile technology.
Colonel Jan Kamenju, a security analyst at the Nairobi-based Security Research
and Information Center,
said any efforts by an African country to acquire ballistic missiles should be
discouraged. Kamenju said the international community, and particularly the
U.S, is discouraging the proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). Nigeria was
"not responsible enough" to be entrusted with such weapons, Kamenju
added.
If Nigeria
decided to go ahead with the deal, he predicted that the U.S may consider
seizing the material while in transit, or could impose sanctions on Nigeria.
Although conflict is prevalent in Africa,
wars on the continent are characterized by the use of light weapons,
particularly machine guns. In rare cases, shoulder launched missiles have been
used. Although struggling with ethnic and religious unrest, it does not face
any major external military threats. Nigeria's
army is considered one of the best equipped and trained in Africa. It
has taken part in several peacekeeping operations in West
Africa, including most recently in Liberia and Sierra
Leone.
Washington
would frown on any move by Abuja to
collaborate militarily with North
Korea, one of half a dozen
countries the State Department has designated a state sponsor of terrorism. North
Korea is also engaged in a
long-running standoff with the U.S. over
its programs to develop nuclear weapons. Pyongyang has
in the past provided missile technology to Libya, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan and Saddam-era Iraq.
Western and South Korean intelligence agencies say it earns much of its hard
currency by selling and exchanging missile and other weapons technology.
US oil
company to make huge investment in Nigeria
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation of the United
States is set to make
"huge investment" in Nigeria's oil
and gas sector, its manager of international exploration Robert Talley said
yesterday. "The current drive for transparency and accountability in doing
business in Nigeria's oil sector attracted us to participate in hydrocarbon
resources exploration," he said after meeting with Presidential Adviser on
Petroleum and Energy Edmund Daukoro in Abuja.
Talley, who led a five-member team to Nigeria,
said that the country's oil-rich Niger Delta possessed the best hydrocarbon
reserves in the world. He said if given the chance, the company would engage in
crude exploration, establish gas utilization projects, boost the use of
technology and increase Nigeria's
revenue profile from the sector. "In view of the potential of Nigeria's
oil and gas sector, Anadarko will welcome an opportunity to prove its technical
expertise in the development of hydrocarbon resources and gas," hesaid.
Responding, Daukoro said Nigeria had
what the company was interested in, and would offer it the chance to
participate and prove its worth. "There are lots of opportunities for your
company in the offshore and it would be considered in the next licensing round
later in the year," he said. He said the company's recognition of Nigeria was
a welcome development given the priority the nation placed on local content
usage and development of host communities.
Anadarko claims to be involved in a comprehensive range of services from
conceptual studies to exploration and development ofcrude and gas. Nigeria is
the largest oil producer in Africa and
the sixth largest oil exporter in the world. Crude oil exportation accountedfor
85 percent of the government's revenue and 90 percent of foreign exchange
earning.
Militants kidnap three and seize oil firm's barge
Armed militants have seized two Nigerian oil workers, a
navy sailor and a supply barge working in the troubled Niger Delta, a
naval spokesman and the oil giant Shell said Monday. The gang struck in
the early hours of Sunday, taking away the men, two of whom worked for Shell
sub-contractor Daywood Continental, and the boat, which was loaded with pipes
due to be laid in the region, they said.
"At around 2:00 am
yesterday our men were on security detail at the company, Daywood, when
militant youths attacked," said Lieutenant Jerry Omodara, a
spokesman for the naval base in the port city of Warri.
"Two of our men were injured and one was taken hostage, along with two
workers. The injured men were treated and their wounds are not serious,"
he said, explaining that the gang was armed with machetes and axes.
"Efforts are being made to get them released," he added. A
spokesman for the Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, Don Boham, confirmed the
incident, saying: "Law enforcement agents have taken a report and are
striving to engage in dialogue with the kidnappers."
Omodara said the kidnappers were believed to be militants from the Itsekiri
ethnic group, one of two rival communities which disputes control of the villages
and waterways of the western Niger Delta. The men were kidnapped from Shell's
jetty in Sapele, a town on the edge of the western delta, an oil-rich
tract of forest and mangrove swamps dotted with rigs and criss-crossed with
pipelines. The Itsekiri and the Ijaw are fighting a vicious turf-war for
control of the territory, while the profits from extortion and kidnapping
have armed a generation of river pirates with modern military weapons. Most
kidnappings end peacefully, however, although the Nigerian armed forces have
been known to intervene forcefully against the gangs.
Shell and Nigeria near
tax-break settlement
Shell and Nigeria are
close to settling a dispute over tax breaks that the government wants leading
oil multinationals to repay after they allegedly overestimated their reserves,
officials from Shell and the government say. Shell, Nigeria's
largest oil producer, is the most affected of companies alleged to owe the
government between $300m (£178m) and $400m over reserves booked during the
1990s, government officials say.
News of the possible settlement highlights the contentious
issue of booking reserves and comes days before Shell is due to explain to
shareholders its shock announcement last month of a 3.9bn barrel reduction in
its proven reserve base. Nigeria was
one of the two worst-hit countries. Shell's shares took an immediate 8 per cent
dive after the January 9 announcement that shocked investors, many of whom
thought of Shell as one of the industry's most cautious companies. Since then,
few details have emerged over what went wrong and some large shareholders have
called for Sir Philip Watts to resign as chairman.
Edmund Daukoru, Nigeria's
presidential adviser on petroleum and energy matters, said the government was
in discussions with leading companies over the issue of tax breaks and
reserves, adding that the matter was "substantially sorted out". He
declined to specify either the amount of money involved or the names of the
companies. Ballama Manu, executive chairman of Nigeria's
Federal Inland Revenue Service, said the initial government claim against eight
oil multinationals totalled about $580m. Other government officials indicated
the authorities were now discussing a possible repayment of between $300m and
$400m, with Shell accounting for the largest share of any of the companies
involved.
Chris Finlayson, managing director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria,
said the company was having "good discussions" with the government to
"close the issue out once and for all. I think it's very close to
resolution". The dispute centres on a 1991 agreement known as the reserves
addition bonus scheme, which was designed to encourage oil exploration at a
time of low interest. Companies received tax breaks if their annual increase in
reserves volume exceeded the amount of oil produced, according to a copy of the
agreement seen by the Financial Times. The government retained the right to
recalculate the tax break if the reserves estimate was later revised downward.
Daukoru said the "basic deciding factor" in the dispute with the
companies was the quality of the data used to justify the claims of new reserves.Shell
has previously confirmed that it is in talks with the government on the
reserves bonus issue, although it has declined to give details of how much
money is involved. The dispute highlights the aggressiveness with which oil
companies pursue tax breaks as well as the dwindling numbers of oil and natural
gas reserves still to be found worldwide. But the disagreement does not affect
Shell's reserves booked with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the
most important measure, because the SEC has even more stringent conditions
under which fields can be booked than Nigeria. Indeed, Shell's reclassification
of SEC reserves, of which one third were in Nigeria, did
not change the amount of reserves Shell has under Nigerian rules.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria is a
Shell-operated joint venture that accounts for approaching half of the
country's 2m barrel per day production. ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco and
TotalFinaElf, which account for most of the rest of Nigeria's
oil production, all declined requests to be interviewed last week.
Two-goal king Odemwengie leads new young guns
Nigeria's Osaze Odemwengie who scored twice in the 4-0
demolition of South Africa in Saturday's African Nations Cup Group D tie, has
predicted a bright future for Nigerian football even when top stars like 'Jay
Jay' Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu are no longer on the scene. The 22-year-old
midfielder came off the subs' bench on Saturday to grab a memorable brace as Nigeria kept
alive their hopes in the tournament.
"Nigeria have
a lot of fresh, young talent coming through," said the youngster, who
moved to Belgian side La Louviere last
year. "And in time several of these young players will begin to show
themselves on the big stage," he said Sunday. Odemwengie is leading a new
generation of young players who will in the near future take over from the
likes of Okocha and Kanu as the country's standard bearers. Inter Milan
striker Obafemi Martins, who turned down a chance to be part of the Tunisia
2004 campaign; Kalu Uche from Wisla Krakow, Norway-based Seyi Olofinjana, John
Utaka of RC Lens as well as goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Greg Etafia and Austin
Ejide are all poised for international glory.
And Nigeria's
latest new kid on the block has said he has been fully supported to succeed at
senior international level. "Both the coaches and the players have
encouraged me as a young player. And this gave me the confidence to play
against South Africa and
now the whole team, the whole family, is happy," said Osaze. "Against
South Africa, we
proved that football is a team game and that attitude is most important. And
now with the right attitude, the whole team coming out as one, we can go very
far in this competition."
Odemwengie, whose mother is Russian, has already shown confidence far beyond
his years when he stepped up to coolly net a late penalty goal and draw Nigeria
level with Angola in a decisive qualifying match in Benin last year. Had Nigeria lost
the game, Angola
would have advanced to Tunisia 2004 ahead of the Eagles. "I had to take
responsibility in that game and luckily for me everything worked out
well," said the player fondly called 'Osas'.
One of the senior players in the Eagles, Garba Lawal, who was first capped
seven years ago, has tipped the former Insurance of Benin ace for bigger things
soon. "He has been pulling his weight in the team. He still has a long way
to go but if he can remain focussed, he will really go very far," praised
Lawal. Odemwengie, who is also an Olympic international, has said he is
enjoying his experience in Tunisia but refused to be rushed into making any
predictions as to how far Nigeria can go at this tournament. "You have to
count three before you count four. So, it will be a game at a time for us
here," insisted the player, whose biggest fans are his parents.
In
Brief
About
3 billion naira was expended on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM) hosted by Nigeria last
year, according to media reports.
The wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Titi Atiku Abubukar says the Italian
government will today repatriate about 100 Nigerian girls trafficked to the
European country as sex workers.
State telecoms firm NITEL is to increase its lines by 400,000. Two
hundred and fifty thousand of these lines will be in Lagos
while 150,000 are those to be rehabilitated from the available capacity.
The Punch Newspaper reports that the Senate may ask Senator Uche Chukwumerije
to substantiate the allegation of bribery he levelled against some senators two
weeks ago. ''Some senators had registered their protests with the leadership of
the upper legislative chamber, calling for a full-scale investigation into the
bribery allegation. Specifically, the protesting senators are insisting that
Chukwumerije must be compelled to mention the names of those who allegedly
gathered in the house of Senator Arthur Nzeribe, accused of presiding over the
sharing of the booty, to collect the bribe''.
A coalition of 29 political parties yesterday pledged to compete against
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP in next month's local council
elections. "We also want to engage in electoral alliance because of the
amount of public money they (PDP) control. Our position is that we can make
sure that the election takes place democratically" Alhaji Balarabe
Musa said on behalf of the coalition.
Two political parties in Lagos State, the
National Conscience Party (NCP) and the Progressive Action Congress (PAC) have
called on the state government scrap the creation of 37 new councils.
Spokespersons for the parties said they will only recognise 20 constitutionally
recognised and legally valid councils in Lagos State.
The whereabouts of suspects in the attempted murder case of Dr. Dora Akunyili
the Director General of the National Agency of Food and Drug Administration
Control (NAFDAC), is unknown, legal counsel to the accused has said. "I
was told that they (my clients) have been moved to the headquarters of the SSS.
No reason was given for this change. I was at the SSS office, but I was told to
come back on Tuesday" the lawyer said.
Econet Wireless boss Strive Masiyiwa has assured new partner Allied
Technologies that his US$1 billion lawsuit against rival MTN will not hurt
their US$140 million Newco partnership company. Econet and Altech recently
signed a 50-50-partnership deal to form Newco, which the two plan to use to
develop Econet's existing business operations.
Sports
Babangida on loan to Cadiz
Nigerian striker Haruna Babangida hopes to make a big
impression at his new Spanish side Cadiz. The Barcelona
reserve team player moved to the second division club on a six-month loan deal.
Haruna, the younger brother of former Ajax
player Tijani Babangida, has been at Barcelona for
several years but has been unable to command a place in the first team. He
hopes that the opportunity of playing first-team football with Cadiz will
reverse his flagging fortunes in Spanish football. "I've got a great
opportunity to shine here," said the 21 year-old, who said it was too
early to say if he would look to make the move permanent.
Obiorah re-signs for Lokomotiv
Forgotten Super Eagles striker James Obiorah has re-signed
for Lokomotiv Moscow from Spanish second division side Cadiz on a
two-year contract. The 25-year-old played for the Russian premier league side
between 2001 and 2003, and was their top scorer in his first season at the
club.
Obiorah will be eligible to play for the Russians in the Champions League, when
they play French side Monaco in
the first knock-out round on 24 February. During his previous spell in Moscow, the
striker had several run-ins with the Lokomotiv management before finally being
axed by the club in May 2003. Yet Lokomotiv coach Yuri Syomin seems happy to
welcome the player back. "We have kept close tabs on Obiorah since we
parted," he said. "He is a talented player and when we found out that
he wouldn't mind coming back here, we decided to give him another chance."
Yakubu can't do the trick
Portsmouth put
on a police escort for Aiyegbini Yakubu as he raced from Heathrow Airport to
play in the 0-0 draw with Wolves in the English Premier League on Saturday. The
striker came on as a second half substitute after being ejected from Nigeria's
African Nations Cup camp for breaking a curfew. Boss Harry Redknapp said:
"He almost did the trick for us, almost scored in the first few minutes he
came on."
''But it was not just a case of throwing him on. Our new signing, Ivica Mornar,
tweaked a hamstring after doing well in the first half and we didn't want him
out five weeks after just arriving." Redknapp insisted his side should
have made more of their chances."We hit the woodwork three or four times
and had enough chances to win it," he said."The three points should
have been there for the taking but we've just got to keep going even though
there are tough games against Chelsea and Liverpool
coming up."
Okocha open to offers
Bolton's
Jay-Jay Okocha may consider a move away from the Reebok Stadium when his
contract ends in June. The Nigeria
midfielder said he is open to offers after he returns from the African
Cup of Nations.
"If I get any other good deal I might consider it," he said. I can't
wait for them (Bolton)
until the end of the season to make a decision. I have to be looking at other
places." Okocha added that he would like Bolton to
come and offer him a new contract as soon as he returns from international
duty.
Have Your Say
Friend or foe:
Uniformed robbers rule the island
Culled from the current edition of Island News
gknoah@the-islandnews.com
By G.K. Noah
Secure police uniforms either by commissioning a local tailor to do the job or
buy stolen ones from the underworld market. Get the obligatory torch and
deliberately power it with weak batteries, acquire a sawn-off short gun or
better still an AK45 and lay siege at designated police checkpoints in
the early hours of the morning after the checkpoint may have been abandoned by
the legitimate law enforcement agents. When the victims arrive, intimidate them
with the uniform and weapons, reduce them into nervous wrecks through
gratuitous violence and finally make away with their valuables. That is the
''ingenious'' strategy devised by armed robbers who have been terrorising
Islanders (Lagos Island,
Ikoyi, Victoria Island & Lekki) recently.
Late last year, we did a report on what we thought might be a new
phenomenon but concluded it was probably a one-off. In the same manner the U.S.
President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain were wrong
about Sadam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, we too were wrong in
thinking the uniformed armed robbery case we featured last December was a
one-off.
Those who have been victims will cringe reading this piece because the spectre
brings back nightmarish playbacks. But nonetheless, the description represents
a pattern of armed robbery on the Island
experienced by several victims who narrated their ordeal to Island News. Some
have made bold to allege without cast iron evidence that our policemen may
actually be involved in this crime. When we put this allegation to the police,
they dismissed it saying a police uniform is too easy to replicate when even
the dollar currency can be minted illegally. They urged members of the public
to come forward and substantiate that allegation promising to apply the full
weight of the law to such officers. Beyond that promise, nothing has happened
to indicate that the police are on top of this problem. And that gives us
Islanders cause for serious concern.
After our first report, we received several similar complaints, indicating that
this strategy by the robbers had not abated. To the contrary, the criminals
have been waxing stronger and stronger. The main location for the crime was
originally identified as Osborne
Road, Ikoyi near Dolphin Estate.
It appears after our initial report, the robbers shifted base sensing that the
law enforcement agencies will keep a close tab on that area. Now the theatre of
horror has been extended to Lekki Expressway. Islanders beware, because
the end may be nigh when you drive through that location in the early hours of
the morning. If you are night clubbing, you may as well sleep in your car or at
the club till the crack of dawn. If you decide to take the risk by driving
home, don't forget to hold the holy books, the Bible or Koran and pray
fervently that the power and glory of the most high should deliver you from
evil.
In recounting her experience to Island News, one of the Osborne
Road victims said she and some of
her friends were making their way home from a night club at about 4.30 a.m. when
the ray of lights from a supposed police torch signalled them to halt. They
promptly complied but were welcomed with some dirty slaps, the type that
confuses your brain box into thinking lightning had just struck in front of
you. On that occasion, the robbers in police uniform made away with all
available cash, trinkets, mobilephones, shoes and handbags. One of the victims
simply known as Bola reportedly wet himself when what appeared to be a locally
made gun was pointed at his head. In a flash, the robbers escaped into oblivion
and no one has been arrested for that crime. After the robbers left, Bola ran
into a nearby bush and refused to show up until he was forcefully plucked from
his hideout. He was a nervous wreck. He had received more slaps than the others
in addition to the gun being pointed to his head. He'd thought that was the
end.
Two similar incidents have now been reported to Island news
along the Lekki Expressway corridor. In the first, a gentleman lost his
Volkswagen Bora car to the men in uniform. The victim had this false sense of
security when the light from the torch flashed by the fake policemen beckoned
for a stop. He obliged and shortly after, his ordeal commenced. He too was
welcomed with a few slaps and unceremoniously dragged out of his car and told
to run into the darkness, else they'll be forced to use their pump action
assault rifle. ''Runaway like a mad man if you don't want me to shoot you'' the
leader of the group told him in a voice that resembled that of Louis
Armstrong and Barry White put together. To stay alive, the victim took to his
heels and ran the fastest 100 metres of his life into the darkness. He could
hear them laugh in masochistic delight as he took to his heels. It was when he
ended up in a swamp that he realised he may actually commit suicide if he went
any further. He could not communicate with anyone because his mobilephone had
gone along with his car, his shoes and other valuables. He was too confident
that the robbers were no policemen because they had this Area Boy accent,
that unmistaken hoarse baritone lingo associated with this social misfits.
In the second incident, a newly arrived couple from the UK and
their relatives were stopped by the criminals. They were forced to empty their
pockets and handbags including wristwatches, mobilephones, shoes and trinkets.
The incident was interrupted by an advancing vehicle. According to one of the
victims, the robbers who had Area Boy accent were too eager to know if
the advancing vehicle was that of the police. That critical lapse in
concentration enabled the victims to zoom off to safety. They later claimed
that little help came their way when they reported the matter to the police.
''If you see these people again in the night, make sure you ram them with your
car'' one of the officers told the victims to their surprise. But how do you
distinguish between a fake or genuine police officer in uniform?
There is really not much a victim can do when accosted by robbers in uniform.
There are only two options. Stop and be robbed or speed off and be shot. Even
in doubt, most victims had stopped when confronted by the robbers because of
the history of the police and accidental discharge. A criminologist
friend of mine told me that people who device crooked means of taking advantage
of others are naturally gifted people who will excel in their chosen field if
only they apply themselves. That is why the exploits of these robbers reminds
me of this film Catch Me if you Can. It is based on the true story of an
American ''419er'' Frank Abagnale. When his parents filed for divorce and he
was told to chose between them for custody, Abagnale runs away from home. He
then conned his way around - getting better and better at it with each ruse.
Posing as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor he earns his money from cashing forged
cheques. As the numbers go up, FBI agent Carl Hanratty starts tracking him in a
game of cat and mouse until he is eventually apprehended. Abagnale serves a
jail term and later goes into business earning millions. Today Abagnale works
for the FBI in fraud prevention. What an irony!
We hope these 'clever' robbers in uniform will learn from the experience of
Abagnale for they too have the streetwise intelligence to succeed doing
legitimate business. To the police, we urge them to apprehend these men sooner
than later before a shooting match ensues. To Islanders who have been victims,
we urge you to tell us your experience so that others can learn from your
ordeal. More importantly, so that the community will put into perspective the
magnitude of this problem.
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