NAIJAFEED

Thursday, September 24, 2009

72-year old man abducted and held ransom for $131,200

Chief Sunday Kanu was abducted at gunpoint from his home at about 7:30 on Sunday. According to the Vanguard, the gunmen have contacted relatives of their 72-year old captive and demanded a ransom of 20 million naira ($131,200) paid for the old man's release. Chief Kanu happens to be the uncle of the Chairman of Ukwa East Local Government Area, Mr. Glory Kanu.

Mr. Glory Kanu has called on security agents in the state to ensure the release of his uncle. He condemned the rise in kidnappings in the state and called on the youth to engage in useful activities rather than crime.

76 year old woman kidnapped and held for 2 months released after family refuse to pay ransom

Action Congress disgusted by Governor Timipre Sylva's actions on CNN

The political party Action Congress (AC), through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has expressed its disgust on how Governor Timipre Sylva presented the Bayelsa State House to CNN's Christian Purefoy in the video up top. The Action Congress released these statements:

"Gov. Sylva, who had no inhibition in ordering a local journalist to be abducted from Abuja and whisked to Yenagoa over an alleged offensive article, was virtually genuflecting before Purefoy, virtually begging him to accept his invitation to play in his proposed 18-hole golf course! What an irony!"

"If the governor believes in such nonsensical superstition in this age and time, why has he not walked round it seven times so that his own wish for peace in the Niger Delta will come true? Or are we to assume that he has not done that because he does not wish for peace in the region?"

Vanguard

Action Congress accuses government of deceit over fuel scarcity

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

U.S. demand for oil from Nigeria drops

The United States of America (Nigeria's biggest oil consumer) has drastically reduced its demand for oil from Nigeria due to a rise in stockpiles of distillate fuel that has almost reach a 26-year high according to the American Petroleum Institute. This has forced the price of oil to drop below $71 per barrel.

America's reduced consumption of Nigeria's oil comes as a big blow to the country because 95% of Nigeria's economy is dependent on oil revenue. The U.S. buys more than 1 million barrels out of the 1.7 million barrels Nigeria produces per day.

Commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney, David Moore made these following statement:

"Most of the macro data from the U.S. over the last month has been supportive of oil prices,"

"But inventories remain high and demand is weak, so that's capping prices."

David Moore also predicted that crude will most likely average $64 per barrel in the fourth quarter before rising to average $80 in the October to December period of 2010.

Daily Independent

Oil prices fall on wallstreet after amnesty report in Nigeria

The oil must flow - video report on the amnesty deal in Nigeria

Doctor jailed for death of former first lady Stella Obasanjo

The Spanish surgeon has been sentenced to one-year in jail for involuntary homicide by a court in Malaga, Spain for the death of Stella Obasanjo after a liposuction operation he carried out on the former first lady in 2005.

The court banned the surgeon from practicing medicine for three years and ordered him him to pay Stella Obasanjo's son Olumuyiwa Obasanjo 120,000 Euros ($176,000) in compensation.

Daily Independent

Criminal prosecution case against surgeon charged with Stella Obasanjo's death begins in Spain

Nigeria improves and rises to Tier 1 in 2009 T.I.P. report

Nigeria has risen to Tier 1 status in the 2009 TIP (Trafficking in Persons) report and has met the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking", according to a statement made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Department of State's ninth annual TIP Report in a public event at Washington D.C.

"Over the past year, the Government of Nigeria more than doubled the number of trafficking offenders convicted, while it improved assistance given to victims, demonstrated strong awareness-raising efforts, and increased funding to its anti-human trafficking organization, the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)"

"the 175-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, a modern-day form of slavery". it stated.

According to the statement the findings are intended to raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons.

Nigeria was rated for increased efforts in 2008 and achievements over the past few years in preventing human trafficking. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria also congratulated the government of Nigeria and the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on its accomplishment and encourages continued progress in the future.

"The U.S. Congress, through its passage of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), as amended, requires the Secretary of State to submit this Report each year. The goal of this Report is to stimulate action and create partnerships around the world in the fight against modern-day slavery".

"Within the Report, countries are assigned to one of three tiers: countries assessed as meeting the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking" as set forth in the TVPA are classified as Tier 1; countries assessed as not fully complying with the minimum standards, but making significant efforts are classified as Tier 2; and countries assessed as neither complying with the minimum standards nor making significant efforts to do so are classified as Tier 3." It stated.

Daily Trust

Nigeria is the largest African source of trafficked women to Europe and Asia

Video report of Hillary Clinton comparing Nigeria's election to America's previous election in 2000