Saturday, November 16, 2013
Video - Nigeria beat Ethopia in World Cup qualifier
NIGERIA Vs Ethiopia 2-0 - Victor Moses Goal 16/11/2013 World Cup 2013 Qualifiers Victor Moses Goal Nigeria Vs Ethiopia 16 11 2013 World Cup 2013 Qualifiers.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
U.S. lists Boko Haram as terrorist group
The US state department is expected to designate the Nigerian Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, as a foreign terrorist organisation.
The move means US regulatory agencies are instructed to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram.
It will become a crime under US law to provide material support to the group.
Boko Haram wants to impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria and has been blamed for thousands of deaths.
The group began its insurgency in 2009, and targets both the military and civilians, including schools, and frequently clashes with the Nigerian armed forces.
While Boko Haram's main focus is Nigeria, the US has cited links to the al-Qaeda affiliate in West Africa, and extremist groups in Mali.
The US state department has not formally announced its decision to brand the group a terrorist organisation.
However, the Associated Press news agency cited an unnamed US official, whilst Reuters quoted congressional sources and others briefed on the matter.
Nigeria's government declared Boko Haram and another militant group Ansaru as terrorist organisations in June, warning that anyone who helps them will face a minimum prison sentence of 20 years.
The BBC's Nigeria analyst, Naziru Mikailu, says the US's decision will be welcomed by the Nigerian government and the Christian Association of Nigeria, which has long been campaigning for the US to declare Boko Haram a terrorist group. The Obama administration had so far refused, fearing that it could give Boko Haram greater legitimacy in global jihadi circles, our correspondent says.
The US is unlikely to identify Boko Haram's financial backers, when the Nigerian government has up to now failed to do so, he says.
Last year, top US diplomat for Africa Johnnie Carson said Boko Haram exploited popular discontent in northern Nigeria, and the government needed to tackle the political and economic grievances of the mainly Muslim population in the region.
However, Mr Carson acknowledged "reports of contact and growing relationships between elements of Boko Haram and other extremists in Africa, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb".
In August 2011, an attack on a UN building in Abuja, Nigeria, marked a turning point as a threat to US interests.
Last year, Lisa Monaco - now the chief counter-terrorism adviser to President Barack Obama - sent a letter to the state department saying Boko Haram met the criteria to be listed as a "foreign terrorist" group because, she said, it either engages in terrorism that threatens the US or has a capability or intent to do so.
The state department later designated three alleged Boko Haram leaders as terrorists, but stopped short of a wider declaration against the group.
BBC
The move means US regulatory agencies are instructed to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram.
It will become a crime under US law to provide material support to the group.
Boko Haram wants to impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria and has been blamed for thousands of deaths.
The group began its insurgency in 2009, and targets both the military and civilians, including schools, and frequently clashes with the Nigerian armed forces.
While Boko Haram's main focus is Nigeria, the US has cited links to the al-Qaeda affiliate in West Africa, and extremist groups in Mali.
The US state department has not formally announced its decision to brand the group a terrorist organisation.
However, the Associated Press news agency cited an unnamed US official, whilst Reuters quoted congressional sources and others briefed on the matter.
Nigeria's government declared Boko Haram and another militant group Ansaru as terrorist organisations in June, warning that anyone who helps them will face a minimum prison sentence of 20 years.
The BBC's Nigeria analyst, Naziru Mikailu, says the US's decision will be welcomed by the Nigerian government and the Christian Association of Nigeria, which has long been campaigning for the US to declare Boko Haram a terrorist group. The Obama administration had so far refused, fearing that it could give Boko Haram greater legitimacy in global jihadi circles, our correspondent says.
The US is unlikely to identify Boko Haram's financial backers, when the Nigerian government has up to now failed to do so, he says.
Last year, top US diplomat for Africa Johnnie Carson said Boko Haram exploited popular discontent in northern Nigeria, and the government needed to tackle the political and economic grievances of the mainly Muslim population in the region.
However, Mr Carson acknowledged "reports of contact and growing relationships between elements of Boko Haram and other extremists in Africa, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb".
In August 2011, an attack on a UN building in Abuja, Nigeria, marked a turning point as a threat to US interests.
Last year, Lisa Monaco - now the chief counter-terrorism adviser to President Barack Obama - sent a letter to the state department saying Boko Haram met the criteria to be listed as a "foreign terrorist" group because, she said, it either engages in terrorism that threatens the US or has a capability or intent to do so.
The state department later designated three alleged Boko Haram leaders as terrorists, but stopped short of a wider declaration against the group.
BBC
Video - Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote signs deal to build oil refinery
Africa's wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with banks to finance the building of an oil refinery in Nigeria.The refinery would be the largest in Africa, turning Nigeria into a petroleum exporter, he told the BBC.Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but lacks refining capacity and has to import most of its fuel.The West African state is often hit by fuel shortages, and conflict over control of its oil wealth.Mr Dangote told the BBC's Chris Ewokor that job creation is the most important thing.
Related stories: Aliko Dangote makes Forbes list of most powerful people in the world
Dangote group to create more employment opportunities in Nigeria
Documentary on Nigeria's out of control oil industry
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Video - kidnapped American sailors released
The two men were the captain and chief engineer of the US-flagged C-Retriever oil supply ship, it says.
State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki declined to provide any details how the sailors were released.
Incidents of piracy off Nigeria's coast have increased this year as gangs try to snatch cargoes from ships passing through the Gulf of Guinea.
Ransom payments
The C-retriever was stormed by gunmen on 23 October near the coastal town of Brass in Nigeria's oil rich Bayelsa State.
The captain and the chief engineer - whose names have not been released - where then led away by the attackers.
No group has said it carried out the attack.
The International Maritime Bureau has recorded more than 40 attacks in the area this year with 132 crew taken hostage. The gangs usually target the oil vessels to steal the cargo.
It is estimated that oil product worth approximately $100m (approximately £62m) has been stolen since 2010.
In recent months there have been numerous kidnappings of foreign oil workers and wealthy Nigerians, especially in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.
They have often been held until a ransom payment is made and then released unharmed.
BBC
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
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