The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have again threatened to withdraw the oil-producing region from Nigeria.
The militant group, which has been blowing up oil pipelines since February, said that it hoped Nigeria would strike oil in the north of the country “so they can let the Niger Delta go,” accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of dividing the country.
“The Buhari-led government has failed Nigerians with their misdirected policies that have divided the country, as such [that] nobody wants to be part of that failed state, not even the Niger Delta,” said the NDA in a statement on Thursday.
The majority of Nigeria’s oil is concentrated in the Niger Delta, a region of southern swamplands. Militant groups including the NDA have periodically risen up and demanded a fairer share of the country’s oil wealth for impoverished communities in the Delta. The oil sector accounts for more than 90 percent of the value of Nigeria’s exports and 70 percent of government revenue.
Attacks by the NDA and other groups have slashed Nigeria’s oil production by several hundred thousand barrels per day (bpd) in 2016, and the Nigerian government has said it is negotiating a settlement with the militants. But the NDA have denied entering any negotiations and threatened secession from Nigeria.
“The October 1 declaration of independence is still sacrosanct. If the Nigerian government fails to retrace its steps by restructuring this country,” said the NDA. October 1 marks the anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from colonial Britain, which was achieved in 1960.
Elsewhere, ex-Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has again denied any links with militant groups in the Niger Delta. Nigeria’s Premium Times reported on Thursday that the Nigerian Presidency had ordered a probe into alleged links between Jonathan and his wife Patience with the groups, including the NDA. A similar allegation had been made by a little-known militant group calling itself the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers earlier in August.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Jonathan’s camp denied the report and said such allegations were the work of people with grievances against the former president. “There is no doubt that there exist such people who may have scores to settle with the former president,” said the statement, reported by Nigeria’s Pulse news site.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Video - Efforts ongoing to diversify economy in Nigeria
Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osibanjo says his administration wants to encourage budget lawmakers to ramp up revenue through diversifying to non- oil sectors. The Naira has depreciated in recent months, deepening a black market in currency trading.
Freed Chibok schoolgirl misses Boko Haram militant
The first Nigerian schoolgirl from Chibok to be rescued from Boko Haram says she misses the father of her baby, a suspected Islamist militant.
In her first interview since being found with her baby in May, Amina Ali Nkeki told Reuters she also wanted to go home to Chibok, a town in the north.
She and her child are being held in the capital, Abuja, for what the government calls a restoration process.
More than 200 girls were kidnapped from a school in Chibok in April 2014.
The abduction led to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, that was supported by US First Lady Michelle Obama and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.
The Boko Haram group has waged a violent insurgency for several years in north-eastern Nigeria in its quest for Islamic rule.
The 21-year-old said she was unhappy about being separated from Mr Hayatu, who was arrested after they were found.
"I want him to know that I am still thinking about him," she told Reuters. "Just because we got separated, that does not mean that I don't think about him."
During the interview she only lifted her gaze from the floor once to breastfeed her daughter when the baby was brought into the room, Reuters reports.
"I just want to go home - I don't know about school," she said. "I will decide about school when I get back."
Her mother, Binta Ali, told the BBC Hausa service earlier this week that her daughter wanted the government to give her a sewing machine so she could become a seamstress.
She said the man claiming to be her daughter's husband had said he was a mechanic from the town of Mubi before he was captured by Boko Haram - and that he had organised their escape.
Earlier her brother had told the BBC that because of an increase in air strikes Mr Hayatu was no longer willing to continue fighting and they had planned to leave together.
Ms Nkeki said she had not watched the video, released by Boko Haram on Sunday, which apparently shows recent footage of some the other missing Chibok girls.
"I think about them a lot - I would tell them to be hopeful and prayerful," she said. "In the same way God rescued me, he will also rescue them."
In her first interview since being found with her baby in May, Amina Ali Nkeki told Reuters she also wanted to go home to Chibok, a town in the north.
She and her child are being held in the capital, Abuja, for what the government calls a restoration process.
More than 200 girls were kidnapped from a school in Chibok in April 2014.
The abduction led to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, that was supported by US First Lady Michelle Obama and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.
The Boko Haram group has waged a violent insurgency for several years in north-eastern Nigeria in its quest for Islamic rule.
The 21-year-old said she was unhappy about being separated from Mr Hayatu, who was arrested after they were found.
"I want him to know that I am still thinking about him," she told Reuters. "Just because we got separated, that does not mean that I don't think about him."
During the interview she only lifted her gaze from the floor once to breastfeed her daughter when the baby was brought into the room, Reuters reports.
"I just want to go home - I don't know about school," she said. "I will decide about school when I get back."
Her mother, Binta Ali, told the BBC Hausa service earlier this week that her daughter wanted the government to give her a sewing machine so she could become a seamstress.
She said the man claiming to be her daughter's husband had said he was a mechanic from the town of Mubi before he was captured by Boko Haram - and that he had organised their escape.
Earlier her brother had told the BBC that because of an increase in air strikes Mr Hayatu was no longer willing to continue fighting and they had planned to leave together.
Ms Nkeki said she had not watched the video, released by Boko Haram on Sunday, which apparently shows recent footage of some the other missing Chibok girls.
"I think about them a lot - I would tell them to be hopeful and prayerful," she said. "In the same way God rescued me, he will also rescue them."
Germany defeats Nigeria to advance to olympic football final
In the second semifinal of the Olympic men’s soccer tournament, Germany bested Nigeria 2-0.
To start the match, Germany had the better run of play and found a goal early on to take the lead.
In the 8th minute, Maximilian Meyer sent in a cross that beat Nigerian goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel and found Lukas Klostermann for a tap-in goal to put Germany up 1-0.
Germany nearly gave up its lead four minutes later as German goalkeeper Timo Horn mishit the ball, giving Nigeria’s Sadiq Umar a great look at the goal. However, Horn came up with a save.
In the 20th minute, Nigeria’s Daniel made a huge stop on a Lars Bender shot from point blank range to keep his side’s deficit at one.
It looked like Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel was going to equalize in the 31st minute as he made two defenders miss in the box, but his shot was blocked at the last minute by Matthais Ginter.
The teams went into halftime with Germany leading 1-0.
In the second half, there was little separating Germany and Nigeria.
In the 89th minute, Germany’s Davie Selke sent the ball toward the far post that Nils Petersen deflected into the back of the net to double his team’s lead. With the goal, Petersen ties teammate Serge Gnabry for the tournament lead in goals with six.
Germany maintained its lead through stoppage time as it earned a 2-0 victory.
Germany recorded 12 total shots, five on goal compared to Nigeria’s 12 total shots, two on goal.
Germany advances to the Gold Medal Match where it will face Brazil on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Nigeria will play Honduras in the Bronze Medal Match on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
To start the match, Germany had the better run of play and found a goal early on to take the lead.
In the 8th minute, Maximilian Meyer sent in a cross that beat Nigerian goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel and found Lukas Klostermann for a tap-in goal to put Germany up 1-0.
Germany nearly gave up its lead four minutes later as German goalkeeper Timo Horn mishit the ball, giving Nigeria’s Sadiq Umar a great look at the goal. However, Horn came up with a save.
In the 20th minute, Nigeria’s Daniel made a huge stop on a Lars Bender shot from point blank range to keep his side’s deficit at one.
It looked like Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel was going to equalize in the 31st minute as he made two defenders miss in the box, but his shot was blocked at the last minute by Matthais Ginter.
The teams went into halftime with Germany leading 1-0.
In the second half, there was little separating Germany and Nigeria.
In the 89th minute, Germany’s Davie Selke sent the ball toward the far post that Nils Petersen deflected into the back of the net to double his team’s lead. With the goal, Petersen ties teammate Serge Gnabry for the tournament lead in goals with six.
Germany maintained its lead through stoppage time as it earned a 2-0 victory.
Germany recorded 12 total shots, five on goal compared to Nigeria’s 12 total shots, two on goal.
Germany advances to the Gold Medal Match where it will face Brazil on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Nigeria will play Honduras in the Bronze Medal Match on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Video - Chevron closes its doors in Nigeria as protests continue
US oil company Chevron has been forced to shutdown operations in Nigeria's oil rich niger delta region after protestors cut off Access to its storage facility. The protests have been going on for the last week at Chevron's Escravos oil storage tank farm.
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