Nigerian militants blow up Shell and Agip pipelines

On Wednesday, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta  (MEND) announced they blew up pipelines operated by Shell and Italian group Agip. These fresh attacks come as a response to the Nigerian government amnesty offer. The militants released this statement:

"The Agip pipeline which connects the Agip Brass terminal was sabotaged at Nembe creek, while the Shell Nembe creek line was done at Asawo village, all in Bayelsa state."

Colonel Rabe Abubakar from the Nigerian military countered the claim by releasing his statement:

"It is out of context, MEND's assertion that it has blown up a pipeline in the area, it is yet another gimmick to claim cheap glory and also to continually portray the region as volatile".

The Age

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Egypt,Israel, and Germany reject to give Nigerian militant Henry Okah treatment

Due to conditions set by the Government of Nigeria that state Henry Okah must be returned to Nigeria after receiving treatment. Egypt, Israel, and Germany have declined to give treatment to the leader of The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) who is currently facing a secret trial in Jos,Nigeria for treason.

The last hearing of Henry Okah took place last Friday. Mr. Femi Falana, who is Mr. Okah's lawyer said it was because of Nigeria's insistence that the countries should sign an undertaking to return him to Nigeria at the completion of his treatment. The countries declined to sign any such undertaking prompting government to opt for the importation of the equipment and experts for the treatment. Mr. Falana doubts this is the right course of action.

"We are dealing with a very dangerous situation. Getting experts and equipment into the country would take several weeks for the process to complete, we are dealing with a life threatening situation as his two kidneys may pack up any moment from now."

Vanguard

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Video of R Kelly talking about his fear of flying and his relationship with Michael Jackson during visit to Nigeria

Watch R Kelly in Nigeria in Entertainment  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

In the video R&B crooner R Kelly talks about over coming his fear of flying and speaks about the personal relationship he had with recently deceased King of pop Michael Jackson.

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Football Legend Pele predicts Africa has a great chance of making it to the World Cup Final

After presenting the bid for the Rio De Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games before the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa that was held yesterday in Abuja, Nigeria. Arguably the greatest football player to play the beautiful game was kind enough to talk about Africa's chances in the 2010 World Cup. Here are quotes from the Legend:

"If you remember, ten years ago I started mentioning about how football in Africa will grow and get better and better. Africa gets a lot of players in Europe and they have a lot of experience, and with adequate preparation it will not be a surprise to see Africa in the finals or the quarter-final at the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

"You can see that at the Confederation Cup, South Africa for the first time, was at the semi-final and United States was at the final. So there are no big teams in football now. All countries are equal. Now, we have to respect the developing countries"

Pele talked about the huge salaries players get paid these days. He said there is a need for players to be committed more to their teams than allowing the love for money to dictate their movement. Pele let us know that FIFA is looking at ways of addressing the issue.

"I agree with you, in my time we needed to play for ten years to get the kind of money being paid to young players in one year today, but it is a different life at the moment. During my time we did not have big companies investing in football.

"What we discussed in the committee of FIFA was that players should be more honest to themselves and the clubs because players at the moment are in the habit of changing clubs every year. They play in Europe and the next year they are in Madrid or go to Italy or England, and the next year they change the club again. It means they don't have the love for the team but the love for money.

"So, that is what the new generation of players will have to pay attention to because no loyalty anymore, they are just looking for money, and that is the big problem we have to face in future."

Pele also answered questions pertaining to the Super Eagles:

"I've been here sometime ago, then it was a tournament in Nigeria, they had a good team and based on that, I hope Nigeria will still have a good team because the moment is very important.

"Nigerian players are good and they have excellent players in Europe and at the moment we have one year to prepare the team."

Finally, we get to find out what the Legend has been up to lately, "I am working with kids in school and also with FIFA. At the moment I am a member of the FIFA Committee; again, six years ago I was a Minister of Sports and I have continued to make friends all over the world.

Vanguard

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Nigeria lost 589,000 barrels of crude oil per day in the last two months

The Nigerian militant attacks on oil facilities in Nigeria have lead to the country's drastic cut in oil production. It's been reported by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Mr. Mohammed S Barkindo that 12 oil facilities attacked by the militants caused the shut down of 589,000 barrels per day in two months. He mentioned that the situation is getting out of control and that all major oil companies operating in the Niger Delta have been hit by the militants.

Daily Trust

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