Ex-Militants' Training - FG Dissatisfied With Oil Companies' Contributions

allAfrica
1 April 2012

Ex-Militants' Training - FG Dissatisfied With Oil Companies' Contributions

The Federal Government is dissatisfied with the training of ex-militants by multinational oil companies, an official said on Sunday in Lagos.  Mr Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Matters, said this at an investiture organised in his honour.  He said the companies failed to train 3,000 ex-militants at they pledged but rather gave insufficient training 1,200.
Kuku said that the training given to 1,200 was not relevant to the petroleum industry.

Ex-Militants Bomb Five Agip Oil Wells

allAfrica
2 April 2012

Ex-Militants Bomb Five Agip Oil Wells

While Christians trooped to the churches, yesterday, to mark Palm Sunday in commemoration of the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, suspected ex-militants stormed the National Agip Oil Company, NAOC, with explosives and bombed five cluster oil wells belonging to the company.
The oil wells, according to information available to Vanguard, are located between River Niger and Tailor creek in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It was reliably gathered that the bombing of the oil wells was led by an ex-militant leader, identified as "Commander" Cairo.

Dokubo vows to prevent rigging of Edo governorship poll

The Nation
2 April 2012

Dokubo vows to prevent rigging of Edo governorship poll
Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokunbo has vowed to lead his members to Edo State on July 14 to ensure that one-man-one-vote prevails during the gubernatorial election.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party must not be allowed to rig its way back to power in the state.

Ex-militants disrupt Mobil’s operation

The Nation
3 April 2012
Ex-militants disrupt Mobil’s operation

REPENTANT ex-militants yesterday disrupted operations at Mobil Producing Nigeria’s Qua Iboe Terminal following a protest that lasted for more than five hours.  The youths, who claimed to be Ex-Niger Delta Agitators, blocked the access road to Qua Iboe Terminal in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, thus denying members of staff of Mobil and expatriates access to the oil field.

Nigeria: Shell workers 'blocked' by protesters

Nigeria: Shell workers 'blocked' by protesters

BBC News
3 April 2012

Hundreds of Nigerian protesters blocked waterways in the Niger Delta to prevent Shell workers from reaching oil rigs. One protester said they wanted to remind Shell of its responsibilities to the local Nembe Island community, which needs electricity and other amenities.

Okonjo-Iweala not pursuing the World Bank’s top job

Elombah.com

22 March 2012

Okonjo-Iweala not pursuing the World Bank’s top job       

Amidst reports that Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo are set to be nominated to lead the World Bank, Elombah.com sought to verify from Mrs Iwealla herself whether she is leaving Nigeria for the world bank's top job. While the Minister was too busy to speak to us on time, elombah.com succeeded in chatting with Paul Nwabuikwu, her spokesman.

The following discssion ensued:

Elombah.com: Is the Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pursuing the World Bank’s top job?

Nwabuikwu: Not at all. She has not put herself forward and she is not purusing any such position. The campaign is the initiative of EDs from Africa, emerging markets and other developing countries who believe this is the best time to end the 60 year domination of the WB presidency by the US and allow Okonjo-Iweala and other highly qualified persons to contest. They have asked the president in line with tradition to give his blessing. It is a great honour that a citizen of this country is attracting this kind of passionate support across the globe but we need to keep in mind the fundamental fact that America still has the best chance of producing the next WB president because of her clout and Europe's likely support...

Elombah.com: Thanks...but will she accept the post if offered?

Nwabuikwu: She is focused on her current job...

Elombah.com: Thank you, your feedback is quite appreciated.

Nominations are due Friday at the World Bank for candidates to succeed president Robert Zoellick, who is stepping down at the end of his term in June.

Jonathan Hits Back At ACN Over Koluama Gas Explosion

allAfrica
20 March 2012

Jonathan Hits Back At ACN Over Koluama Gas Explosion:

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday faulted the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN's) criticism of his handling of the recent Koluama oil fire incident. It would be recalled that the ACN had stated that "the response of the government has deepened the pains of the residents and raised the fears that they could face a repeat of the 1953 disaster that wiped off the ancient Koluama community".