News Update

News in the Oil-rich Region of Nigeria

20 Dec. 2008
The News
Pirates Kill Boat Captain
Gunmen in speedboats attacked three oil services ships and kidnapped at least two Russians in separate incidents in Nigeria 's Niger Delta, private security and industry sources said on Saturday. The Falcon Crest and Falcon Wings were attacked late on Friday off the coast of southern Nigeria 's Akwa Ibom state near crude oil facilities operated by Canada 's Addax Petroleum. A Filipino Captain on one of the vessels was killed, one security source said. The gunmen were believed to have fled to nearby Cameroonian waters. No group has claimed responsibility. Akwa Ibom, which shares a border with Cameroon, has seen an increase in piracy and kidnappings in the past few months. Nigeria handed over the nearby oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon four months ago, angering many Nigerians whose families have since resettled in Akwa Ibom. Militants in the area have objected to the August 14 transfer, which complied with a World Court ruling. Friday's attacks took place in the offshore area known as OML 123, referring to the 370 sq-km license area controlled by Addax. Six similar incidents occurred earlier this year, the most recent two weeks ago, a security source said.Addax and police officials were not immediately available for comment. A third ship, operated by Nigerian oil company Monipulo, was attacked by pirates early on Saturday near the Abana offshore oilfields, located close to the Nigeria-Cameroon border. Gunmen in speedboats also attacked a housing compound and kidnapped two Russians working for an aluminum company in the port town of Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom early on Saturday, security sources said. The two Russians worked for Nigeria 's sole aluminum smelter plant ALSCON, which is owned by the world's largest aluminum producer Russia 's United Company RUSAL. The Russian firm confirmed its workers were kidnapped.Piracy is common in the Gulf of Guinea off Nigeria 's Atlantic coast while attacks on oil industry facilities and kidnappings for ransom are frequent in the creeks of the Niger Delta, home to Africa 's biggest oil and gas industry. The militants say they are fighting for a fairer share of the region's natural resources. Criminal gangs also fund themselves through the theft of crude oil and ransoms.Hundreds of foreigners have been seized in the region since early 2006, most of whom have been released unharmed. The insecurity has cut Nigeria 's oil output, which averages around 2 million barrels per day, by a fifth over the past three years.

The News
Gunmen Kidnap Russians
Two workers of a Russian aluminium company have been kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria , the company says. A statement from UC Rusal said the pair, workers at the Alscon aluminium smelter, were snatched in the town of Ikot Abasi in the Niger Delta. Reports said gunmen in speedboats attacked the residential compound in the middle of the night. The Russians' whereabouts were unknown, Itar-Tass news agency reported. Attacks on foreigners are common in Nigeria . A statement from UC Ruscal said: "The two employees of the company were kidnapped. The company is taking all necessary measures to free the hostages as soon as possible."More than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped by militants in the Niger Delta, the heart of the country's oil industry, since 2006. A collapse in law and order has allowed armed groups to make a living extorting money from oil companies that have to keep their operations going, correspondents say.

The News
Militants 'training 1,000 new recruits'
In what could signal fresh trouble in Nigeria 's oil producing Niger Delta region, the country's military said Friday that militant groups in the region are training 1,000 new recruits at a camp in South-west Ondo state. A spokesman for the military Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the restive region, Lt.-Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement that the training was being funded by oil thieves, who are angered by the military's stepped up campaign to stop oil bunkering (stealing). He said the new recruits were being trained "in long range shooting, handling of various sophisticated weapons and the use of explosives alike." The military spokesman said the training was aimed at raising the number needed for the militants "to renew hostilities and cause unnecessary tension in the Niger Delta and also to further derail the relative peace already being enjoyed by the people of Bayelsa and Delta States ."The allegation could not be independently confirmed, but militants and the military have always traded accusations on the situation in the oil region, where militant attacks have slashed Nigeria 's oil production by one fifth.

The News
FG Threatens to Stop British Airways Flights
The Federal Government yesterday ordered the management of British Airways in Nigeria to, within one week, revert to its approved scheduled flights into Lagos or have its operations grounded. The new Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba gave the order in a press statement released in Abuja yesterday. Omotoba who assumed office two days ago, said British Airways had been operating against industry regulations "and in a manner, which is inimical to Nigeria 's airspace safety and security." Omotoba's order is a fall out from reports that British Airways is operating unscheduled flights "which are against airline regulations and security of the airspace." The statement said further that the minister gave the airline a one week ultimatum to ensure that all its flights into Lagos arrive latest, 6 p.m. (1800 hours) local time." The Honorable Minister has therefore directed that one week from today, precisely Fridays 26th of December 2008, all British Airways flights into Lagos must arrive latest at 6 p.m. (1800 Hours) local time." Omotoba instructed British Airways' present schedule, which brings passengers into Lagos at unholy hours must stop henceforth." All international flights should arrive Nigeria latest at 6.00 p.m. for the comfort and safety of air travellers," it said. British Airways has in the last two months rescheduled its departure time for outbound flight to Lagos from Heathrow Terminal 5 to 1. 55 p.m. Since the development, the airline has been arriving Lagos at between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. at night. As a result, most passengers don't get to leave the airport till between 10 and 11 p.m., after waiting to pick up their luggage. Industry sources explained the decision by the airline to reschedule their flights arose from a cost and union issue which has remained unresolved for sometime. Prior to the rescheduling, when the airline arrived at approximately the same time as other international airlines, its crew members who stay at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos found it impossible to secure rooms once they arrived the hotel. This stemmed from the fact that the British Airways crew that had arrived the night prior, do not have to check out until about 10 p.m. in the evening in preparation for their departure time from Lagos . As such, the new crew that flew into Lagos was always made to wait for several hours in the lobby until their rooms were made available. Meanwhile, the management of Sheraton Hotel which was aware of the problem, made it clear that more rooms could only be made available to arriving crew members if British Airways was willing to book additional rooms for them to check into on arrival.But British Airways balked at the idea of booking another set of rooms at a time most airlines worldwide are adopting cost cutting measures to stem their declining fortunes. However, British Airways' decision to get around the problem by rescheduling its flights to arrive late in evening has now placed the lives of its Nigerian passengers in danger, making them more susceptible to attacks by armed robbers. In a related development, Omotoba in his first official duty will today re-open Runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos . The reopening of Runway 18L, designated for local flight operations, will bring smiles to the faces of domestic flight operators in the aviation industry. The runway was closed for rehabilitation for over two years, forcing domestic operators to take-off and land at Runway 18R designated for international operations. Domestic carriers spend millions of naira daily, because about 30 litres of aviation fuel is burnt on the two kilometer taxiway to the international runway. The delays caused by the movement to runway 18R and the attendant costs will now become a thing of the past. A senior official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who confirmed the reopening said that a test-run was carried out yesterday with Arik Air aircraft and the runway was certified okay by engineers for flight operations.