Ever fancied having you own oil supply on tap? Nigerian security forces have discovered a pipeline they say was used by a powerful Niger Delta gang leader to steal petroleum products from a state oil refinery. The pipeline runs from the refinery in Port Harcourt through a secret camp in the creeks of Rivers state … Read More
Nigeria “wasted” 30 years of oil income, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn said yesterday as he warned the country against the dangers of neglecting the non-oil sectors of its economy. “Nigeria has had 40 years of oil but for the first 30 years it wasted the proceeds from that oil,” … Read More
Although Nigeria passed legislation last year establishing an independent body the to make sure that oil majors pay the necessary royalties and taxes, anti-corruption activists are saying the law is not strong enough to fully clean the industry. Under the law – the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) – oil companies are required to … Read More
Nigerian police have accused a detained rebel leader from the oil-producing Niger Delta of killings, arms dealing, oil smuggling and other crimes, raising the prospect of a trial that could destabilise the area. Henry Okah was extradited from Angola to Nigeria a week ago and uncertainty over his fate has already increased tensions in Delta. … Read More
Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’Adua has called on the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to do more to help local people ahead of drawing up a bill to reform the country’s oil industry. “I urge you to further commit to working diligently to ensure that the oil and gas industry is directed towards meeting … Read More
Finally, some fifty years too late. Nigeria has said that oil companies should be obliged to pay compensation for degradation resulting from their exploration and production activities particularly in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. “The companies have an obligation beyond their exploration and production to restore degraded land to its original state,” junior petroleum minister … Read More
You can see why Alaska is so attractive for Shell. Its only got a few polar bears in its way, rather than thousands of locals who oppose its operations. The company’s Nigerian arm said that 130,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude output was halted because of leaks on the Nembe Creek pipeline in the … Read More
The growing row between Shell and the Nigerian Government over financing has taken a turn for the worse. The Nigerian Government has now scrapped an oil bonus scheme that rewarded Shell in a further escalation of the confrontation between the two sides.
George Clooney may be one of the most expensive actors on the planet, who has recently tackled some difficult subjects in his films, but is he up for this one? The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), from the Niger Delta has asked Clooney to visit the impoverished region, under his mandate … Read More
Last October the Government of Nigeria gave the multinational oil companies in the country a firm ultimatum: “The Federal Government policy to stop gas flaring commences on Jan. 1, 2008, and any company which flares gas after that time would be shut down.” Well guess what, the flares are still burning. Responding to pressure from … Read More
