The Niger Delta

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Scam the Scammer

This is a continuation of my post; Nigerian Scam; How it is done, where I tried to explain some of the tricks adopted by some scammers in Nigeria.

Another thing you need to know is that scammers also do business as you do it.
For example, if they send you a mail or give you a call about a business that will involve money from both of you, they will be ready to give their initial (yet small) contribution as soon as they are convinced that you have fallen for their proposals. They may not be in a hurry to wire money to you but they will do all that may be required to facilitate your sending you part.

It is interesting to know that this attribute of the scammer is their Achilles Heel!
Some people have manipulated this weakness to discourage scammers from perturbing them again.

This story is a good example:
Osy is a friend of mine whose sister lives in the UK. On one occassion, he called his sister for some goodies. Unknown to Osy, some scammers were listening and heard him made the call, so the next day, he got a call from someone who claimed to have just arrived from the UK with a package from his sister. The caller, (lets call him Scammor) then said he arrived in Lagos and had gone to his village to see his grandparents-which was, as he said, his purpose of coming home.

Scammor then said he never knew they was no bank in his village and he didn't have enough cash with him to send the package via courier services, he then requested Osy to send him Recharge Cards* worth about 5000 Naira so he could send the package to him.
But my friend was not to be fooled; he told scammor that he was in school and had very little cash with him but he could call his mother, she surely would send some money for the courier services. He then requested that scammor send him 1000 Naira Recharge Card* so he could call his mum and pass the information.
Scammor did.....
Case closed.

In situations like this, if you confirm that someone is a scam, fight back. Make them know that you are not a fool.(see what uncommon man did in his situation).

But, CONFIRM!! don't go screaming at a legit associate.

My friend, Osy, sent one last THANK YOU to scammor for helping him recharge his phone.

You can be sure that Scammor, or anyone from his camp, will not bother Osy again.



* RECHARGE CARD: Mobile phone air time cards are sometimes used for monetary transactions in Nigeria. It is sold to public phone operators for the money equivalent.

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Monday, August 28, 2006

Nigerian Bank Scam!!!

I probably would not have written this if it did not happen last week, In writing about Nigerian Scam, I always thought I could neglect the common ones and concentrate on the sophisticated ones, I never believe some people will still fall for the oldest trick in the scam books. True, they say old tricks don't get outdated, but, this was unbelievable.

Some miscreants sent mails and made calls to some unsuspecting persons abroad that they just inherted millions of US dollars from their deceased uncle who was a politician but because they are mere students they could not withdraw the money - because they could not afford to have it and they don't want the government to probe the assets of their late uncle - so they are looking for businessmen abroad who will partner with them in a phoney business and they will register with the Nigerian Business Promotion Agency, and with time, they will withdraw the money and own it and the government will not raise eye brows.


They also promised to share the loot in a specified percentage and because they were poor students, the foriegn businessmen were supposed to finance and sponsor the phoney business' registration and start-up - That money was what they were looking for.

It was to prevent such an incident that a Nigerian Bank,
Intercontinental Bank, published a post on their website warning foriegners to avoid such scam. This is a copy of what they posted:

We wish to alert the general public that some fraudsters claiming to be Directors or staff of Intercontinental Bank Plc have recently been sending phony e-mails/letters or calling unsuspecting persons, with intent to defraud them. It is important to note that these fraudsters are criminals engaged in “Advanced Fee Fraud” known in Nigeria as “419”. Typically, the fraudsters solicit assistance to remit bogus dollar deposits, in the form of large inheritances from deceased persons, large contract sums due for payments or large lotto winnings, from the bank into foreign accounts of their victims who they usually promise to share the proceeds of the scam with. Please be advised that there is absolutely no relationship between Intercontinental Bank Plc and the fraudsters claiming to be officials of the bank. The bank therefore disassociates itself from all correspondences and transactions so fraudulently contrived. Kindly discard all such fraudulent mails or calls. For more inquiries, call Corporate Affairs on 234-1-2773300, 2622930 or reach us at corporateaffairs@intercontinentalbankplc.com.

As you may have guessed, victims of this scam were trying to do illegal business and double-cross the Nigerian government,
however, that is no excuse, it is in our overall interest that people don't get scammed by Nigerians and don't become discouraged from doing legitimate business with authentic Nigerians. (See my post on Nigerian Scam)

Please help us fight this crime; get in touch with appropriate authorities in Nigeria before doing business, send this post to a friend, send me a mail, let me know how you were defrauded, I will maintain your privacy.


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Nigerian Government Revokes Oil Blocks, Prepares for Bidding Rounds

Some Multinational Oil companies operating in NIgeria have lost some of their oil blocks adjudged by the Nigerian government as not being put into use. These companies include; Chevron Nigeria Ltd and Mobil Producing Nigerian Ltd.
The federal government of Nigeria also plans to extend the mearsures to other companies that have left their oil leases dormant.
These recovered acreage will make up the basket of oil blocks for offer in the 2006 bid rounds due to commence in September.
In the Niger Delta alone, over 40 oil blocks will be put on offer in the bidding rounds.

However, the Nigerian minister of state for Petroleum, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, explained that the takeover of the leases was in a bid to maintain regular bidding rounds and that the government discuussed with the Multinational companies before the takeover.

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CHINA AND NIGERIA

In a bid to strengthen trade ties, the Chinese government has offered a soft loan of US $1 billion to the Nigerian government to expand and rehabilitate its railway system.
The US $1 billion loan from the Chinese government will mark the second involvement of China in the Nigerian railway system, it had been involved in US $ 300 Million project under the late Sani Abacha.

The project which is expected to cost about US$2.5billion has been described by the Nigerian Transport minister, Abiye Sekibo as the largest single investment by any single government in Africa. The first phase of the project will run from Lagos to Kano via Ibadan, Minna, Abuja and Kaduna.

In recent times, china, the world’s second largest oil consumer, has increased ties with some oil producing nations in a bid to diversify crude oil source.

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Nigerian Music Personality; Ebiere

There is no better personality to introduce the Arts section of my blog than the upcoming sensation - Ebiere Ogochukwu, (fondly called Ebiere) the angelic voice and face of the Niger Delta people.


Daughter of a Deacon Pastor, Ebiere grew up to discover her talents at an early age - unlike crooks on the street.
She started singing at the age of six with the children choir and by age nine, she had become a lead singer in her local church choir. She was later to become the choir director for about three years.

As a student of Theater Arts in the University of Port Harcourt, Ebiere won the Best Singer Award for three consecutive years.
In Nigeria today, she is well known for her first album Why me which made waves on its release last year.
She had also been involved in albums with the Award winning Asu Ekiye, Double Edge and U-Jeff, all top stars in Nigerian music.

At the First African Christian music Awards this year, Ebiere was voted the best female vocalist

The Bayelsa state native says she loves praying and making people happy, which explains why her songs are mostly religious and inspirational. She also said she loves being involved in the development and progress of people around her at all level.
There is no doubt this upcoming artist have taken Niger Deltan and Nigerian music to the next level.


Ebiere’s profile was gotten from an interview with the Guardian Life Magazine.

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Nigeria Exit From Bakassi, Right or Wrong?

Have you ever been given an ultimatum to vacate your house or choose another parent? No, I guess. But if you were, what would you do?

Indigenes of the Bakassi peninsula were told something like that in 2002 by the International Court of Justice when it conceded Bakassi to Cameroon,



so, what did they do?
Poor them, what can they do. The court ruling triggered a lot of agitation in Nigeria.
Indigenes could not believe it, how can they leave the country of their birth their land, lives, relations and everything?

Compare this to asking the people in Miami to leave the United States and join Cuba……of all places?

The International Court’s ruling was largely based on a pact signed between Germany and Britain in the early 20th century.

“This is neo-colonialism” an indigene was alleged to have said, “The ruling was done by people who had neither visited the peninsular nor had the courtesy of asking the opinions of the Bakassi indigenes”.

The Bakassi Indigenes, of course from the court ruling, do have options;
They can choose to remain in Bakassi and become Cameroonians or they may migrate to Nigeria with full green cards and loose their land.

The option for those who will remain may not be very juicy in the long run, not that Cameroon is not good, infant Cameroon is just like Nigeria; they both have ranked next to each other (and sometimes exchanging positions) on global corruption statistics – Worst and Second Worst.
But in the past, some of the Bakassi indigenes have helped Nigerian troops fight the Cameroonian forces over the Bakassi, now that Nigerians are gone, you don’t expect Cameroonians to just clap for them, do you?

Nigerians pleaded with the Nigerian government not to obey the International Court’s ruling.
The pleadings notwithstanding, the Nigerian government, earlier this month, announced plans to withdraw from the peninsula and on the 14th of this month, the final withdrawal from Bakassi peninsular was done.

Frustrated about their future, some of the Bakassi indigenes had earlier declared a republic of their own; if Nigeria could not help them, maybe they could help themselves. Their question; “Where is the UN? Where is Amnesty international? Don’t we have rights”?
Sure they do, you’d say, but all animals are not equal.

Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday, August 22nd said the reason for the pullout was peace, and he announced that government had commenced plans on resettling the immigrants - AFTER THE PULLOUT?

“History will remember that we opted for peace instead of war” he said, but I can only imagine the war their resettlement will cause in the region; imagine thousands of people in small tattered boats ferrying the Atlantic over to Nigeria leaving their worlds behind, on whose land will they stay?

Many have said the Nigerian government made a wrong decision, that by leaving Bakassi; it failed to live up to its responsibilities which includes; Protecting Nigerian territory and indigenes.

Let me hear from you, what would you do if you were in Bakassi, and what do you think your country would do?

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Thursday, August 24, 2006

Gas Flaring Continues in Nigera as Stakeholders Move to Shift Deadline

Shell Flare in UmuechemIt has been estimated that Nigeria is reponsible for over 70% of the world natural gas flared. Disturbed by this and in realization of its imensed benefits to a striving economy, the Nigerian government in 2001, put a deadline of 2008 for all Exploration and Production (E&P) companies operating in Nigeria to put out all flares.

The companies were also mandated to install a natural gas utilization strategy for all oil fields coming on stream thenceforth.

Most of these companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, Elf, Chevron and Addax Oryx group had commenced gas monetization projects both domestic and international aimed at putting Nigeria's natural gas to use.

However, the story started changing last year when Royal Dutch Shell, the producer of over 50% of Nigeria's over 2 million barrels daily oil production, announced that 2008 is no longer feasible, citing community disturbance and obstruction of company projects among the list of hindrances while requesting for an elongation.

The Nigerian government is yet to issue an official comment on that but it seemed Shell voiced out the intentions of other companies.

On th 31st of August this year, stakeholders in the Nigerian gas sector will be meeting in a workshop in Lagos to discuss their progress and challenges in meeting with the mandate, it is obvious that they will most likely request the government extends the deadline.

And while they continue demanding for an extension, more gas is being flared into the atmosphere causing pollution and inconvenience to the Niger Delta people most of whom are living in darkness.


Watching the resources burn It becomes more painful when you realize that the flared gas is just what they need to have electricity light.

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Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Nigerian Scam; How It Is Done

I am obliged to write a post on Nigerian scam because I am a Nigerian living in Nigeria and I don’t want my readers to be victims.

Hey! I can be beaten up for writing this but, lets do it this way, read the post, pass my blog url to the next person, don’t mention my name….ok?


This will be the first in a series about Nigerian Scam (locally called 419 – representing the section of the Nigerian constitution that condemns it)

I am writing it in response to Razib Ahmed’s post and to give an insight about this cyber-crime that has affected me too much;
The Nigerian scam has dampened internet usage in the country,
Because of Nigerian scam, I cannot do e-commerce (because most people won’t accept credit cards from Nigeria) and my mails to many people (especially to bloggers on how best to start) were ignored, because I am a Nigerian.

In his post, Razib said the two Bhutanese were scammed because they were greedy and foolish; he was right but not entirely…

Believe me, lots of people, less greedy than Razib thought, have been victims, most of them won’t speak out because people will think they were greedy and stupid, its just like a rape. Even Nigerians who have heard of it and whose relatives may have been scammed are still scammed daily.

I believe that a crime is best fought by exposing it; so, I will try as much as I can to write about this crime and their strategies as far as I know from experience and interview with scammers.

Some of them are:

Its as normal as any Business
Scammers are not fools, and they know you are not either, but they have to outwit you, so they do things you will never suspect. I know guys that spend days surfing e-bay and other e-commerce centers. They study the goods or services people sell and they know who they are that buy these goods. They surf dating sites and establish good relationships with sugar-coated words. They send business and money transfer proposals that looks authentic like what you do every day. They are as normal as you don’t expect them to be.

It need not come from Nigeria
Cyberspace has no borders and so is cyber-stealing. Successful scammer (419ers) in Nigeria have links abroad (not necessarily Nigerians) that keeps on updating them on security modifications and helps in cashing the loot. I know someone that was scammed by a Nigerian but the initial contact was in the Netherlands.

It may seem to come from a trusted friend
Some internet café in Nigeria have secretly-installed e-mail extractors, probably, contacts abroad may have them installed somewhere too, if your Nigerian partner of friend should access your business mails in an insecure café, your details can get into the wrong hands who can scam your hard-earned change from you before you find out its not your friend.

Razib also said he did not feel pity for the Bhutanese, I will ask him to. Wisdom alone is not the only means of avoiding a scam. Sometimes, even at the time you are being scammed, you will be fully aware of what you are doing.


Something needs to be mentioned here;
Not all scammers are Nigerians!
But, it's a pity that this crime may assume the name "Nigeria" for quite some time.

The bad news is: It is not ending soon.
The good news: The Nigerian government is fighting it to redeem our image abroad.
oops, too much meat for you to swallow in one bite, isn't it?

In subsequent posts, I will give details on this and the war against it.

You too can help; leave a comment on your experience and what you think about this post.
please check out this blog by a Nigerian scammer



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Monday, August 21, 2006

Gunther Grass' Revelations and World Peace.

The whole world was shoched by the revelations of the German novelist, Gunther Grass, that he was a member of the Nazi Secret Service-The Waffen SS-which was responsible for lots of attrocities during the holocaust.

In an interview with a German Newspaper, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Gunther revealed that he was conscripted into the Waffen SS at the age of 17 shortly after being rejected for submarine service.


A winner of the 1999 Nobel price for Literature, Gunther has been a leading figure in Germany. The author, who is well known for his first novel, The Tin Drum in which he describes his perspective of WWII, has been described by many as the conscience of a nation that has lots to regret, and has frequently been called the German Moral Compass. When he speaks people listen and he is known to be blunt in issues of international implications; his description of the present US president as one who likes to be seen as a "cowboy with a smoking gun in his hand in the fight against terror" is an example.

However, the author could no longer keep the secrets of his past and he revealed to the newspaper that these secrets had been weighing on his mind and was one of the reasons he wrote a book of recollections which details his war service. The book is due to be out in September.

The Waffen SS
(Armed SS) Is a notorious organization formed in 1929 to protect Hitler from the growing size and influence of the SA (Sturmabteilung) It grew into an army of over 38 divisions and a million men and was responsible for lots of attrocities of the holocaust; establishing and operating death camps, massive Jews deportation and all such holocaust stuff.

It was declared a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal during the Nuremberg trials.

Who could have imagined a future Nobel Laureate among the recruits of such a clandestine and deadly organization?

Gunther told the newspaper that he was not involved in any criminal activity while in the SS and wrote that for decades, he had been ashamed to admit what he "accepted in the stupid pride of youth".


His admission has triggered mixed reaction around the world; some have talked about "moral suicide" and a reduced influence, others have talked about an attempt to reveal information in the Nazi secret archive, and there have been at least one voice demanding that his Nobel price be rescinded.
On the other hand, some have called it an innate willingness to "free the conscience".


Despite the widespread criticism, I think Gunther Grass' admission is an apology to the whole world especially the Jewish people and other victims of the holocaust.
It invariably starts a new chapter in the history of world peace.

Imagine what will happen if world notable figures that have crimes hanging on their necks should publicly accept guilt and apologise to their victims.
Think of notable personalities that have regretable pasts... If they can be bold enough to say sorry at the expense of their personal importance like Gunther Grass', the world can be considerate enough to forgive.

In Nigeria for instance, I do feel there will be greater peace and national unity if past Heads of State such as Gen. Ibrahim Babangida should, at least, offer an explanation to allegations of crimes against humanity on them.

Also, here in Nigeria, we have a Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, whom fingers have pointed to when talking about cultism in Nigerian Universities, (and by extension, Nigerian streets) I am of the opinion that if people like him should take Gunther's lead and admit their alledged misdeeds, thinks will look better.

By virtue of this, I think Gunther Grass should no longer be called the German Compass but the world's, and instead of returning his Nobel price, I think he deserves another one....For Peace.

Or don't you think so?



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Thursday, August 17, 2006

Future World Energy Supply; Gulf of Guinea VS Arabian Gulf

President Bush's proposal to make the United States' "dependence on Middle East oil a thing of the past" has raised questions about the strategic importance of the Middle East in future energy supply.

Acording to a Nigerian newspaper-the Guardian-United States' oil import from the Gulf of Guinea has increased by 33% since 1999, while that from the Middle East has decreased considerably. With countries like Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and even Mauritania in the Gulf of Guinea recording new discoveries while embracing democracy, the region has been attracting increasing Western attention over the last decade.

Dr. Edmond Daukoru, the OPEC president and also Nigeria's minister of state for Petroleum, said recentley in a confrence hosted by the Nigerian section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, (SPE) that export from the Gulf of Guinea to the United States, which is dominated by Nigeria, is about 18% at present and is expected to rise to over 25% in the next decade.
In the light of this, there have been a debate within the informed public about the continuous significance of the Arabian and Persian Gulf amid growing attractions to West Africa in terms of short and long term energy supply.


Some of the arguments are presented here;


For The Gulf of Guinea
A publication from the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) gives an insight;

  • Oil from the Gulf of Guinea is light and less sticky than the stuff from the Middle East.
  • Most of the oil is in offshore locations where the natives won't notice it being taken, unlike the Middle East where oil is being pumped right in front of Wahhabi fundamentalists who are prone to cause trouble.
  • Most Western countries seem to have a good relationship with oil producing countries in the Gulf of Guinea.

For the Middle East

Some industry analysts have quelled hopes of a growing West Africa importance. Some of their points are;

  • If violence is the major thing pursuing the West from the Middle East, then it is not in short supply in the Gulf of Guinea. Recent events in the Niger Delta can attest to this. (See my post on Hostage taking in the Niger Delta)
  • The strong relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia may not be comparable with the United States' relations with any Afrcan country at present.
  • The 60 billion barrels of reserve in the Gulf of Guinea is not much when compared with the 250 billion barrels in Saudi Arabia alone!

The debate rages one....

Join in and send you comment on what you think the future will be in terms of petroleum supply to the developed world.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

What you need to know for a successful business in the Niger Delta

So you have decided to do business in the Niger Delta, eh? You have weighed the options and concluded that the benefits outweigh the turbulence in the region. Of course, violence is not restricted to the Niger Delta alone, it is even worse in most other places.
If your answer is yes, then I will assume that you have made all the preliminary business arrangements; you have gotten a Nigerian partner and have confirmed that (s)he is not a fraud and have registered with the Nigerian investment promotion commission. (contact the Nigerian embassy in your country for further details)

In addition to the preliminaries, there are some basic things you need to know and apply to achieve what you want in the Niger Delta, some of these are;


  • Get a Reliable Local Liaison

Of course you have a Nigerian partner and you have been assured of his expertise and experience in your area of investment, but in most cases, these partners are not resident in the Niger Delta region and may not fully understand the intricacies of loyalties and allegiance. Make sure your local partner has hired a Community Liaison Officer that understands the domestic politics, has access to the community and youth organizations and will be able to broker a lasting deal. In addition, don't get a CLO without the approval of the community leaders and youth organizations.

  • Come with a human face

If you read articles on the Niger Delta, especially from this blog, you will understand that the Niger Delta is really deprived and under-developed and that the inhabitants need more of your empathy than your money.

You have to show a genuine understanding for their situation and make plans to accommodate your required contributions.

  • Don't Over-Estimate the Police

The Nigerian police is doing its best to protect people, and maintain law and order. However, it will not be advisable to believe that they have all the control over the Niger Delta at this time.

  • Settle the Youths

Youth organizations in the Niger Delta have evolved over the years into a formidable force. What do you expect when unemployment rate is high and there is much neglect.

Ultimately, it will not be wise for an investor to neglect them!

Get in touch with their representatives, liaise with them, settle them

After all, they may be the ones to kidnap or cause trouble for you, not the government.

  • Try dialogue first, before...

In the past few years there has not been a very friendly relationship between the Nigeria Armed Forces and Communities in this region. Consequently, the natives tend to perceive companies that opt for military involvement as being high-handed and the result may have unpleasant ramifications.

In moments of turbulence, don't be in a hurry to get military security, try to get the State government, community heads, youth leaders and other stake holders to settle the scuffle.

  • Learn the Nigerian Pidgin English

The Nigerian people have evolved a form of English language that is easily understood and spoken by them as a panacea for communication amid diverse ethnic languages and as leverage for non-literates that may not fully understand the formal English language. Understanding this form of English will facilitate easy and direct community relations.

Well, That's that. I hope it doesn't scare you. as you will find out, the Niger Delta is still one of the best places for business and vacation in the world.

Having spent almost all my life here, I am writing this from personal experience and observations and from discussion with youths in the region. of course, this is not all you need for success. That depends, among other things, on your business plans and intentions. But if you get to the roots of things and observe these few tips, you are not likely to stray from your target.

Sorry, one more thing...

Don't think your country or the Nigerian government can always protect you.

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Hostage-Taking in the Niger Delta; An American Company prepares to quit

Last week, after two separate incidents in which six oil company workers were kidnapped in Rivers and Bayelsa States, an American company operating in the region-Willbros Nigeria Ltd-says it has had enough. According to a statement by the company's President and Chief Operating Officer, Randy Harl, the company has concluded plans on exiting the country, he said the company has suffered losses of more over $37 million to kidnappings, hostage-taking and community related incidences.

The kidnapping came at the wake of increased violent activities in the Niger Delta. Just two days earlier, three expatriates working for a construction company in Port Harcourt were kidnapped on their way to work making the third hostage-taking incident in one week. A previously unknown group-Movement of the Niger Delta People (MONDP)-has claimed responsibility for the abductions and have gone further to release two Philipinos in their custody.

Earlier this week, The Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, held a meeting with representatives of oil companies in the state (including Willbros) and the nation's security operatives to discuss the security of company personnel. The outcome of the meeting was not made known to the public but sources say the companies were happy with the Governor's concern. It is not yet known if the Governor has made Willbros change its mind but the company announced that it has already put up its facilities in the country for sale.

Why has Wilbros failed?
As Wilbros gears to leave, some wonder if this is an unhappy consequence of a failed community relations policy. A look into the company's history kind of suggest this assertion. Willbros had not learnt the nitty-gritty of doing business in the Niger Delta or it did not learn to adjust to dynamic community reactions. (See my post on tips on doing business in the Niger Delta)
In 1999, Choba, Wilbros' host community, picked a quarrel with the company over community development projects. they claimed that Wilbros had polluted the river on which their major source of livelihood-fishing-depends and that in return, Wilbros had not provided jobs for their teaming youths they also were not happy with the fact that they had had to live in darkness being content only with reflections of electricity lights from Willbros' facilities.
On its part, Willbros ran to the Nigerian military for security and the outcome was one of the bloodiest clashes in Nigeria's history.


Also, observers have raised concerns about Wilbros' Personnel Security Strategies. The company pays in cash instead of through the banks and many a times workers have complained of robbers waiting at their door steps right after recieving their pay packages. Last year, I witness a robbery incident on the company that left two persons dead and three others seriously injured.

What next?
As Willbros prepares to leave, I can only imagine the impact of this on hundreds of their employees, in a country saturated with unemployment, this does not seem to be a good development. Some people have wondered if this should be the expected future trend...Could this mark the beginning of the end of onshore oil exploration in the region?

Send in your comments and opinions and let the world know what you feel the future holds for the region.

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Monday, August 14, 2006

Welcome Message

Hello everyone,

My name is Emeka Agbata, I just did my graduation from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. I did a dual major in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering and, along with engineering, I also took some courses on Literature. Some time ago, I was introduced to the world of blogging, since I have a fancy for writing and having had some of works published in some technical journals and local publications, I decided to use this medium to bring my environment to

Niger Delta of Nigerathe rest of the world.


I live in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, and you may have heard that it is one of the hottest Petroleum play ground on the globe!
Also, Nigeria is the largest black nation and it represents a large chunk of African life. On this site, I will keep you abreast with events in Nigeria with special focus on the Niger delta region.

Nigeria is a growing nation in a crucial stage of its development, it is also drawing international attention, not only in terms of oil exploration, but other investment opportunities which will be continuosly highlighted on this blog site. I feel specially priviledged to be a Nigerian blogger at this stage of our development.


I hope this does not disappoint you, I am not a proffessional writer, I only had some of my writings published in some local publications, but you don't need a PhD in English to tell a story, do you?


Of course, writing involves more than that, but as a saying goes in my native language; "It's not the skill but the spirit", I know that passion and consistency are all that one needs to keep going.


For the last few weeks, I have been reading lots of blog posts and I feel honored to join this growing world of cyber-literature.


However, there are about six billion of us in this world, I don't expect everyone to agree with everything I write and, oh how boring it will be if you all agree, but you can make me believe yours, please leave a comment to the posts you see here, my only wish is that have a good time visiting this site.

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