NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Why must we always subject ourselves to others standards? Is it a problem of a sense of national inferiority complex or rather because we dont know what is good for us Nigerians, collectively and as individuals.

Everywhere you turn there are good people and very terrible ones too, this is not a trait exclusive to Nigerians only.

On forums a lot of people have taken it upon themselves to be the Nigerian BASHERS, YOU NAME IT, THEY BASH IT! If it is Nigerian or has anything to do with Niaja these bashers will take their hammers to it, my question is why?

Good things are happenig in Nigeria and will continue to happen, regardless of what the crooks and shysters in the corridors of power are doing.

As a Nigerian I refuse to be apologise for others actions, I refuse to wear and shame tag, I have one life to live and I INTEND TO LIVE IT TO THE FULL.

Author unknown
Jan 2004

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

620km Gas Pipeline Begins Supply Dec.

Vanguard
Hector Igbikiowubo
November 2007

After several months of delay, the multi-million dollars 620-kilometre West African Gas Pipeline is set to commence gas supplies from Nigeria to the neighbouring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana as the march towards economic integration gathers momentum.

Mr Aderemi Oladapo, General Manager in charge of Operations of the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAGPCo), speaking at a sensitisation workshop organised by the company for stakeholders in Tema, Ghana explained that natural gas was expected to start flowing through the West Africa Gas pipeline project from Nigeria to Ghana from December 23 this year. He said it would take four days for the gas to flow through the lines before reaching Ghana. This follows the completion of the installation of the offshore segment of the gas pipeline by WAGPCo, which is currently conducting safety awareness campaigns across the sub-region in readiness for its take-off.

Oladapo said a burst on the pipeline in Cotonou, Benin contributed to the delay of the completion of the project, but this has been rectified. He was optimistic that gas would definitely flow through the line soon. He pointed out the need for stakeholders to educate their staff to observe safety measures at sea and ensure compliance with identified safety precautions, adding that a colossal amount was spent in repairing the lines. He also said WAPCo would periodically organise series of such fora in the sub-region to remind stakeholders of the need to protect the lines.

Mr Opare Addo Nketsia, Technician Operator said WAGPCo conducted risk assessments posed by shipping and the collected data within the sub-region showed that fishermen were the worse offenders in the destruction of the equipment. He mentioned possible causes of pipeline damage as the Ship Anchor Drag, illegal fishing method such as using dynamites, bottom trawling by inshore fishing boats as well as sabotage. He advised officials in the maritime industry to be cautious in their operations to prolong the life-span of the pipelines, Nketsia stressed the need for Naval Personnel to monitor the coastline to ensure that fishing activities do not damage the pipelines.

Mr E. Oseni, Operations Supervisor warned that any damage to the pipelines would create socio-economic set back to the nation and the region and cautioned that disasters could occur through fire and loss of buoyancy. To ensure absolute safety, Mr Oseni advised maritime officials to strictly adhere to the regulations and not to operate close to the boundary areas, which is between 42 and 72 meters depth and two to four nautical miles away from the line.

Participating countries operating the Gas Pipeline Project are Nigeria, which is the source, Benin, Togo and Ghana. Participating stakeholders included fire personnel, officials from the fishing companies and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

A study, commissioned by Chevron, estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 primary sector jobs will be created in the region by WAGP. New power supplies, fuelled by gas from the project, will stimulate the growth of new industry. The industrial growth has the potential to spawn an additional 30,000-60,000 secondary jobs. In addition to the $1 billion in investment (WAGP and power facilities) already projected, the study sees approximately $800 million in new industrial investment occurring in the region.

The World Bank estimates that Benin, Togo and Ghana can save nearly $500 million in energy costs over a 20-year period as WAGP-supplied gas is substituted for more expensive fuels in power generation. Ghana estimates that it will save between 15,000-20,000 barrels per day of crude oil by taking gas from the WAGP to run its power plants.

Chevron has signed a 20-year agreement to supply natural gas, via the WAGP, to a 220-MW power plant proposed in Tema, Ghana. Under terms of the contract, the plant will receive 40 Mmcf/d of natural gas. It is also possible that the WAGP will be extended to markets in Cote d'Ivoire. Speculation has the WAGP eventually terminating in Senegal, but the current regional stability problems of several countries (Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) that lie on the way to Senegal, will hinder any further extension of the WAGP.

Copyright © 2007 Vanguard
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

3,500 Chadian Refugees Arrive in Nigeria

The Punch By Agency reporter
Wednesday, 6 Feb 2008

About 3,500 refugees fleeing the fighting in Chad have arrived in Nigeria, immigration officials said on Tuesday.

According to a report by the AFP, the refugees, mostly women, children and the elderly, began crossing the border on Monday after a weekend of heavy fighting between government forces and rebels in and around the Chadian capital, Ndjamena.

“We have received over 3,500 refugees,” Madu Musa, a local border immigration official told AFP on the phone. “We can’t turn these people back on humanitarian grounds. All we require is for them to identify their nationality to know whom we are dealing with,” Musa said.

The Chadians said they had fled in fear of their lives. “We are afraid fighting can resume at any moment,” said Ismail Hamissou, who fled with his wife and 62-year old mother. Many said they had left all their possessions behind.

“I thank God to have escaped with my life from Ndjamena although I have lost all I strived for in 23 years,” said another arrival, Ahmad Iddris. “I shivered when I saw the decomposing bodies littering the streets of Ndjamena,” Iddris, who lost his textile shop to looters, said.

The Nigeria’s refugees commission has expressed its willingness to settle the refugees. “We have made provision for between 5,000 and 10,000 refugees because they are still coming and we know we will have a large number to cater for in the coming days”, said Ramat Ladi Usman, Borno state liaison officer for the National Commission for Refugees.

“What we have here is a sorry situation. Most of the refugees are women, children and the elderly who look tired and hungry,” she added.
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Obasanjo Begins UN Mission on DR Congo Truce

17th Nov. '08

UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, former Nigeri an President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday arrived in Luanda, Angola, to commence formal consultations on resolving the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). UN deputy spokesperson Marie Okabe said in New York, that Obasanjo, who was recently appointed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, met with Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. She said that the envoy will later proceed to Kinshasa for a meeting with DRC President Joseph Kabila and followed by weekend discussions in the North Kivu capital, Goma.

Fighting broke out recently in the eastern part of the DRC between government forces and rebels led by renegade Gen. Laurent Nkunda, leading to the displacement of thousands of civilians. The conflict had claimed hundreds of lives. Okabe said that the meetings, which are the first round of his consultations, will kick start Obasanjo's assignment in the region.

On 7 November in Nairobi, Kenya, a special summit of the leaders of the Great Lakes region was held to discuss the crisis in the DRC. During the meeting, Ban presented his newly-appointed Special Envoy to the African leaders. He had urged them "to work very closely with him (Obasanjo) to reach comprehensive and durable solutions to the problems created by the continued existence and destructive activities of the illegal armed groups''. "It is through direct and frank discussions between you, the Heads of State of the region, that the most effective remedies will be found," he noted. Also, in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders called on the warring factions to cease fighting immediately.

It also called on the UN to strengthen the mandate of the peacekeeping forces in the DRC and provide adequate resources to contain the volatile situation. "The Great Lakes region will not stand by to witness incessant and destructive acts of violence by any armed group against innocent people of the DRC; if and when necessary the Great Lakes region will send peacekeeping forces into the North K ivu Province of the DRC," the leaders said.

The meeting appealed to the UN and all humanitarian agencies who have shown support for the victims of violence to continue to sustain and increase their support until the human tragedy is stopped. The leaders agreed to set up a mechanism and process that will involve all the leaders of the region under the chairmanship of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. The committee also included Obasanjo and the former President of Tanzania, Banjamin Mkapa, who will serve as facilitators.

The meeting was summoned by the UN chief and was attended by presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. The Chairman of the AU Commission, Jean Ping; U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Fraser; British Minister for Africa, Malloch-Brown; French Minister of State for Cooperation and Francophone, Alain J oyandet and Louis Michel representing the European Union, also attended the Nairobi meeting.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm