In an attack on the rig Bulford Dolphin by militants 3 people were kidnapped, including one expatriate. The Bulford dolphin was attacked in June last year and extra security measures were put in place, but it seems the militants took control of a supply boat and used that to gain access to the rig. As the elections grow closer the danger to expatriates increases. Doubtless there will be calls for helicopters to be sent to villages carrying Presidential candidates or their supporters, but if the managements of aero and Bristow have any sense of responsibility for their expat employees they will not allow flights to any 'bush' locations.
Sadly, Nigeria has been subverted by its riches. According to a report in a recent issue of National Geographic, in a recent United Nations report, Africa's most populous nation has gone from being self-sufficient in food to having an import debt and even has to import the bulk of its fuel because its refineries are nearly always broken down. According to that UN report in terms of quality of life, Nigeria rates below all other major oil nations, from Libya to Indonesia. Its annual per capita income of $1,400 is less than that of Senegal which exports mainly fish and ground-nuts. Naturally the financially and morally bankrupt government tries to shift the blame for this from itself to the oil majors. Whilst they are undoubtedly complicit with the governments, both military and civil, for the state of the country, the major blame rests with the government itself as it receives the income from the oil and then steals it
. If anyone believes that the government will come to their aid and help them if they work there as an expatriate and subsequently fall in harms way, they are living in a dream world. the government of Nigeria and the oil companies operating there don't give a tuppeny damn about the expatriates who help make all the profits for them to steal. They will only care if their share of the plunder is reduced. So, if you're working in Nigeria, make sure that your company has a clearly laid out policy, on paper, of its duty of care to you. If not, you have no real security at all. In the present situation, whilst our professional lives may be safety driven, our personal lives (on site) should be security driven and excuses of cost should not be accepted as they are a minor part of the overall cost of operating in Nigeria
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