What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
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PH Abductions
If anyone stopped a Bristow employee in a nightclub and asked him who he was working for and found out it was Bristow they would probably dash him a few Naira in sympathy!!!!!!!
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In another life I was accosted by a 'Saigon Cowboy' on Tu Do Street when he was trying the old trick of selling me a fat roll of bills that was actually just a few piastres wrapped around plain paper.
It was just too tedious trying to get this guy off my back in the usual way so that I just looked at him wide-eyed and said, 'But, but, that is ILLEGAL!' He gave me a look of pure disgust and walked off, not wanting to have anything more to do with such an obvious idiot.
So here perhaps people should all sport 'Porsche Drivers Club' tee-shirts and buttonhole the most menacing guy in the bush bar to tell him about the pure pleasure of driving the second-best, semi-high-performance touring car on the market today for as long as that takes. Subjectively that would be days, in reality about thirty minutes to one hour. That could work the same way sporting a snazzy black-and-white paint job does for the skunk.
It was just too tedious trying to get this guy off my back in the usual way so that I just looked at him wide-eyed and said, 'But, but, that is ILLEGAL!' He gave me a look of pure disgust and walked off, not wanting to have anything more to do with such an obvious idiot.
So here perhaps people should all sport 'Porsche Drivers Club' tee-shirts and buttonhole the most menacing guy in the bush bar to tell him about the pure pleasure of driving the second-best, semi-high-performance touring car on the market today for as long as that takes. Subjectively that would be days, in reality about thirty minutes to one hour. That could work the same way sporting a snazzy black-and-white paint job does for the skunk.
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anjouan, I guess there have been a lot of posts lately as I think you'll find it was PW who posted about that, though it was an excusable mistake as I believe that early radio broadcasts had mistakenly broadcast the misinformation.
Well at least now CHC has an excuse not to improve any leisure transport as nobody will be able to have any with a company curfew in place
I see that Shell has now banned business visits by all expatriates to Port Harcourt except with the permission of the Nigerian MD or his deputy. Even non-expatriates can only visit on critical business. They will not allow any expatriate to be lodged in a hotel in Port Harcourt and all their families are restricted to travel on the roads between 0700 and 1700 and then only between the Shell residential area and the Industrial area or the airport. Does this mean that all the Bristow guys flying for Shell and lodged in a local hotel will now be given housing on the Shell Residential area? It's probably about as likely as corruption in Nigeria finishing by the weekend
.
In all fairness, the Governor of Rivers State called a meeting with many local expat managers and asked them to impose a temporary curfew on their expatriate staff and an announcement that members of the SSS are now in Port Harcourt and setting up a unit to handle abduction emergencies. I get the feeling that the government is getting seriously worried about the number of key expats considering leaving, coupled with the pullout of willbors from Nigeria and Julius Berger from the Delta areas, which will have a serious short-term impact on onshore oil related operations.
Well at least now CHC has an excuse not to improve any leisure transport as nobody will be able to have any with a company curfew in place
I see that Shell has now banned business visits by all expatriates to Port Harcourt except with the permission of the Nigerian MD or his deputy. Even non-expatriates can only visit on critical business. They will not allow any expatriate to be lodged in a hotel in Port Harcourt and all their families are restricted to travel on the roads between 0700 and 1700 and then only between the Shell residential area and the Industrial area or the airport. Does this mean that all the Bristow guys flying for Shell and lodged in a local hotel will now be given housing on the Shell Residential area? It's probably about as likely as corruption in Nigeria finishing by the weekend
.In all fairness, the Governor of Rivers State called a meeting with many local expat managers and asked them to impose a temporary curfew on their expatriate staff and an announcement that members of the SSS are now in Port Harcourt and setting up a unit to handle abduction emergencies. I get the feeling that the government is getting seriously worried about the number of key expats considering leaving, coupled with the pullout of willbors from Nigeria and Julius Berger from the Delta areas, which will have a serious short-term impact on onshore oil related operations.
Now that is a grand idea.....a curfew for the victims. How's the boys doing self catering supposed to do their shopping and work as well. It was a pain in the butt before but now takes on even more hassle.
At least the company bars will be doing a boom time business until the beer stocks run out then it will be a crisis sure enough.
At least the company bars will be doing a boom time business until the beer stocks run out then it will be a crisis sure enough.
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For the fun of a polite discussion.
SASless,
You have previously expressed the strong desire for Democracy and Freedom and have recently asked for a way forward. Here is a concept for consideration.
The fundamentals of the concept are currently referred to by the names; Participatory Democracy, Direct Democracy, Referendum, Plebiscite; and even Electronic Communism.
The exponential growth of personal computers and the Internet should allow a system where every person in a country would have a direct vote, on every issue. They could give proxy to another person to vote in their behalf. However, the system would have the automatic ability to replace the proxy vote by a direct vote, should the person wish to be assured that his vote was used in a specific way on a specific issue.
There would initially be problems, like there were in California with the early plebiscites. These initial problems would probably be no worse than those that are currently made by elected officials. The people would soon realize the power that they held and they would start to apply a more serious consideration to the votes that they made. There would still be a need for government employees, but no need for politicians.
Perhaps, companies would have a vote. Perhaps, the number of votes that a person or company has is dependant upon the amount of tax that they pay.
The above is a very simplistic overview, but, perhaps it is time for advanced societies to consider alternatives to the current system.
Dave
You have previously expressed the strong desire for Democracy and Freedom and have recently asked for a way forward. Here is a concept for consideration.
The fundamentals of the concept are currently referred to by the names; Participatory Democracy, Direct Democracy, Referendum, Plebiscite; and even Electronic Communism.
The exponential growth of personal computers and the Internet should allow a system where every person in a country would have a direct vote, on every issue. They could give proxy to another person to vote in their behalf. However, the system would have the automatic ability to replace the proxy vote by a direct vote, should the person wish to be assured that his vote was used in a specific way on a specific issue.
There would initially be problems, like there were in California with the early plebiscites. These initial problems would probably be no worse than those that are currently made by elected officials. The people would soon realize the power that they held and they would start to apply a more serious consideration to the votes that they made. There would still be a need for government employees, but no need for politicians.
Perhaps, companies would have a vote. Perhaps, the number of votes that a person or company has is dependant upon the amount of tax that they pay.
The above is a very simplistic overview, but, perhaps it is time for advanced societies to consider alternatives to the current system.
Dave
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Wash your mouth out with soap, boy!
NEO, you are speaking here of the country that invented the 419 letter, fax, e-mail, whatever! Are they ADVANCED enough?
They would make George W. Bush, his Republicans and all nine Supremes turn green with envy over what they could do with an on-line election given half a chance.
It would give 'democracy' a whole new meaning, since even Kim Jong Il and Fidel Castro can only count on 99.9% of the votes cast. Here you would see the winning candidates each getting 102% at a minimum.
Remember the time they interviewed that top policeman, when he said of some perp that she was guilty? Then came the question, 'Guilty of what?' when the answer was that they were still investigating that. By that sort of logic in a Nigerian on-line election everyone would get to win.
They would make George W. Bush, his Republicans and all nine Supremes turn green with envy over what they could do with an on-line election given half a chance.
It would give 'democracy' a whole new meaning, since even Kim Jong Il and Fidel Castro can only count on 99.9% of the votes cast. Here you would see the winning candidates each getting 102% at a minimum.
Remember the time they interviewed that top policeman, when he said of some perp that she was guilty? Then came the question, 'Guilty of what?' when the answer was that they were still investigating that. By that sort of logic in a Nigerian on-line election everyone would get to win.
Chuks dear boy,
The Chicago Democrats already have such a plan....one gets to vote often and after death during elections. Nothing new to that concept.
The Chicago Democrats already have such a plan....one gets to vote often and after death during elections. Nothing new to that concept.
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Here in Nigeria there were rumors yesterday of another attack on Agip, but it was just a false alarm as a convoy of boats were approaching Agip jetty but security hadn't been informed.
There is still no news around about who abducted the expatriates from a bar in Port Harcourt on Sunday night, but there has been a phone call from an unknown caller demanding 50 million naira ransom for the Lebanese man abducted on the East West road near Yenegoa on Wednesday. A police station near Ahoada was attacked and three policemen murdered. This was again on the notorious East West road next to which CHC are planning to move their expatriates
.
I think that all the expat pilots in Port Harcourt are now confined to camp except for trips to work or to catch flights from the international airport. This will become a lot more difficult as the word is that DNPO is closed as from 1800 tonight. The state of the runway and lighting has now become such a disgrace that the Air France crew last night refused to depart and the passengers spent a long time sitting waiting for daylight. Many of them had travelled to the airport early because of the security situation. It will be interesting to see if Owerri is now used as it's a long drive to Port Harcourt and although the runway is okay, the navaids there are frequently offline.
But it's all okay, because Nigeria is a tropical paradise
There is still no news around about who abducted the expatriates from a bar in Port Harcourt on Sunday night, but there has been a phone call from an unknown caller demanding 50 million naira ransom for the Lebanese man abducted on the East West road near Yenegoa on Wednesday. A police station near Ahoada was attacked and three policemen murdered. This was again on the notorious East West road next to which CHC are planning to move their expatriates
.I think that all the expat pilots in Port Harcourt are now confined to camp except for trips to work or to catch flights from the international airport. This will become a lot more difficult as the word is that DNPO is closed as from 1800 tonight. The state of the runway and lighting has now become such a disgrace that the Air France crew last night refused to depart and the passengers spent a long time sitting waiting for daylight. Many of them had travelled to the airport early because of the security situation. It will be interesting to see if Owerri is now used as it's a long drive to Port Harcourt and although the runway is okay, the navaids there are frequently offline.
But it's all okay, because Nigeria is a tropical paradise
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Hi all, I am new here. Just came across this article as i would like to know the situation as i am considering working there.
http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/thu/aug17w11.htm
http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/thu/aug17w11.htm
"Wherever we find hostage-takers now, we will hunt them down. We will not accept this any longer," he said, speaking at a meeting with local governors and security chiefs in the Niger Delta.
Kinda like the cart before the horse Obi....one hunts then finds! Any bets on some policemen being involved in the kidnappings?
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All Normal
Cyclone,
Sounds pretty much like a normal night in Port Harcourt these days then . Reported as being a police/military cordon and search operation against militants in the area after their successful operation resulting in the release of the German BB hostage.
Expect more gunfire, leading to more insurrection leading to ......... in the coming months. Welcome to Nigeria
Sounds pretty much like a normal night in Port Harcourt these days then
. Reported as being a police/military cordon and search operation against militants in the area after their successful operation resulting in the release of the German BB hostage.Expect more gunfire, leading to more insurrection leading to ......... in the coming months. Welcome to Nigeria
I Try To Be Good !!
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I wonder how BHNL/CHC recruiting is going ? 
Not a lot of news on TV here, but anyone with access to the web will see all the bad things
Not a lot of news on TV here, but anyone with access to the web will see all the bad things
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100+ Militants arrested in PHC
Is the Nigerian government stirring up a hornets' nest or making progress? Time will tell.
Of the many new pilots who have arrived here with CHC in the last few months (at least 12 so far this year) many are unaware when they arrive here of what the situation is really like. The company doesn't want them to know in case they don't want to come. Despite all this and the fact that movement outside the company quarters is officially banned except for travel to work, the local incentive allowance hasn't gone up in the last year. A coouple of pilots who were promised postings elsewhere several months ago are still in Nigeria with no further news when they're leaving (they'll probably be leaving anyway soon).
But both Bristow and CHC managements just refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem here and hope that if they ignore it for long enough it will go away. I confidently expect that nothing will be done and the problem won't go away
Task Force arrests 100+ militants in PH
AT least 100 persons have been arrested in Iloabuchi, a Port Harcourt slum, in the first raid launched by the Joint Task Force to flush out militants from the city.
The offensive is part of the ongoing crack down on militants by the authorities following a directive by the Presidency.
Eye witnesses confirmed the arrests to our correspondents when they visited Eagle Island, and Timber Market at Iloabuchi, on Saturday.
The JTF is made up of the navy, the airforce, army and the police.
Stern looking armed military personnel were seen at the Eagle Island at around 1 pm at the scene of the arrest.
Military helicopters were still hovering at the area apparently to locate the the hideout of the hoodlums residing in the area and at the creeks around the area.
Trading activities at the Iloabuchi Timber Market was at its lowest ebb as at 2pm when our correspondent got to the place. Many stalls at the market had been closed down and those that were around were obviously living in fear.
An Okada rider told our correspondents that his younger brother, who was arrested, had since been released.
The crackdown followed Wednesday order by President Olusegun Obasanjo that the militants‘ activities would no longer be tolerated.
The Army Public Relation Officer, Major Sagir Musa, when contacted on the telephone, said the slum had become a dwelling place for the militants.
He said, ”Security and intelligence reports revealed that militants engaged in the kidnapping of oil workers and selective stealing are residing in the place. So we decided to go and do cordon- and-search at the place.”
Musa declined to give the number of the people arrested but said that the crackdown would continue.
He added that the JTF would not relent until the state was rid of hostage takers and other criminals.
He said that the operations would also be taken to the creeks where the militants usually take their targets to.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Harry, said that the operation, which began at 6.45pm saw the JTF searching from house to house looking for militants.
He stated, ”I just started hearing gunshots everywhere, I tried to find out if it was a robbery case but I saw soldiers. I had to run away from the scene to avoid been shot.
The shooting forced traders at the nearby timber market and firshermen to flee for safety.
The militants, who abducted four expatriates at GoodFellas Night Club in Port Harcourt last Sunday escaped, throught the Eagle Island. Also Agip Oil Company was attacked through the same area.
Five expatriates were abducted last week alone, while the militants also released six from their custody.
The leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Group, Ateke Tom, had queried the government for contemplating the attack on the militants. The leader of the Niger Delta United Front, Mr. Richie Richard, had also accused Obasanjo administration of turning Niger Delta youths into militants.
Ateke had warned the Federal Government in an exclusive interview with our correspondents that further attacks on him and his boys would be retaliated by his group.
He said, ”It is not good for the President to declare war on us. What we need in this area is development and not attack.
”But let me say that if they attack us, we shall defend ourselves. That is very certain and I want them to know that even though we have surrendered our weapons to the government, we can still defend ourselves in the event of any attack by the government or its agents.”
Richard aslo said, ”Even if the government sends in ten million battalions, we shall crush them because the administration has offended us and our people and because the God of justice is on our side.”
AT least 100 persons have been arrested in Iloabuchi, a Port Harcourt slum, in the first raid launched by the Joint Task Force to flush out militants from the city.
The offensive is part of the ongoing crack down on militants by the authorities following a directive by the Presidency.
Eye witnesses confirmed the arrests to our correspondents when they visited Eagle Island, and Timber Market at Iloabuchi, on Saturday.
The JTF is made up of the navy, the airforce, army and the police.
Stern looking armed military personnel were seen at the Eagle Island at around 1 pm at the scene of the arrest.
Military helicopters were still hovering at the area apparently to locate the the hideout of the hoodlums residing in the area and at the creeks around the area.
Trading activities at the Iloabuchi Timber Market was at its lowest ebb as at 2pm when our correspondent got to the place. Many stalls at the market had been closed down and those that were around were obviously living in fear.
An Okada rider told our correspondents that his younger brother, who was arrested, had since been released.
The crackdown followed Wednesday order by President Olusegun Obasanjo that the militants‘ activities would no longer be tolerated.
The Army Public Relation Officer, Major Sagir Musa, when contacted on the telephone, said the slum had become a dwelling place for the militants.
He said, ”Security and intelligence reports revealed that militants engaged in the kidnapping of oil workers and selective stealing are residing in the place. So we decided to go and do cordon- and-search at the place.”
Musa declined to give the number of the people arrested but said that the crackdown would continue.
He added that the JTF would not relent until the state was rid of hostage takers and other criminals.
He said that the operations would also be taken to the creeks where the militants usually take their targets to.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Harry, said that the operation, which began at 6.45pm saw the JTF searching from house to house looking for militants.
He stated, ”I just started hearing gunshots everywhere, I tried to find out if it was a robbery case but I saw soldiers. I had to run away from the scene to avoid been shot.
The shooting forced traders at the nearby timber market and firshermen to flee for safety.
The militants, who abducted four expatriates at GoodFellas Night Club in Port Harcourt last Sunday escaped, throught the Eagle Island. Also Agip Oil Company was attacked through the same area.
Five expatriates were abducted last week alone, while the militants also released six from their custody.
The leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Group, Ateke Tom, had queried the government for contemplating the attack on the militants. The leader of the Niger Delta United Front, Mr. Richie Richard, had also accused Obasanjo administration of turning Niger Delta youths into militants.
Ateke had warned the Federal Government in an exclusive interview with our correspondents that further attacks on him and his boys would be retaliated by his group.
He said, ”It is not good for the President to declare war on us. What we need in this area is development and not attack.
”But let me say that if they attack us, we shall defend ourselves. That is very certain and I want them to know that even though we have surrendered our weapons to the government, we can still defend ourselves in the event of any attack by the government or its agents.”
Richard aslo said, ”Even if the government sends in ten million battalions, we shall crush them because the administration has offended us and our people and because the God of justice is on our side.”
But both Bristow and CHC managements just refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem here and hope that if they ignore it for long enough it will go away. I confidently expect that nothing will be done and the problem won't go away
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Shell Emergency Response Team
One hears that Shell in their infinity wisdom hired the Militants to attempt to free the Shell CLO who was taken hostage by some villagers 12 days ago. Story has it that they succeeded, but ran out of luck, when they met the newly installed Joint Force Team somewhere in the creeks and lost some 10 of their own men in a shoot out...unfortunately the Shell man was amongst the casualties. Hornets' nest? Shell's intelligence at it's best...once again. Mind you, this account of what happened is from the bush drums. I'm sure we'll have Shell's side of the story very soon.