What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Surely your not putting down the good old Forcados omelette and sardines sandwiches, cling film wrapped to allow the warmth of the omelette to generate condensation (I assume that's what caused it; there was no other evidence of there having been any warmth!)
Knowing your capacity for Gulder Beer....I bet you even looked forward to them too!
Makes one shiver in your boots to contemplate such memories while looking at Blueberry Muffins and a Cappicino!
Makes one shiver in your boots to contemplate such memories while looking at Blueberry Muffins and a Cappicino!
Nigerian In Law
Sas,
Thanks mate, you've helped make my day a lot cheerier
I was hoping for a nibble on the uniform issue too, but a 50 % success is better than nothing 
I knew I would be able to count on someone, didn't know it would be you............
Cheers,
NEO
Thanks mate, you've helped make my day a lot cheerier
I was hoping for a nibble on the uniform issue too, but a 50 % success is better than nothing I knew I would be able to count on someone, didn't know it would be you............Cheers,
NEO
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Aser,
As already mentioned on this thread several weeks ago, it's for the Rivers State Government, but operated and maintained by CHC. However, it's now been in Nigeria for nearly 6 weeks and is grounded thanks to the Nigerian CAA. All the pilots and engineers from Aero and CHC have been to do factory courses with Agusta but, the NCAA being what it is, are saying that as it's a new type, they are refusing to allow it to fly without a factory technical representative based in Nigeria for its first 6 months of Operation.
I'm sure 'large brown envelopes' feature somewhere and that Governor Odili must be furious that his helicopter is not available to him during his campaign for the Nigerian presidency. What's the betting that if he gets elected to the Senate, he will get his own back>
As already mentioned on this thread several weeks ago, it's for the Rivers State Government, but operated and maintained by CHC. However, it's now been in Nigeria for nearly 6 weeks and is grounded thanks to the Nigerian CAA. All the pilots and engineers from Aero and CHC have been to do factory courses with Agusta but, the NCAA being what it is, are saying that as it's a new type, they are refusing to allow it to fly without a factory technical representative based in Nigeria for its first 6 months of Operation.
I'm sure 'large brown envelopes' feature somewhere and that Governor Odili must be furious that his helicopter is not available to him during his campaign for the Nigerian presidency. What's the betting that if he gets elected to the Senate, he will get his own back>
Bristow still using a 212 for their VIP aircraft? Let me get this straight....Blue cushions was the everyday motif....and the Red/Blue stripey ones the VIP fit? Right?
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FT,
Two choppers were in Aba that day, one belonging to the Itallian construction firm based in Naf base and the other a yellow 'A' star. The truth of the incident is still 'shady' since the authority is yet to be informed officially of what happened. They too heard of the acident on the pages of news paper. The other time a 'red' Dauphin passenger door was found at Ilupeju. It was during the audit of the company concerned that they owned up that the door found was theirs! I hope they carry out another audit to that same company maybe 'bloodstain' will still be found on the TRB(S). In the country where brown envelope is the order of the day, the truth might never be found out.
Now tha Odili has withdrawn from the presidential race the AW139 may never fly as envislaged. I hope what happened few years ago when the millitary boys came to power and 'towed' away the CBN and NNPC aeroplanes out of Aero apron will not repeat itself again this time around;not the millitary but EFCC visiting Naf base! We are all waiting to see the outcome.
Caverton may not get the AW139 again. Learnt they are bringing a 'Let 410' Fixed wing for the Lagos Bonny run for LNG.
Two choppers were in Aba that day, one belonging to the Itallian construction firm based in Naf base and the other a yellow 'A' star. The truth of the incident is still 'shady' since the authority is yet to be informed officially of what happened. They too heard of the acident on the pages of news paper. The other time a 'red' Dauphin passenger door was found at Ilupeju. It was during the audit of the company concerned that they owned up that the door found was theirs! I hope they carry out another audit to that same company maybe 'bloodstain' will still be found on the TRB(S). In the country where brown envelope is the order of the day, the truth might never be found out.
Now tha Odili has withdrawn from the presidential race the AW139 may never fly as envislaged. I hope what happened few years ago when the millitary boys came to power and 'towed' away the CBN and NNPC aeroplanes out of Aero apron will not repeat itself again this time around;not the millitary but EFCC visiting Naf base! We are all waiting to see the outcome.
Caverton may not get the AW139 again. Learnt they are bringing a 'Let 410' Fixed wing for the Lagos Bonny run for LNG.
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ruma,
Interesting reply to FT. I thought I was fairly well informed normally, but the red 365 door story is new to me. However, knowing the company concerned, I'm not the least surprised and the remark about 'brown envelopes' rings very true. Having seen the way the yellow Astar is operated and after the A109 landing in Shell IA I wouldn't be surprised. I see they're now building a hangar at NAF Base. What on earth are they going to put in it, with just a couple of Asrars operating in Nigeria? I can't see how they even cover their debt requirements with the work they do - maybe the EFCC as well as the NCAA s should pay them a visit?
.
Now that Caverton's 109 has been sold and arrived in UK, I don't suppose they're much interested in Agusta products any more. They never did get all the Agusta factory approvals they were rumoured to be after. Where will they land a Let 410 in Bonny? Do you really think Mobil will allow a company like that to operate to Bonny airstrip without a complete audit from Mobil aviation department in the States? They don't even seem to be capable of operating their 365s properly, let alone a fixed wing. Who failed to think they could carry on operating without CVFDR after the new regulations? Is it the guy who's now deputy MD or was it an ops decision?
Odili may have withdrawn from the Presidential race, but don't you think he'll still be a major political player either as VP or as a senator?
Interesting reply to FT. I thought I was fairly well informed normally, but the red 365 door story is new to me. However, knowing the company concerned, I'm not the least surprised and the remark about 'brown envelopes' rings very true. Having seen the way the yellow Astar is operated and after the A109 landing in Shell IA I wouldn't be surprised. I see they're now building a hangar at NAF Base. What on earth are they going to put in it, with just a couple of Asrars operating in Nigeria? I can't see how they even cover their debt requirements with the work they do - maybe the EFCC as well as the NCAA s should pay them a visit?
. Now that Caverton's 109 has been sold and arrived in UK, I don't suppose they're much interested in Agusta products any more. They never did get all the Agusta factory approvals they were rumoured to be after. Where will they land a Let 410 in Bonny? Do you really think Mobil will allow a company like that to operate to Bonny airstrip without a complete audit from Mobil aviation department in the States? They don't even seem to be capable of operating their 365s properly, let alone a fixed wing. Who failed to think they could carry on operating without CVFDR after the new regulations? Is it the guy who's now deputy MD or was it an ops decision?
Odili may have withdrawn from the Presidential race, but don't you think he'll still be a major political player either as VP or as a senator?
I notice the aeroplane pax steps in the background seem to have their writing in pigin: "Handling de ..... "
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Explosion at Shell and Agip Residential Compounds PH
There are many reports of car-bomb explosions in both the Shell RA and Agip compounds in Port Harcourt today. Thankfully, there are no reported injuries. So much for those who thought Shell and Agip staff are lucky for living in secure compounds - personally I never did as security at both is a joke and it's just a huge concentration of senior staff all in one place, where a bomb or attack anywhere could take someone out. I wonder if CHC is now rethinking its policy of having the night standby crews staying at the AGIP guest house? 
. I bet they still haven't figured that moving everyone to the death camp just means they're all in one small area so they can be easily hit 
.
The leaders of MEND have issued a press statement saying that they were planning 3 bomb attacks, but one was aborted to prevent injuries to civilians. They have also said in a press statement that the hostages recently taken from Brass will be held indefinitely and that they will soon take more until they have enough to bargain with the government for the release of the imprisoned Asari Dokubo and the disgraced former governor Alameseigha of Bayelsa State.
It seems that Odili (for now) is not in the running for VP for the PDP as that nomination will be going to Governor Jonathan Goodluck of Bayelsa State. I'm sure Odili will be up there somewhere though.
. I bet they still haven't figured that moving everyone to the death camp just means they're all in one small area so they can be easily hit .The leaders of MEND have issued a press statement saying that they were planning 3 bomb attacks, but one was aborted to prevent injuries to civilians. They have also said in a press statement that the hostages recently taken from Brass will be held indefinitely and that they will soon take more until they have enough to bargain with the government for the release of the imprisoned Asari Dokubo and the disgraced former governor Alameseigha of Bayelsa State.
It seems that Odili (for now) is not in the running for VP for the PDP as that nomination will be going to Governor Jonathan Goodluck of Bayelsa State. I'm sure Odili will be up there somewhere though.
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Take Care Out There In Nigeria
Well, the fight is now being taken from the swamps and the outskirts of the cities (except for the Goodfellas kidnappings) to the residential hearts of the oil companies. They're the miserable so-and-sos who refused to allow us to live in their so-called secure compounds and kicked us out many years ago. Good for them 
.
There were those who thought that the CHC takeover of Schreiner was a good thing, but what has it done for any of the 'old hands'? Given them a crap pay scheme where they have to claim for their pay every month and it's up and down depending whether they're on leave. They've brought in a few flash new helicopters and got rid of a good number, so they now have a lot less. Their standards are much lower than the old Schreiner ones and because so many of the old Schreiner hands are complaining about it they're doing all they can not to encourage them to stay. They've consistently lied about what they were going to do about the housing and now many of the originals will leave rather than move to that ill-conceived new so-called 'death camp'. I miss Nigeria terribly, but I'm so grateful I have nothing to do with it as it now is.
Take care out there boys and girls - the situation is getting very dangerous and your employers are doing nothing to improve it either in terms of genuine improvements in security or financial compensation for the dangerous environment
.There were those who thought that the CHC takeover of Schreiner was a good thing, but what has it done for any of the 'old hands'? Given them a crap pay scheme where they have to claim for their pay every month and it's up and down depending whether they're on leave. They've brought in a few flash new helicopters and got rid of a good number, so they now have a lot less. Their standards are much lower than the old Schreiner ones and because so many of the old Schreiner hands are complaining about it they're doing all they can not to encourage them to stay. They've consistently lied about what they were going to do about the housing and now many of the originals will leave rather than move to that ill-conceived new so-called 'death camp'. I miss Nigeria terribly, but I'm so grateful I have nothing to do with it as it now is.
Take care out there boys and girls - the situation is getting very dangerous and your employers are doing nothing to improve it either in terms of genuine improvements in security or financial compensation for the dangerous environment
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The Great New Deal - Imminent
Well at last I can announce that soon we'll be making an announcement of an imminent announcement of an announcement regarding the announcement of the imminent change to the conditions of service of employees in Nigeria. Irregardless of what you may have heard before, I have no doubt that everyone will be very pleased with regard to what we'll have to say when we say it. So, keep on doing the good work. You'll all have the very good news, very, very soon. So you see, irregardless of what people are say, we're taking action in a timely and expeditious fashion, notwithstanding the difficult circumstances at present
Hmmmmmm....now it is car bombs in the RA.....and who said the old concept of "have another beer Mate...this is just a one off....here Mate...have another beer...day or two and this will be a thing of the past!" was merely dreaming?
He was spot on by forecasting things were going to get ugly before they got better!
Step forward and accept your Gold Star for being right!
He was spot on by forecasting things were going to get ugly before they got better!
Step forward and accept your Gold Star for being right!
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Things are Changing?
Hi SASless,
It looks like the MEND organization is more than some wantabe gangsters. They claim to have actually not used a third bomb because of civilian casualities. This is the kind of thinking that will attract the interest of foreign journalist. If they start to emphasize the moral issues people in other countries can identify with? The oil company, contractors, and government might have to reevaluate how they operate in the Niger Delta? Just a thought!
Happy Holidays and Seasons Greeting to All.
Cheers,
musket33
It looks like the MEND organization is more than some wantabe gangsters. They claim to have actually not used a third bomb because of civilian casualities. This is the kind of thinking that will attract the interest of foreign journalist. If they start to emphasize the moral issues people in other countries can identify with? The oil company, contractors, and government might have to reevaluate how they operate in the Niger Delta? Just a thought!
Happy Holidays and Seasons Greeting to All.
Cheers,
musket33
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I give up!
I became tired of waiting for SASless and Musket33 to shoulder their obligations and move back to the Center of Excrement.
I have decided to make some other aviation outfit so very, very happy since it looks as if my requirements for a return to Nigeria as a consultant have scant chance of being met.
Next stop, Algeria! The middle of the Sahara Desert, best place for me, probably since there are very few people there to annoy. I look forward to seeing one of the most thinly-settled parts of Africa after living in one of the most thickly-settled.
Sod's Law says that if there is one German there we shall be sharing a Porta-Kabin. Stand by for an on-the-scene action report about 'The Battle for the Shaving Mirror' or 'Who Rearranged My Magazines in Non-chronological Order?'
You guys in Nigeria take care now and have a safe and happy holiday season.
Car bombs! Fancy that! I blame satellite TV, actually.
I have decided to make some other aviation outfit so very, very happy since it looks as if my requirements for a return to Nigeria as a consultant have scant chance of being met.
Next stop, Algeria! The middle of the Sahara Desert, best place for me, probably since there are very few people there to annoy. I look forward to seeing one of the most thinly-settled parts of Africa after living in one of the most thickly-settled.
Sod's Law says that if there is one German there we shall be sharing a Porta-Kabin. Stand by for an on-the-scene action report about 'The Battle for the Shaving Mirror' or 'Who Rearranged My Magazines in Non-chronological Order?'
You guys in Nigeria take care now and have a safe and happy holiday season.
Car bombs! Fancy that! I blame satellite TV, actually.
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Families Evacuated from Port Harcourt
I see that after the car bombs in the Shell and Agip residential areas, Shell is evacuating all expatriate staff dependants from their compounds in Port Harcourt, Warri and Bonny Island and Agip has moved families to Lagos (where armed robbers last night killed 8 passengers on a bus, then set the bus and driver on fire). The stable door has been shut after the horse has bolted and the poor Nigerians have been left to deal with any future attacks. Naturally, as the MEND leaders intended, there will be no further attacks on these locations as there is no publicity in bombing Nigerians (the car bombs in the Bori Camp Port Harcourt barracks earlier this year received scant publicity outside Nigeria). MEND has, yet again received maximum publicity as, although nobody was killed this time, expatriates are involved.
Just in case anyone thinks that this means that MEND are people who will not kill people not involved in their camapign against the government and oil companies, yesterday 3 people were killed in an attack at the Total production facility in Obagi, northwest of PH (did you see that one reported on BBC? no expats killed. They also released a new press statement on Wednesday:
MEND is a shadowy group which employs various militias in the riverine and swamp areas of the Niger Delta to do its work. It doesn't always have much control over these groups and the situation is further clouded by many of the armed gangs who are in business only to make money from hostages, claiming that they are part of MEND. It has also been reported that some politicians are involved in both of these campaigns. They give money and encouragement to the gangs then are portrayed as the heroes when they are involved in negotiations to set the hostages free. Nobody outside a very close circle of those involved really knows how much (if any) money has been paid to free the hostages. Naturally nobody wants to own up to such a thing in view of the pronouncement from President Olusegun Obasanjo that no oil company or government agency should pay any ransom to hostage takers and that anyone violating this order will be treated as an accomplice.
Just in case anyone thinks that this means that MEND are people who will not kill people not involved in their camapign against the government and oil companies, yesterday 3 people were killed in an attack at the Total production facility in Obagi, northwest of PH (did you see that one reported on BBC? no expats killed. They also released a new press statement on Wednesday:
MEND on Wednesday, in an e-mail statement to journalists, accused Agip of offering money to middlemen claiming to be able to negociate the release of the hostages.
“Agip is advised to disregard all who claim to be able to facilitate the release of these hostages. It will not happen. Rather than release them, the hostages will all be shot. This is a promise!”, the statement from the group said.
“Agip is advised to disregard all who claim to be able to facilitate the release of these hostages. It will not happen. Rather than release them, the hostages will all be shot. This is a promise!”, the statement from the group said.
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Most of the criminals engaging in these kidnappings for ransoms have I.Q.’s consistent with the magazine capacity of their weapons.
(quote=Dangagan;2932025)
History is littered with the corpses of great men that understimated the strenght, inteligence or determination of their opponents. It is at our own peril that we underestimate the intellectual or physical capacities of these kidnappers. That is probably why they continue to get us on the cheap.
(quote=Dangagan;2932025)
History is littered with the corpses of great men that understimated the strenght, inteligence or determination of their opponents. It is at our own peril that we underestimate the intellectual or physical capacities of these kidnappers. That is probably why they continue to get us on the cheap.
These bomb blasts have shattered the illussion of safety in the Shell Residential Areas, protected only by a few Mobile Policemen and dozens of unarmed and poorly paid Shell Policemen. It a known fact that an Inspector of Police in Shell earns a lot less than a Shell Driver. How motivated can these Policemen be in providing the level of security needed?
Stay safe everyone and have a trouble free Christmas. We are dealing with a different calibre of militant. I believe it will get a lot worse before it gets better.
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Return To Africa
chuks,
Congratulations on your new venture and good to know you are returning to Africa, albeit a new and different region for you. What will you be doing in Algeria? We look forward to some of your nerveless prose from the desert. If you're stuck miles from any internet I'm sure you'll enjoy a good book and if you're in the desert a little reading from vintage books by Laurens van der Post will pass the time as you get inspiration listening to the great music of the late Ali Farka Touré, the 'King of the desert blues singers'. I know he's Malian, not Algerian, but his blues music, mixed with traditional African music can set the hairs standing on the back of your neck. He's an African who put money back into Africa and after becoming mayor of Niafunké, put much of his own money into improvements to that village. I'm sure the Algerian desert will give you a whole new perspective on Africa. When I tire of being in Nigeria, I find a visit to Mali or Burkina Faso regenerates my passion for this amazing continent.
Joyeux Noel et Bons Vols en Algerie
Congratulations on your new venture and good to know you are returning to Africa, albeit a new and different region for you. What will you be doing in Algeria? We look forward to some of your nerveless prose from the desert. If you're stuck miles from any internet I'm sure you'll enjoy a good book and if you're in the desert a little reading from vintage books by Laurens van der Post will pass the time as you get inspiration listening to the great music of the late Ali Farka Touré, the 'King of the desert blues singers'. I know he's Malian, not Algerian, but his blues music, mixed with traditional African music can set the hairs standing on the back of your neck. He's an African who put money back into Africa and after becoming mayor of Niafunké, put much of his own money into improvements to that village. I'm sure the Algerian desert will give you a whole new perspective on Africa. When I tire of being in Nigeria, I find a visit to Mali or Burkina Faso regenerates my passion for this amazing continent.
Joyeux Noel et Bons Vols en Algerie
LAGOS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants holding four foreign oil workers hostage accused Italian oil giant ENI <ENI.MI> of offering ransoms for their release and said they would rather kill the men than free them for cash.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) abducted the three Italians and one Lebanese on Dec. 7 from the Brass oil export terminal operated by ENI unit Agip.
"Agip for the last few days has offered several criminals in the delta huge sums as ransom, even asking us to name our price for the release of these hostages," MEND said in an email to the media, adding that this was illegal in both Italy and Nigeria.
"Rather that release them (for money), the hostages will all be shot. ... The release of these four individuals is tied to the release of four hostages of Niger Delta origin in Nigerian government hands," it said.
An Agip spokesman in Nigeria was not available for comment.
When it staged the kidnapping on Dec. 7, MEND demanded the release of two jailed leaders from the delta, compensation to villagers for oil pollution, transfer of control over oil resources from the government to local communities and reparations for 50 years of "enslavement" by the oil industry.
Militancy has been growing in the vast wetlands region for decades, fuelled by poverty, lawlessness and government neglect. Nigeria is the world's eighth largest oil exporter, but growing unrest has curbed production and scared away investors.
On Monday MEND detonated two car bombs in oil company compounds in the delta city of Port Harcourt, which damaged some cars and buildings but caused no casualties.
They also issued photographs of the four hostages.
A series of attacks by MEND in February forced Royal Dutch Shell <RDSa.L> to withdraw from the western delta, cutting Nigerian oil output by a fifth.
MEND said on Wednesday that Agip had portrayed the group as criminals without any justification for its year-long armed insurgency against the Nigerian government.
The government originally dismissed MEND as criminals and ransom seekers, but has since tried to start talks and promised jobs and investments for the neglected region, which is home to all the OPEC nation's oil and gas resources.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) abducted the three Italians and one Lebanese on Dec. 7 from the Brass oil export terminal operated by ENI unit Agip.
"Agip for the last few days has offered several criminals in the delta huge sums as ransom, even asking us to name our price for the release of these hostages," MEND said in an email to the media, adding that this was illegal in both Italy and Nigeria.
"Rather that release them (for money), the hostages will all be shot. ... The release of these four individuals is tied to the release of four hostages of Niger Delta origin in Nigerian government hands," it said.
An Agip spokesman in Nigeria was not available for comment.
When it staged the kidnapping on Dec. 7, MEND demanded the release of two jailed leaders from the delta, compensation to villagers for oil pollution, transfer of control over oil resources from the government to local communities and reparations for 50 years of "enslavement" by the oil industry.
Militancy has been growing in the vast wetlands region for decades, fuelled by poverty, lawlessness and government neglect. Nigeria is the world's eighth largest oil exporter, but growing unrest has curbed production and scared away investors.
On Monday MEND detonated two car bombs in oil company compounds in the delta city of Port Harcourt, which damaged some cars and buildings but caused no casualties.
They also issued photographs of the four hostages.
A series of attacks by MEND in February forced Royal Dutch Shell <RDSa.L> to withdraw from the western delta, cutting Nigerian oil output by a fifth.
MEND said on Wednesday that Agip had portrayed the group as criminals without any justification for its year-long armed insurgency against the Nigerian government.
The government originally dismissed MEND as criminals and ransom seekers, but has since tried to start talks and promised jobs and investments for the neglected region, which is home to all the OPEC nation's oil and gas resources.