News

Fifteen killed in gang clash

Gun battles between rival gangs in Nigeria’s southern oil-producing state of Rivers erupted on Tuesday in violence linked to a change of governor, killing 15 people, local rights activists said. Gang fighting is just one facet of an 18-month upsurge … read more

7 Governors Absent at Handover

No fewer than seven former governors failed to show up at the handing over ceremonies in their respective states yesterday, while four were suspected to have fled the country for fear of being arrested by operatives of the Economic and … read more

pipeline attack cuts Shell oil output

Royal Dutch Shell said on Wednesday 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil production was halted by villagers who sabotaged a major export pipeline in Nigeria for the second time this month. Community members stormed the Bomu pipeline complex, which … read more

Four U.S. hostages released

Four American hostages taken from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region were released on Wednesday after three weeks in captivity, authorities said. The four contractors were taken by gunmen from a barge operated by U.S. oil company Chevron off the coast … read more

Tackling Nigeria’s violent oil swamps

Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region may well be the country’s biggest cash cow but it also looks set to provide new President Umaru Yar’Adua with one of his biggest headaches. “The biggest problem Nigeria faces today, in my humble opinion, … read more

Hostage takers release Polish worker

Hostage takers released a Polish worker seized in Nigeria’s restive southern oil region, officials and traditional leaders said Monday. The Polish national, who was seized Thursday in the southern Niger Delta, was released late Sunday, said Tunde Smoth, an important … read more

Nigeria has lost N60tn to corruption�

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said on Thursday that Nigeria had lost over N60tn to corrupt practices since her independence in 1960. The commission said corruption was the greatest hindrance to the full maturity of the country as an … read more

New Nigeria head to take office

Umaru Yar’Adua will be sworn in as Nigeria’s new president, hours after outgoing leader Olusegun Obasanjo made his final address to the nation. In a live broadcast on national television, Mr Obasanjo said Nigeria was a more stable and unified … read more