MEND Warns Of Major Operation After Abducting 7 Oil Workers In Nigeria

AHN News Staff
Lagos, Nigeria (AHN) - The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Nigeria's main militant group, claimed Tuesday to have kidnapped seven oil workers from an ExxonMobil facility in the country's southern region and warned the military, which has been targeting their hideouts, against a major attack in near future.


MEND also accused the military of firing rockets at their camps earlier this week. Authorities denied the claim and said they were only carrying out mop-up operations.

The abductions came just days after the military urged residents to evacuate the region near the militant camps.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) confirms the attack on the ExxonMobil Ibeno oil facility in Akwa Ibom state was carried out by its fighters. Seven local employees were abducted," MEND said in a statement.

ExxonMobil's Nigerian branch confirmed the abductions and said some unidentified armed persons boarded its offshore facilities Sunday evening.

An oil workers union, PENGASSAN, claimed that eight of them were abducted, while seven of them were its members.

MEND in the past,has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the Niger Delta.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, the militant group specifically warned they would retaliate with a major operation in response to the military’s firing on their camps earlier this week that would simultaneously affect oil facilities across the Niger Delta.


http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7020559854?MEND%20Warns%20Of%20Major%20Operation%20After%20Abducting%207%20Oil%20Workers%20In%20Nigeria#ixzz15ZvXlHcx

Nigerian military raids militant hideouts

Abuja, Nov 17 (PTI) Nigerian military has raided two hideouts of oil rebels, who indulge into criminal activities like abduction and piracy in the mineral-rich Delta region of the country.

A spokesman for a joint military taskforce (JTF) Timothy Antigha today said the operation against the rebels was ongoing in the states of Delta and Bayelsa. However, he did not give any further details about the raids.

He said the operation became necessary due to increased spate of abduction of oil workers by militants in the area.

On Sunday, the oil-rich African country�s main militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), abducted seven foreign oil workers at an offshore oil facility owned by ExxonMobil corps.

Nigeria�s military started operations against the oil rebels on Friday, when it carried out a raid on a militant camp arresting two suspected rebels.

The oil-rich region of Nigeria is notorious for unrestricted attacks by rebels, who often abduct oil workers.
PTI CORR PMS

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4590186

This is serious! Why is the military raiding Imo State? I hope this isn't true.

Chinua Achebe’s Beautiful World

by Okey Ndibe


Chinua Achebe, the novelist, essayist, and professor who turned eighty a couple days ago, is best described as “a man…who has made an outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world and to mankind’s enjoyment and understanding of life.”

The words of that eloquent description, as the quotations marks indicate, are not mine. Even so, they capture my sentiments.


I was at the Hudson Theatre in New York City on Wednesday, October 27 when Achebe was invested with the 2010 Gish Prize. The prize, which was instituted in 1994 by the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize Trust, is given each year to a towering figure in the arts world who – in the wisdom of the panel of judges – has used her or his artistic gifts to make the world a more beautiful place.

In choosing Achebe as this year’s recipient of the $300,000 prize, the judges and trustees of the award demonstrated admirable fidelity to the noble principles and aspirations set out by the two sisters, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, whose bequest started the prize.

Lillian Gish, the principal spirit behind the prize, stated her goal: “It is my desire, by establishing this prize, to give recipients of the prize the recognition they deserve, to bring attention to their contributions to society and encourage others to follow in their path.”

To be in the hall where the prize was formally given was to bear witness to the way in which one man, Achebe, through the sustained excellence of his work as one of the world’s finest novelists and intellectuals, has not only enriched the world but also – in a most moving way – defined it.

Speaker after speaker at the event in New York returned again and again to that essential theme – a recognition of Achebe’s transcendent place in the world of letters. The African American poet Sonia Sanchez, whose powerful voice belies her diminutive stature, declaimed it in a poetic tribute. The Gish Prize judges expressed it when they testified to a sense of inevitability the moment they looked into Achebe’s surpassing credentials. A representative of JP Morgan Chase Bank, the trustee for the prize, struck the same note in her speech. And then there was Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, a Jamaican writer-activist come teacher, who was given the task of presenting Achebe.

If there’s a more devoted champion of Achebe’s work than Thelwell, or somebody with a richer insight into the ethical, aesthetic and intellectual ground that Achebe has staked out, I have yet to meet her or him. Marshalling anecdote after captivating anecdote, Thelwell gave a thrilling account of Achebe’s literary, cultural and political stature, his unrivaled artistic vision, the amazing reach of his influence, and the abiding clarity, integrity and power of his work.

Thelwell made a well-taken point: that, in Achebe, the Gish Prize had found a recipient whose artistic commitments and life exemplify what the award seeks to celebrate. In honoring Achebe, the man who has chronicled the African experience in such extraordinary novels as Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God, the Gish Prize, Thelwell suggested, had done credit to itself and kept faith with the Gish sisters’ vision.

Thelwell’s unscripted, straight-from-the-heart tribute was a harvest of stories, stretching from a concierge in a Lagos hotel who improvised a song of praise using the names of Achebe’s books to his witness of great outpourings of love for Achebe, from the high and humble alike, when he accompanied Achebe on a trip to Jamaica in January, 2007.

Of all the speeches given that night, Achebe – characteristically – spoke the fewest words, but the words were infused with great power. He said he had news for the packed audience of his family, friends and fans. “I am a lucky man,” he declared. His luck lay in the fact that the Gish sisters, two sisters he never met physically, had nevertheless sought him out in his “small corner” in the world. Achebe’s genius for linguistic compression is well known. He summoned that flair when he told the audience that of his feeling that the Gish sisters “knew” him and that he, in turn, “knew” them. It was as eloquent a statement of spiritual kinship as one has ever heard.

When Achebe reiterated that he was “a lucky man,” a voice from the hushed room shouted, “We’re luckier to have you!” That voice stirred the room, as if every listener said, in his or her fashion, “Amen!”

Achebe was only twenty-eight when Things Fall Apart, his first, and most popular, novel was published in 1958. I recall a conversation with a friend from Botswana, a colleague of mine in graduate school. Two years ago, as I drove with a Cameroonian academic to Achebe’s home in upstate New York to interview him, our discussion turned on Things Fall Apart. Suddenly, the Cameroonian, a professor of African literature, said to me: “That novel is so deep. It’s the kind of book you’d expect a much older man to write.”

That reaction was etched in my mind when we arrived at Achebe’s and began the interview. When I posed a question about the seed that germinated into the idea for the book, Achebe answered in a quasi-mystical accent: “I can theorize that the story wanted to be told at all costs, and why it chose me to tell [it], I don’t know. It could have been anybody else. The story would have been different, of course, because every person has his or her story.  This is my story, and it wanted to be told.”

When I raised the specific issue about his age, he saw an opportunity to delve into a particular predicament created by colonialism. “What colonization did to us was to remove power from the elders and pass it over to children. This is what European education meant for us. I don’t know what other place had this experience of having children, because they went to school, giving them power over the elders to determine what was going to be what. And so that’s part of the reason why it was someone very young. My father could not have written it. There were things, many things that he knew that I didn’t know, but scribbling a story was not one of the things he knew. This is one of the major weapons with which, if you like, we were disorganized, or if you prefer, one of the weapons that enabled us to pick up the fight. The generation that should have done the fight had been disabled.”

That young man with shoulders stout enough to carry an elder’s burden, has since matured into a veritable elder. He continues to inspire us with his example, permitting us to ride on the wings of the eagle he is, showing us where the rain began to beat us, reminding us that – even as things fall apart, even long after we are no longer at ease – that our world can be righted again, that we can find a new center, because it’s morning yet on creation day. I salute Achebe, a gentle, soft-spoken giant of a man, a beautiful spirit who, even now, is thinking of creative ways of making our world beautiful.

May God grant him many more years.

CPA interviews Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu who recently won the $50,000 Rolex Young Laureate Award!

Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu recently won the $50,000 Rolex Young Laureate Award. CP-Africa caught up with him during the award ceremony in Geneva to talk more about his work and project initiative. In this interview, 28years old Nnaemeka talks about his passion for agricultural development in Nigeria and plans for expansion to other African countries.

CP-Africa: When you got the news about winning the Rolex Award, what was your first reaction?

When I got the news that I got the award, I was a bit surprised because there were other young people with brilliant ideas. I was surprised not because we are good but because it was another recognition of our relentless effort to promote our agricultural development.

CP-Africa: What is the latest update on the Smallholders Foundation?

Small Holders radio aims to get 3.5million listeners. To get this number of listeners, we need big transmitters, big antennas, and we need to put more people to work with and expand our scope. We have been able to recruit 10 new radio broadcasters who are small farmers themselves. We have been able to put in place best practices within the broadcasting chains, knowing that these journalists are not professional broadcasters; there is the need for them to understand the basic principle of journalism…within the scope of our organization which is to improve agriculture.

CP-Africa: How many programmes do you have running?

We have the agricultural programme, environmental management programme, market information programme, health programme and youth development programme. All of them are in the local language (Igbo).

CP-Africa: How do you think the project (Working with rural farmers) has impacted your life?

The project has impacted my life in the sense that I am always trying to see what more can be done to improve lives and agriculture in Nigeria. In response to farmer’s need, my organization will be starting a micro-finance programme by the end of this year.

CP-Africa: For the benefit of our readers, can you give an example of how the programme implemented by your organization has helped farmers?

There is what we call rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is  an age long indigenous practice. It means during the raining season, we conserve rain. But it has been abandoned over the years –so we started doing a radio programme that educates farmers on the importance of rainwater harvesting. Not because they need to harvest rainwater but because there is an agricultural benefit in rainwater harvesting…such as when you conserve water during raining season, you use it to plant crops during dry season…instead of you relying on one season farming of vegetable, you can do two season farming and make money from it.

CP-Africa: What plans do you have in terms of replicating the Smallholders Foundation in other parts of Nigeria and/or Africa?

I am looking forward to working in West African countries and replicating the idea in East Africa and South Africa. But first, we want to ensure that any where we go to, we are able to adapt our programme to fit the local environment.

CP-Africa: What has been your most challenging experience so far?

Getting money to start up. I was considered a high risk. Because I was only 21 when I was about starting so it was difficult to get support. But I wrote a proposal to UNESCO and they approved it. I guess it was more of when the time comes; I don’t think the mountains can stop the time. Dreams are realizable. You can be whatever you want to be if you believe in yourself. One needs to be focused and make sure frivolities don’t distract you.

CP-Africa: Now that you won the Young Laureate Award, will funding still be a problem?

Funding is still a problem. There are never enough funds to do all you want to do. But one thing I get from the award is the knowledge exchange between older laureates and younger ones like us. This knowledge exchange- tips on how we can expand our revenue generation scheme etc.  is greater than any money.

CP-Africa: Why and how did you develop an interest in this field? Why did you start Smallholders Foundation?

I grew up in a family that did a lot of agricultural work …but I never wanted to be a farmer in as much as I am a farmer now. I listened to a lot of radio programme as a kid and wanted to be a journalist. But it was not until I started working in a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS awareness that I realize there was where information that should get to rural community stop. One of the effective tools in reducing poverty is education. You can educate somebody on changes and practice, you can educate somebody to improve on their health. I took time to study why agricultural extension services was not effective in Nigeria, I discovered that agricultural extension services was like traditional services where people are recruited and supported by the government to go to rural communities and teach farmers new methods in agriculture, inform them about news seeds etc. but such practices are not sustainable because there are other areas government have to invest in. I realized radio could be used as an effective tool to avoid the challenges inherent with existing agricultural extension services. (To bridge the gap in the agricultural sector) In 2003, I decided to start up smallholder’s foundation and use radio to educate farmers.

CP-Africa: Any plans to expand to TV?

That is possible. But most rural people will need electricity to power their TV.

CP-Africa: What is your advice to young people aspiring to venture out to do similar thing?

You can do what ever you want to do. It does not come easy. There are people who will discourage you but come on, pursue your dreams, you will achieve it.

CP-Africa: What was your reaction to the rumor that TIME magazine listed you as one of the 100 most influential in the world early this year?

I knew TIME magazine didn’t name me. The fact was that Rolex published news about us in the TIME magazine. But some journalist misquoted the story. I think Nigerians are equally good enough to be among the most influential in the world.

CP-Africa: Considering your level of exposure and exploits, do you sometimes feel any pressure to relocate?

I live in Nigeria permanently and I love Nigeria. I love the people, I love the food, I love the weather and I love my work, which I can only do in Nigeria.

CP-Africa: How would you rate the following resources- money, people and idea? Which comes first for you?

Ideas, money to drive the idea, then you get people to drive the idea.

The mission of The Smallholders Foundation is to tackle extreme poverty and hunger among rural small farmers by boosting small scale agricultural production, the only way to kick start and support self sustaining growth and employment in rural areas. For more information about Smallholders Foundation, please visit the website http://www.smallholdersfoundation.org/




http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/11/17/cpa-interviews-nnaemeka-ikegwuonu-who-recently-won-the-50000-rolex-young-laureate-award/

This is a very interesting thread.

This topic is quite stale. The same recycled arguments. All I have to say is that people should wait to see what will happen in Southern Sudan. This event will set the stage for movements all across the continent and cause a domino effect. Mark my words.

FYI, concerning the Biafra issue, the only group that would pose a problem for the actuality of Biafra within the East is the Ijaws. A Biafra would never include the Itsekiri. I don't think it would include the Urhobo and Isoko of Delta either. And I wish people would stop equating Biafra as an Igbo affair. Many other groups gave up their lives in defense of Biafra. Especially the Ibibio and Ogoni. They fought like lions.

The Biafra Question, is always a topic where you get to see the best and the worse of people.

Concerning this topic, I would like to say "live and let live."

DapoBear:

Who is to pay for this basic education? Basic education isn't free. If they want to educate their kids, let them raise money to do so.

Education should always be subsidized. However, in Africa, the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) caused us to stop subsidizing our education system. It is government responsibility to invest in the future. That is what is done in most nations who care about their populations.

This is becoming very interesting indeed.

tpia@

I am not of the opinion that Niger would attack Nigeria if it didn't have a Tuareg opinion. Why would they? Many Northerners in Nigeria have family in Niger. Hausaland extends deep into Niger.

I was discussing why we should worry about Northern Niger, since they are our neighbors. Niger is not a neighbor with Southern Nigeria.

Chad's population is worried about Sudan and their internal problem. Benin and Cameroon is not fully Muslim, in which they have large Christian populations. Why would they worry about southerners in Nigeria?

tpia@:

80 to 90% of african countries have one form of rebellion or the other. Add algeria to that list.
what makes niger's own special?

I think you are not understanding the conversation. We are not discussing the fact that African nations have a rebellion one form or the other. I am simply discussing why Niger is not a problem currently. That can change. Internal problems within this nation is the reason why. Muslims fighting Muslims. Tuareg fighting the Hausa. Algeria can be considered an Arab nation, so of it course it would be susceptible to the Wahabbi movement, that originated form Saudi Arabia.

This conversation is a red herring.

DapoBear:

So the threat of blowing up a few buildings or something, is what will cause us to poop our pants?

Even Israel, sorrounded by hostile Arabs who are willing to blow themselves up (something the Hausaman probably is not willing to do) gets by. I'm not really that concerned about the North, if it is a separate country. Putting into place good border control is a lot of work and effort, but can be done. Once you throw up that border fence/checkpoints at the border, then the largest remaining Muslim population south of the border would be Yoruba Muslims, so what, at most 10-15% of the remaining population?
That is a number of Muslims I'm willing to deal with, not worried about that.

Also, Yoruba Muslims are not really the sort of type where Wahabi Islam would flourish. And if it does, then you ban the preaching of that sort of Islam, kick out the foreign imams from Saudi/etc, and encourage other sects (Sufi Islam, for example, which is relatively harmless.)

Acts of terrorism still impacts a population. Have Americans got over the 9/11 attacks? The answer is no, many people continue to feel unsafe in the U.S, because of radical Islamist.

Israel is another story. They have been surrounded by enemies ever since Modern Israel was created. The Jewish people have been through a lot, in which they suffered a genocide. Why would they be scared? They already seen the worse in humanity and they have nothing to lose.

No one should be worried about Yoruba Muslims. They are the moderate Muslims in this nation, because Islam was spread to these people peacefully. In the North, you have another situation. The strict form of Islam was spread quite violently. Uthman dan Fodio didn't win converts by being peaceful, he ruthlessly annihilated "Muslims in name only." And his son carried on this practice as well. That is why I believe the North can be susceptible to the radical form of Islam.

tpia@:


how ironic that you cant see the irony in your statement.

Are we fighting wars in Southern Nigeria? We have an insurgency, but we do not have the same major battles that occur in Niger and Mali. The Tuareg Rebellion just ended May of last year. How can the inhabitants focus on attacking other countries, when they have to worry about their own safety within their own nation. Let us not forget the political situation that is happening in Niger. You cannot compare the two.

DapoBear:

Why is that same argument not true for say Niger Republic? Even Iran and Al Queda, will they give a damn about Northern Nigeria without oil? What threat would such a state pose?

The same is not true for the Niger Republic, because in that nation, you have Muslims fighting each other. Remember the Tuareg, "North Africa's bad boys," continue to pose a problem for both Mali and Niger. Muslims are fighting each other instead of focusing on non-Muslims and the West in these nations. As long as the Tuareg agitate for a country of their own, we do not have to worry much about them.

Beaf:

The above might be the only reason the West will stand against Nigeria's separation. They would rather prefer a strong South / Middle Belt and a weakened North in order to prevent Iranian or Al Qaeda influence growing in a poverty stricken North.
On the other hand, if Nigeria is to remain one, then a massive educational programe for the North is imperative. That is the only way to dramatically increase the quality of life for the man on the street and quench the sort of desperation that leads to the embrace of extreme religion.

Brilliant point! I didn't think of that. Not only the West should be concerned with Northern Nigeria, we also should be concerned. Poverty is rife in that region, and radical Islam is spreading ie. (Boko Haram). Educating the northern populace should be a task that we all should bear. It is not the populace fault that their elite is against improvement of their region. They use religion as a tool, since they know the people only have their religion.

Even if Nigeria ever splits, I would still be worried about the Northern population. We would not want to see Northern Nigeria become the next Somalia or Yemen. Radical elements in Northern Nigeria would remain a problem for all of its neighbors if we do not focus on educating the populace. Look at the attacks in Uganda and Kenya by Somali extremist. We cannot allow that to happen if worse comes to worse.

ladej:

sadly this trend of not speaking mother tongue is prevalent in diaspora. while diasporans can be excused to an extent[small one albeit], whats the excuse of those in nigeria who cannot speak their mother tongue. its sad

You bring up an interest point. This problem is very prevalent in the Diaspora. It doesn't if the person is an Asante, Woloof, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ewe etc, children born in the Diaspora are not able to speak their mother tongue. And you cannot really blame them. Some actually want to learn the language. It is kind of hard learning a language when you are not immersed in it daily. The fact in the matter, is that it is the parents duty to teach their children the language. It is a shame that many African parents do not want to teach their children the language, because they do not want their tongues to "spoil."

Concerning Nigerians who cannot speak their mother tongue living in Nigeria. I cannot really comprehend how that can happen. Especially, when there is plenty of opportunities to talk with people who speak you language. Even if you do not live in your homeland. I know of some Igbos who were raised in Lagos that do not even know how to speak Igbo. They only know "pidgin" English. It is a shame.

DapoBear:

Indeed. All of the Arab countries together at once, but they still got their @$$es kicked by Israel.

Arabs are not nearly as powerful in the world as one might think, even accounting for their oil.

The only power that they pose to the West and other nations is that they are able to export terrorism. Their brand of Islam (Wahabbi) is spreading throughout the Muslim world. This is the only threat they pose. However, this can become a major threat if we do not tackle this situation. There is 1 billion Muslims in this world, and most of them are moderate Muslims who do not subscribe to that brand of Islam. The West needs to prevent the Wahhabi movement from spreading from the Middle East.

You bring up a good point DapoBear. The Sudanese people have seen war. Especially, those in Southern Sudan and Western Sudan. Some Sudanese people have not seen peace in their entire lives. Sudan civil wars (pl) lasted decades. A lot of lives were lost, and the people of Southern Sudan will continue their struggle. They have been fighting for this long, why should they stop until they get freedom?

chyz:

We are all pawns in a game between whites and arabs. The same thing is happening in nigeria now as we speak. The arabs are supporting the northerners while the West has been supporting southerns because of our oil. They are already bringing africom to the south that is why there was a projection by the US of nigeria slitting around 2015.

You give the Arabs too much credit. There is no competition between them and the West. The future conflict is going to be between the West and China. The reason why the Arabs have a voice in this international system is, because they have oil. If they didn't have oil, the rest of the world would not worry about them. They are not strong militarily compared to other nations. Even tiny Israel, is able to defeat most Arab nations in a protracted war.

This is a very interesting thread. I am learning a lot about the Western Igbo clans.

Let us leave tribal sentiments out of this discussion. It serves no purpose.

chyz:

Southern sudan will be back by the West.They have accepted africom so it would be a tragedy for northern sudan if they decide to go into war.

It is interesting that you mention that. Northern Sudan does have the backing of the entire Arab World and China. Southern Sudan has the support of the West. This can prove an interesting show of power politics on the world stage.

Frankly, the Southern Sudanese deserve their own nation. Sudan has seen two civil wars already, between the North and the South. This does not include the conflict in the Western part of Sudan known as Darfur.

The Nigerian military is not as strong as people think unfortunately. A well organized civil war and not a rebellion would prove disastrous for the Nigerian military. It took the Nigerian military 3 years to defeat the rebel Biafrans, even after the Nigerian military most of the world's support and access to military equipment. Boko Haram is not very organized so I would not consider the military action against them as a show of strength. Finally, even after JTF has invaded the swamps of the Niger Delta, MEND and other militant groups continue to operate freely. It seems like the Nigerian military does better, when they are used in foreign countries than within their own country.

Let us take a wait and see approach. Right now, I see no implications for Nigeria as of yet, but that can change.

I do not feel that this secession will be peaceful, because oil is present in Southern Sudan and we all know how oil impacts African nations.

Happy Eid Mubarak to all the Muslims!

Enjoy yourselves!

Thieves!

monkeyleg:


I continue to say it that the present administration does not have the balls to clean up the system. There is no way that this sort of information would be out there and Atiku would be walking free, even thinkin of running for president, in a semi-sane society.

The whole system needs to be overhauled. We can start by not supporting PDP. Nothing good can come from supporting PDP. In a civilized nation, this man would be locked and his property confiscated. However, in Nigeria, he is able to run for president. This does not make sense to me. It just makes me angry when I think about it.

Kobojunkie:

Why does it take a US investigation for this to come to light. Why did the EFCC not catch this itself? Why has the same EFCC done next to nothing about the evidence linking Obasanjo to the halliburton scandal other than try to get someone else to pay for him?

These are the type of questions we should be all asking! We should not have to wait till the West tells us that they are criminals. The fact in the matter is that we already know.

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plans $232 Million Bond for Expansion in Sugar Cane

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, which processes grain and sells cement, will offer 35 billion naira ($232 million) of bonds this month and use the proceeds to build a sugar refinery in Lagos.

The sale forms part of a 70 billion-naira debt-issuance program that shareholders approved in August, the Lagos-based company said today in a presentation to investors. The book- building for the sale of the bonds, which will yield 10 percent to 12 percent, is expected to be completed this week, Pabina Yinkere, an analyst at Lagos-based Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., said by e-mail today.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and the continent’s biggest oil producer, is expected to import 1.4 million metric tons of raw sugar in 2010-11, up from 1.3 million tons in 2009-10, according to an April 13 estimate by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Local production is less than 5 percent of total consumption, according to the agency.

The refinery will have a capacity of 750,000 metric tons a year, and Flour Mills plans to develop a 15,000-hectare (37,000- acre) sugar-cane plantation, it said, without adding where the fields will be located. The two projects are scheduled for completion in 2012.

The investment units of United Bank for Africa Plc, the country’s largest lender by branches, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc are helping with the sale.

Dangote Industries

Dangote Industries, a group controlled by billionaire Aliko Dangote, is Nigeria’s largest domestic investor in the business, the USDA said. Its interests includes Dangote Sugar Refinery Co., the country’s largest refiner, which processes raw sugar imported from Brazil, and Savannah Sugar Co., which grows sugar cane in the northeastern state of Taraba, the U.S. agency said.

Flour Mills also plans to invest part of the bond proceeds in a new mill that will produce 1,000 metric tons of soft wheat a day and another for the production of 500 metric tons of pasta daily, the company said in the presentation.

Net income for the period through September increased 20 percent to 5.85 billion naira compared with a year earlier, the company said in a statement e-mailed by the Lagos-based Nigerian Stock Exchange on Nov. 12. The bourse described the period as the second quarter through September.

The share rose by 25 kobo, or 0.4 percent, to 68.5 naira at the close of trading on the Lagos bourse today.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Okolo in Abuja at pokolo@bloomberg.net.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-15/flour-mills-of-nigeria-plans-232-million-bond-for-expansion-in-sugar-cane.html

Inked_Nerd:


Yes, I know. Unfortunately, they never taught us that in school. A lot of the information that I learned about slavery wasn't even from school. Personally, I felt that the teachers that I had did a very poor job at teaching students about slavery. I always went out on my own to seek information about slavery and trafficking of people. I was very drawn to slavery in the Caribbean and the Latin Americas. In fact there was a documentary I came across about 3 years ago about black Mexican currently living in Mexico. I think there's a exhibit as well. If I can remember the name of the documentary I'll post it here.   

The black diaspora is very vast. Some people do not know that blacks were taken to Mexico, but they can be found in the Vera Cruz area and along the Mexican coast in large numbers. There is actually quite a large number of blacks in Colombia. 4 million to be exact, yet people do not discuss that. I remember I was dumbfounded when a girl in my course told everyone around us that she was from Colombia. We were all amazed, because we never knew blacks existed in Colombia.

What is even more amazing is that people do not discuss the Arab slave trade either. You have Black African communities in Turkey, Iraq and even in in India and Pakistan.

Slavery was very extensive and Africa is the only continent that seen the greatest amount of forced migration in human history.

Nigeria, Iran game off

Wednesday’s interna-tional friendly match between Nigeria and Iran has been called off by Nigeria.The game was scheduled to take place in Tehran on Wednesday, but Nigeria officials told KickOffNigeria.com that the unavailability of key players for the Super Eagles due to injuries has prompted the cancellation.

Both countries have also been involved in a diplomatic tiff following an arms shipment that landed at a Nigerian port, with the shipping company claiming the arms came from Iran.

It is a charge that Iran have denied.It means new Nigeria coach Samson Siasia will not get a chance to look at his team before he takes over on December 1.37-year-old can compete for another eight years at the top level.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/nigeria-iran-game-off/