₦airaland Forum

Isreal Sold Non-Functional Drones To Nigeria For $240m.


illitrate: Nigerian defence and security equipment contractor, Alh. Rabiu Hassan, yesterday, alleged that some Israeli security contractors (names withheld) were fleecing the nation of huge sums of money in hard currencies by supplying either non-functional equipments or collecting mobilisation fees without making supplies.

The contractor told journalists in Abuja that at a time the nation was facing dire security challenges, three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs, popularly known as drones, supplied by the Israelis were rotting away in a hangar in Benin because they were non-functional.

He added that even at that, Nigeria was made to pay far more than the cost of the most sophisticated drones currently used by United States of America, USA.

Hassan, who said he had petitioned the Presidency and relevant anti-corruption agencies, said although he was a contractor himself, he had to cry out for a probe into the activities of the affected companies with a view to arresting the situation.

He said: “As we talk, there are three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which are popularly called drones, supplied by the Israelis which have never worked. They are parked right now at a hangar in Benin. They have never worked since they were supplied.”

He said the non-functional drones cost the nation $240 million, adding that the Israeli behind the drones deal had operated in the country for over a decade and had infiltrated the top echelon of successive administrations in the country, where he had entrenched himself.

He equally disclosed that another set of two Israelis were on the verge of sealing a deal for leasing two spy satellites to Nigeria at a cost considered to be another rip-off as they had asked Nigeria to pay 145 million Euros for a project, which cost had been put at $40 million by Imagesat, the manufacturers in Israel.

Hassan said: “I have personally gone to Israel and found out from the manufacturers what the cost is. It is $40 million for the total project. It is curious that they (contractors) are quoting 145 million Euros.

“The Israeli company does not quote in Euros, they only quote in dollars. Nigerians must ask questions: is there any such contract at $145 million? This can’t happen elsewhere in the world.”

Hassan, who said he was crying out as a patriotic Nigeria, disclosed that he would be at the State Security Service, SSS, and the Office of the National Security on their invitation to give more details on his petition.

According to him, he had earlier made a preliminary statement at the SSS and was determined to ensure that the matter was not swept under the carpet. He said the entire activities of the Israeli firms in the nation’s security sector must be probed.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/isreali-contractors-sold-nigeria-240m-non-functional-drones/

https://www.nairaland.com/1093776/isreal-sold-non-functional-drones-nigeria

Israeli drones under African skies


Post 04 May 2006

Last Updated on 23 April 2008

By Yossi Melman, Haaretz

Hits: 3899


A few days ago, the American ambassador in Nigeria met with the Nigerian defense minister, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso. The ambassador complained about a major weapons deal that the Nigerian defense ministry had recently signed with the private Israeli company Aeronautics Defense Systems. He was upset that the deal had been given to an Israeli company without an international tender, thereby preventing American companies from bidding. Kwankwaso promised to clarify the issue and get back to him.

But despite the company and the Israeli Defense Ministry's concern over the American intervention, Israeli officials are convinced that the deal will go through.

The deal reflects only a small part of the operations of Aeronautics, a Yavneh-based company that manufactures drones and makes every effort to keep away from the media.


Largest arms deal

This is the largest arms deal that Israel has ever made with Nigeria. It was signed in the Nigerian capital in March between a local daughter company of Aeronautics and the Nigerian defense ministry. The Israeli company has agreed to design, develop, manufacture, install and prepare for operation three Aerostar Unmanned Aerial Vehicle intelligence systems and three Seastar systems for aerial and marine use. Each Aerostar system includes between three and six small unmanned planes, and each plane is equipped with sensors and cameras with both day- and night-vision capabilities. The drones can remain in the air for up to 14 hours.

The Seastar systems have drones that operate from ships and will be used by the Nigerian navy in the Delta region of the Niger River, an oil-rich area that in the last few months has become a battlefield where militias and guerrilla groups are fighting the federal government.

The increasing demand for oil and the hike in oil prices has turned the area into a strategically important region that serves as a focus of activity for American, British and French oil companies - and recently, also Chinese, Russian and Korean companies.

The Aeronautics deal is unusually large for Nigeria, which recently agreed to purchase 15 warplanes and flight training planes from China for a quarter of a billion dollars - $10 million less than it is paying for the Israeli deal.

The aggressive operating and marketing methods practiced by Aeronautics, which was founded in 1997 and is not selective in its choice of clients, have embroiled it in international scandals and a police inquiry over the last two years.

The company's expertise lies in supplying intelligence systems, primarily via drones. At first it won a tender to supply drone services to the IDF for activity in the Gaza area.

Aeronautics beat out Israel Aircraft Industries by offering its services at low prices. With an IDF contract in its pocket, Aeronautics was able to boast, as other manufacturers do, that the system had "proven itself in battle."

The early success whetted the appetite of the small company, which soon began ogling international markets. Aeronautics began operating in African countries, in the midst of civil war, whose corrupt regimes had a rich history of civil-rights violations, such as Equatorial Guinea.

The company's official Web site states that it is now active in India, the United States, England, Ethiopia, Russia, Nepal and Taiwan.


Ivory Coast dealings

In 2005 Aeronautics sold drones to the army of the Ivory Coast, involved in a civil war, while a French peace force was located there. A French unit gained control of Aeronautics equipment and destroyed it.

The Israeli involvement angered France, which demanded that Israel's Defense Ministry instruct Aeronautics and other Israeli companies to cut all ties with the Ivory Coast immediately and obey UN sanctions.

After a delay of several months, Israel was compelled to join countries around the world in imposing sanctions and halting the export of weapons to the Ivory Coast.

It was another episode that led to a police investigation of Aeronautics. The inquiry centered around the suspicion that the company had transferred information to a company in Russia without the Israeli government's permission. The Defense Ministry official responsible for security, Yehiel Horev, has been able to demand serious indictments for similar, suspected violations in the past, but the case was closed in this instance; the official reason was that the company was suspected of "technical violations."


A blind eye

This forgiving attitude toward Aeronautics gave people involved in the security export field the impression that the company had high-level patrons. Its board of directors and consultants include Major General Avigdor ("Yanush" Ben-Gal and former IDF chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, and previously included former Shin Bet security service head Yaakov Perry as well. Perry said he left the company more than a year ago and was not involved in the Nigeria deal. Ben-Gal did not respond to a Haaretz request for comment.

Two Israeli businessmen - Alon Nelken from Savyon and Amit Sadeh, who represents him in Nigeria - mediated the Aeronautics-Nigeria deal. Both are well-connected to Nigerian government officials. To seal the deal, they enlisted the help of former Nigerian president General Ibrahim Babangida, who convinced the country's national security adviser - Lieutenant General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, a powerful figure in Nigeria - of the importance of the Aeronautics deal.

Nelken, 52, came to Nigeria about 25 years ago as a representative of Israeli construction company Solel Boneh. He stayed there, working as a real estate entrepreneur and the owner of a security consulting company. He owns, among other projects, the Mega Plaza mall in Lagos.

The Nigerian government has already paid an advance of 10 percent ($26 million) for the Aeronautics deal, and some $5 million of that amount has been allocated to various agents.

Nelken and Sadeh are not listed in the Israeli Defense Ministry's security assistance division, apparently indicating that they are not allowed to be involved in security exports from Israel or even to conduct negotiations related to such imports. In response to a query on this matter, Aeronautics said: "This is a question that Nelken must be asked." Nelken confirmed that he had been involved in the deal, but refused to describe the extent of his involvement. The Defense Ministry did not respond to questions on the matter.

Nelken and Auronautics said the company had won the tender legally, beating out an American company, and is operating with the coordination and approval of the Israeli Defense Ministry.


History of close ties

Israel and Nigeria - the most populated country in Africa - share a history of close ties. Israeli companies operate in Nigeria in the fields of infrastructure, communications and agriculture. Hundreds of Israelis live there and ships belonging to the Israeli Zim shipping company stop at Nigerian ports. The two countries have long had security ties, and Israeli companies have previously sold Nigeria weapons for its police and military forces and its intelligence services.

Until a few years ago, Israeli Brigadier General (Res.) Shlomo Ilya was one of the major players in the supply of arms and security equipment to Nigeria. At the time, he was joined by Ben-Gal and Meir Dagan, now head of the Mossad.

Several Israeli companies operate in the Niger Delta, including JDP, which is owned by the Ashtrom International construction group and SCC, owned by Yosef Kalish from Haifa (who also owns the Sharbiv construction company in Israel.)

These companies are involved in infrastructure and agriculture initiatives and employ hundreds of workers.


Good for the State of Israel?

The Israeli embassy in Abuja was in on the secret contacts. Ambassador Noam Katz refused to discuss the issue, but an official Israeli source said that the deal involved "equipment that doesn't shoot," and that it was good for the State of Israel, especially in light of Nigeria's strengthened position as one of the world's major oil exporters.

However, some Israelis - and not just business competitors - are criticizing the deal. They say they are concerned that the presence of Israeli arms in Nigeria, especially in the Delta region, is liable to have negative ramifications. An Israeli businessman warned there was a fear that "due to the deal, the local population, with which we have excellent ties, will identify Israel and Israelis with its enemies."

http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/newsflash/israeli-drones-under-african-skies.html

GULMA DRONE BY NIGERIA IS AN ISRAEL PROCURED PRODUCT

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/nigerias-multibillion-naira-drones-obsolete-israeli-experts/

The South African Air Force currently musters 23 operational fighter aircrew. The Ministry of Defence says the flying service musters 10 Gripen aircrew (eight pilots, two navigators) and 13 Hawk aircrew, all pilots.

Last November Sisulu stated the SAAF had 60 posts for combat pilots, of which 34 were filled at the time and 26 were vacant. The number relates to the total of fighters the SAAF should operate by 2012: 24 BAE Systems Mk120 Hawk lead-in fighter trainers and 26 SAAB Gripen advanced light fighter aircraft, the former with 85 Combat Flying School and the latter with 2 Squadron, both co-located at Air Force Base Makhado in Limpopo. This amounts to 50 aircraft. To date, all 24 Hawk have been delivered and 15 of the Gripen.

THAT WAS IN 2010

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11203:saaf-boasts-23-fighter-aircrew&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107

Around $15 billion - equal to about half the country's foreign currency reserves - was stolen from Nigeria's public purse under the previous government through fraudulent arms procurement deals, the vice president said on Monday.

Africa's top oil exporter is going through its worst economic crisis in decades due to the drop in global crude prices and ministers say these problems have been exacerbated by the impact of fraud under previous administrations.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who last year won election fought on his vow to crackdown on corruption, has said the theft of "mind boggling" sums of oil money meant state coffers were virtually empty in Africa's biggest economy when he took office last May.

Corruption charges have been levelled against former military chiefs and companies accused of involvement in an alleged arms procurement fraud during the tenure of Buhari's predecessor Goodluck Jonathan. They have pleaded not guilty.

The total sum lost to corruption related to the provision of security equipment to the military and amounted to around 15 billion US dollars, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43330:15-billion-stolen-in-nigerian-arms-procurement-fraud&catid=54:Governance&Itemid=118

The NAF ORBAT as at February 2007 was follows:

Fighter Fleet. The 14 Alpha Jet ground attack aircraft located at Kainji were the only fixed wing combat aircraft currently in flying status. A total of 23 Mig-21 Air Defence Interceptors had been grounded since 1988. And the 15 Jaguar Recce Interdiction aircraft had also been grounded since 1988.
Transport Fleet. The NAF operated the C-130H and the G-222 for heavy and medium air lift respectively. Also, the Do-228 was available for light transport and liaison duties. The G-222s were all grounded while undergoing fleet reactivation and upgrade, while all the C-130s were grounded, as they had been scheduled for Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM). The serviceability of the Do-228 and C-130 as at February 2007 ranged from 15% to 0%. The 11 DO- 128-6 Liaison Transports were grounded, while the 5 DO–228 Liaison Transports were operational.
Helicopters Fleet. The NAF helicopter fleet comprised the Super Puma helicopter and the Mi-35P armed helicopter. As at February 2007 the Super Puma fleet was grounded, although there are efforts for its reactivation. The current serviceability status of the Mi-35P was on the average 33%.
Trainer Fleet. For primary flying training, the NAF had the ABT-18 aircraft for ab-intio training. The L-39ZA, MB-339 and Mi34 were used for basic flying training. The MB-339 fleet was grounded awaiting activation of a signed contract for its upgrade while the serviceability rate of the L-39ZA as at February 2007 was 25%.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/nigeria/air-force-equipment-intro.htm

Senior leaders of the Air Force cannot explain why Nigeria even needs an Air Force, but they continue to pursue combat aircraft to battle an unknown threat. Nigeria has an Air Force with few functional aircraft. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is largely irrelevant. Most of the Generals are pilots who feel the need to focus on fighter aircraft to protect Nigerian airspace against foreign incursion (by whom they won't say). With the exception of the helicopter fleet being used in the Niger Delta, most of NAF's aircraft are non-functional. There are six times as many general officers and flag officers in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Nigerian Navy (NN) as there are operational ships and aircraft.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/nigeria/air-force.htm

The Aerostar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) acquired by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in 2006 have reportedly been grounded due to a lack of maintenance, limiting surveillance operations against Boko Haram militants. Meanwhile the US has deployed a Predator team to Chad to search for kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.

The nine Aerostar UAVs were acquired in 2006 and 2007 from Aeronautics Defense Systems (ADS), a company based in the Israeli capital Tel Aviv in a contract which also included the supply of unmanned patrol boats to the Nigerian Navy, bringing the net value of the contract to $260 million.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted ADS marketing officer Tsur Dvir and military and diplomatic sources as saying that the Nigerian UAVs became inoperable five year ago due to poor maintenance.

“To the best of our knowledge, these systems aren’t operational. We did receive an inquiry from them (Nigerian Air Force) about spare parts, but it never turned into a deal. I wish it had but now the drones are probably parked in a yard somewhere," Dvir said.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34782:nigerian-air-force-uav-fleet-grounded&catid=35:Aerospace

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE

SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES IN JOINT EXERCISES WITH BRAZILIAN SPECIAL FORCES

SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES AND BRAZIL SPECIAL FORCES IN JOINT SEABORNE EXERCISE

SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES IN JOINT EXERCISES WITH BRAZILIAN SPECIAL FORCES

SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES AND BRAZIL SPECIAL FORCES IN JOINT SEABORNE EXERCISE

JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE IN SEA BORNE BETWEEN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES

JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE IN SEA BORNE BETWEEN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES

JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE IN SEA BORNE BETWEEN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES

JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE IN SEA BORNE BETWEEN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES

JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE IN SEA BORNE BETWEEN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES

Evidence proves that the $10 million was awarded to the CONCAF to assist with diaspora projects. if you think its bribe, fine but you have to prove it. Jack Warner decided to help himself to the donation...which South Africa offered in good gesture. Atleast the money never went to South African officials pockets as it is the case with Nigeria.

Even if it was a bribe atleast, it was good bribe as Africa benefitted.

Nigerians have rejected the Federal Government’s apology for the deplorable supply of electricity and fuel across the country.

A consistent decline in the nation’s electricity supply has led to a blackout nationwide, causing Nigerians huge economic hardship in their efforts to provide electricity and water to their homes.

The Federal Government had on Friday apologised to Nigerians for the blackout and the inherent hardship it had caused them.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, in a statement on Friday, had said all efforts were being made to rectify the situation and ensure a gradual improvement in the power situation.

According to Mohammed, a combination of different incidents, including gas shortage, vandalism, sabotage, protests by power and petroleum workers, are responsible for crashing the power supply.

Mohammed said, “Due to these factors, only 13 of the 24 power stations in the country are currently functioning. It is this same kind of unsavoury situation that has affected fuel supply and subjected Nigerians to untold hardship.

“We admonish all Nigerians who may be agitating for their rights in whatever form to refrain from any action that will further hurt the same people they claim to be protecting.”

But several Nigerians rejected the apology on Saturday, while they lamented the economic challenges experienced daily.

In a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, a former Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said, “Nigerians don’t accept apologies under such circumstances. We want action and solution and if we can have this problem of fuel scarcity at a time when the executive President (Muhammadu Buhari) is the Minister of Petroleum Resources, then, it means we can expect the worst on the economy and a whole country.

“This whole thing is under the President and yet we have this crisis. It is a serious implication, which means we can experience worse in other sectors of the economy, if the president is not directly in control of the ministers and other top officials.

“We want reasons why this should continue, especially while the President is the minister for oil.”

A Niger Delta activist, Ms. Annkio Briggs, also stated that apologies given when one is genuinely sorry over an issue.

Briggs told one of our correspondents that when an apology is given, it gives an indication that things are going to get better and the reason for the apology will not happen again.

She added, “But does that mean we are going to get better power supply? Today, I got fuel for about N160 per litre; not at the black market but at the filling station, and the government said we are to buy it for about N87.

“People are buying fuel for over N100 per litre to have fuel in their vehicles and light in their homes. We need fuel to give ourselves light. The question here is, what is the apology supposed to do to Nigerians? Is the apology to stabilise the price of petrol back to what it used to be? Are we going to have constant electricity?

“The solution is to find a way to solve the situation and not about an apology that won’t bring about change to the country. Meanwhile, there’s no use for the apology if we don’t have power supply; if the price of fuel is not back to the normal price.”

Also, the Chairman of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Mr. Ledun Mitee, in a separate interview, described Federal Government’s apology as a publicity strategy.

He said, “It is good public relations for them to say they apologise but are those explanations plausible? I do not readily buy into accusations directed towards crime as the reason for fuel scarcity, instability of fuel price and lack of constant power supply.

“I do not value the explanations; if there are issues we should know, it should be brought out for public discussion, rather than be blamed on things like vandalism. It’s not a matter of apology, what Nigerians want is delivery on power supply to turn the economy around. This issue affects all people.”

He added that the level of economic downturn in the country was on the increase and that something should be done immediately after the apology to help Nigerians fight the issue of blackout

Several Nigerians also rejected the apology on PUNCH’s social media platforms. On PUNCH’s Facebook page, Bobby Brown said, “Nigerians do not accept your apology. You’ve failed the nation.”

Omisore Kunle also said, “I have always said these government people are not sincere with us any longer! There is no petrol to operate our generators and still no electricity. God help us!”

Similarly, Mobola Adesola said, “After 50 years that is the best that they can come up with? Come on!”

Olugbenga Oyesanmi also said, “When will this blame game stop? Every infraction since Buhari resumed office has been blamed on someone else (a boogeyman). The buck stops at his desk. I overwhelmingly supported Buhari. However, this is looking more like ‘a bridge to nowhere.’”

In her submission, Abiola Kahdijat said, “When GEJ (former President Goodluck Jonathan) said this, they called him clueless and boasted that they would do differently, but the situation is even far worse under the All Progressives Congress-led government.

“Since the APC government has continued to deny all its electoral promises, all we ask from them is to maintain the little infrastructure they met on ground. But it seems that’s also an impossible task for the government.”

Another Nigerian, Peterson Nzube, also stated that electricity supply was better under Jonathan, despite the threat posed by vandals.

“APC, you had solutions to all Nigeria’s problem, while you were not in power. Now that you’re in power, you have no single idea again. In less than a year of your regime, you cannot even maintain the megawatts you met, let alone increase it. Rather, it depreciated by 1,000MW. God save Nigeria,” Nzube added.

According to Samuel Bello, it is only in Nigeria that government knows all the problems facing the country but has no solution.

“These were the same stories we heard before the sales of the electricity companies to themselves. Now it has changed from bad to worse. It exhibits the ignorance and ineptitude of those in power. Nigerians have yet to see anybody arraigned in courts of law for sabotage, so, please sing another song. We are tired of excuses; fix it!” Bello said.

Similarly, Bello Eshiofune, asked the Federal Government to swing into action and stop giving excuses.

On PUNCH’s website, Clippers12 said, “So the apology means to sit back do no action? Instead of wasting money on government cars, let’s import solar panels for those who need it, then build from there; at least, start somewhere or do something and not shout ‘we are sorry.’”

Another contributor, Trouble, said, “Excuses, excuses and more excuses. When will Nigerians ever enjoy the God given resources with peace and joy? At every turn, it is just worries and woes for us. Maybe we should change our name. The suffering is too much.”

Earth Voice said, “That is what we get, 50 years sold oil yet no steady electricity in a country. Other countries of the world ruled by military men are far better than Nigeria; at least, they have steady electricity.”

The Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, also berated the government for its inability to fix the power problem.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said, “Apology is good but it won’t power the homes. We need to see concrete steps being taken to increase power generation and distribution in our country. We should not be asked to pay more for darkness like the power ministry has done lately.”

Despite the decision by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to increase electricity tariff by 45 per cent from February 1, 2016, Nigerians have remained in darkness.

The situation had been worsened by fuel scarcity and price hikes nationwide.

The nation achieved its peak generation of 5,074.70MW on February 2, when 4,541.85MW was generated and 4,447.88MW was sent out. But a partial system collapse on Tuesday, in addition to the continuous drop in electricity generation owing to vandalism of pipelines that supply gas to the power plants, led to the highly pronounced power failures across the country.

As a result, power generation dropped to 1,580.6 megawatts as of Wednesday.

The partial system collapse that occurred on Tuesday reportedly happened at the Shiroro Power Plant and dragged down electricity generation to as low as 1,233.4MW from a peak of 3,207.7MW recorded on the same day.

The drop in generation caused severe reduction in load allocation from the national grid to the distribution firms.

Alternative power sources become costlier

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the prices of alternative means of electricity had increased.

The price of Tiger generators, popularly referred to as ‘I better pass my neighbour’ generators, which is the smallest in the range of petrol-powered generators, has increased from about N15,000 to about N25,000 in the last one month.

The Elepaq generator, which is next in terms capacity, has also gone from N35,000 to N68,000 since February. Another category of generators, which used to cost N59,000, now goes for N80,000.

It was also learnt that the cost of diesel-powered generators had increased over the past one month. The retail price of 20KVA generators increased from N1.25m to N2.4m; 60KVA, N2.5m to N3.4m; and 500KVA, N11m to 14.4m.

Before, a carton of candle was N6,200. Now it is N8,000. In some parts of Lagos, a 25-litre keg of water, which used to cost N10, now costs N30. It is worse in some parts of Ikeja where the price of a 20-litre gallon has increase by 100 per cent, from N25 to N50.

It was also learnt that a middle-sized torchlight which used to cost N90 is now N160.

‘Nigerians likely to face more blackouts’

Indications have emerged that the blackout being experienced across the country may not end soon, as electricity power generation from gas-fired and hydro plants are increasingly threatened.

It remains unclear when repair works would be completed on the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System and the Forcados export terminal, as the continued shut-down of the facilities affect affect gas supply to power plants.

A platform on the ELPS was recently sabotaged, while a pipeline leak on Forcados export terminal forced Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limitked to halt production into the terminal in February.

It was recently reported that it was likely to take until early April before the pipeline is repaired and oil production and flow to the export terminal resumed.

An energy expert and Technical Director, Drilling Services, Template Design Limited, Mr. Bala Zakka, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday, said, “We are foreseeing a likely energy crisis in the country,” considering the imminent fall in power generation from hydro power plants.

“We are going to have issues with gas supply. The Escravos pipeline has been tampered with. Definitely, most of the thermal power plants that are being supplied gas through that pipeline are likely to be affected. So, there will be supply issue for the next one month or slightly more than that.”

Noting that it had been forecasted that rainfall may be low this year, Zakka said, “That means the quantum of electricity we normally get from the combination of Shiroro, Jebba and Kainji dams will be very low, and that means we have to rely seriously on the thermal stations.

“So, there is a need for us to do something about supplying gas to the generation companies, and a need for proper regulation so that the distribution companies can effectively distribute.”

“The shortage of power supply has led to a high demand for petrol and diesel by households and businesses, and this is not supposed to be so.”

The Special Adviser on Gas to the immediate past Minister of Power, Mr. Frank Edozie, described the current state of power supply in the country as bad and unfortunate.

“The start of it was the gas facility that was blown on the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System, and then the closure of the Forcados export pipeline that resulted to condensate build-up, which meant a number of gas producers had to shut in,” he said.

Edozie added that he expected an improvement in gas supply to power plants in coming days following the suspension of the strike “until the Forcados pipeline is repaired, and then the ELPS, which will take a little time to repair.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited, one of the generation companies in the country, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, told our correspondent that “gas supply continues to be a major constraint.”

“We are having issues because of the pressure of the line for NGC (Nigerian Gas Company); they are not building up enough pressure for us to run our plant. So, that’s the problem we are having.

“We are engaging the gas suppliers to make sure we able to get the gas. They are responding and we are hoping that we can come to some solution quickly.”

An energy law and policy expert/Senior Associate at Lagos-based law firm, Banwo & Ighodalo, Mr. Ayodele Oni, also noted that the strike by electricity workers in connection with the termination of the contract of employment of some staff of Ikeja Electricity Distribution plc and the sabotage by some workers had affected power supply in Lagos.

“There has also been the vandalism of some gas and some other power sector installations. Repairs are now being undertaken and supply should improve soon,” he said.

The Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, however said Nigerians would expect an improvement in power supply this week.

He said, “Power generation is expected to inch towards a 4,000MW mark and then rise to 5074MW.”

http://www.punchng.com/blackout-nigerians-reject-buharis-apology/

This week South Africa's President Jacob Zuma visited Nigeria and stressed that Africa's two economic giants could work together. Relations have been fraught, not helped by South African deaths in a Nigerian pastor's building and a $5bn Nigerian fine for a South African phone company.

Here, two writers take a tongue-in-cheek look at how the nations see each other.

How us South Africans view Nigerians

Milton Nkosi, Johannesburg
The view of Nigerians by South Africans can be described as a form of sibling rivalry, at best.


South Africans generally see Nigerians as having a chip on their shoulder along with an over-confidence tinged with a bit of arrogance.

Each time there's a so-called 419 email scam involving strangers offering millions of dollars in exchange for banking details, locals here tend to blame it on the Nigerians.

That's even if there is no evidence of which country the scam originates from.

Stereotypically, problems such as organised crime - including drug lords and prostitution rings - are seen as a Nigerian import.

Newspapers were very critical of Nigeria when a church building collapsed in Lagos two years ago killing 106 people - 81 of them were South African.


Authorities in the capital Pretoria complained that the bodies were not repatriated quickly enough.

The current deadlock between South African telecoms giant company MTN and Nigerian authorities about the $5bn (£3.5bn) fine imposed by Nigeria sits comfortably amongst many other squabbles.

I think South Africans have never honestly accepted being leap-frogged by Nigeria to the number one spot as Africa's largest economy .

Until 2014 South Africa had always held the number one position.

So it came as some sort of relief to locals here, when data was released saying Johannesburg had more than twice as many dollar millionaires as Lagos.

The xenophobic attacks last year did not help the situation, even though no Nigerians who attacked specifically because of their nationality.

Nigeria recalled two diplomats after a row about visa restrictions, although both capitals denied that was the reason.
Sometimes it deteriorates to a level of frivolous accusations that Nigerian men who come into the country with the financial strength of hard currency take South African women from the local boys.

How us Nigerians view South Africans
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Abuja
To many Nigerians, South Africa is the closest to the West that you can find on the African continent.

The country's shops could be mistaken for those found on Oxford Street in London.
Its roads are smooth and wide.
And its climate gives your complexion that peculiar glow which lets everyone back home know, without your having to boast, that you have just returned from abroad.
All this makes South Africa the holiday destination of choice for many Nigerians whenever an American or British visa is proving too hard to get.


And so, it is with sadness that Nigeria watches as South Africa regresses in ways that were previously associated with other African countries, such as frequent electricity outages.

If they succeed in ruining their country, where else in Africa shall we seek a similar haven whenever the West doesn't want us?
Although, to be honest, our sadness is tinged with a good dose of schadenfreude.
Nigerians feel that South Africans hate us, even if their hatred is of a paradoxical kind.
They hate us for our "swagger", our ability to command instant attention by hook or crook.


They hate us for being the walking, living proof that colour of skin is not a sufficient deterrent to economic success in post-apartheid South Africa.

They hate us for our smartness and sharpness, which sometimes leads to the swiping of a few hundred thousand rand.
On the other hand, they love our musicians and Nollywood actresses and pastors.
And their women keep getting swept off their feet by our men.

Nigerians feel that many South Africans would rather we were tipped off the edge of the continent, leaving them to take the stage as Africa's one and only beautiful bride.

But, like wise co-wives in polygamous arrangements all over the world, Nigerians know that we must learn to live with them.
After all, there is more than enough space in Africa for the two countries and their peoples to shine.


Who wins the numbers game?

Biggest economy : Nigeria wins, with a GDP of $568.5bn in 2014 compared to $350.1bn in South Africa

Most millionaires in one city: South Africa wins with 23,400 in Johannesburg, compared to 9,100 in Lagos

Most people: Nigeria wins by quite a bit with 177.5 million people compared to 54 million in South Africa

Most educated: All South Africans go to primary school compared to 85% of Nigerians

Longest lives: South Africans live longer, with a life expectancy of 57 years compared to 52 for Nigerians


Sources: World Bank, AfrAsia Bank


www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35763121


COMMENTS ABOUT NIGERIANS REGARDING SOUTH AFRICA
https://www.nairaland.com/2987796/nigeria-v-south-africa-battle

Saab Grintek Defence to provide SA Navy with TactiCall communications system

Saab Grintek Defence (SGD) has been awarded a contract by Armscor (IMT - Institute Maritime Technology) for a TactiCall Integrated Communications System, which will be installed at the Navy’s Silvermine Maritime Domain Awareness Centre (MDAC) by the end of May this year.

In an announcement today, Saab Grintek Defence said that TactiCall connects different communication technologies regardless of radio band, frequency and hardware, enhancing efficiency, overview and increasing operations tempo.

“The current system being installed can be further developed into a much more advanced TactiCall solution. A more advanced system will connect personnel across all communication media, including radios (Tetra, HF, VHF and UHF) and phones, and creates a central control point for public address and general alarm (PAGA), closed-circuit TV (CCTV), video conferencing and non-directional beacons (NDB),” SGD said.

“The TactiCall system makes communication easier, more efficient and is platform-agnostic, ensuring that no vessel or station will ever be out of contact with other sites,” said Hein van den Ende, Saab Marketing Executive: Maritime for Sub-Saharan Africa at Saab. “The system integrates a multitude of different frequency bands, networks and radio equipment into one central user interface solution that makes communication easy, secure and seamless.”

The system connects all communication elements through a single IP network, creating ‘TactiCall Nets’- virtual talk groups with unlimited users to ensure efficient communication at all times. The central user interface supports a broad range of push-to-talk (PTT) and audio devices, meaning that new clients can still use their existing infrastructure.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42734:saab-grintek-defence-to-provide-sa-navy-with-tacticall-communications-system&catid=108:maritime-security&Itemid=233

SEE HOW A HORSE IS TRANSPORTED IN LAGOS

http://www.lailasblog.com/2016/03/see-how-lagos-driver-transported-horse.html

I THOUGHT BOKO HARAM WAS TECHNICALLY DEFEATED

Military in gun battle with Boko Haram in Borno
There is a heavy fighting going on at strategic Bita town near Gwoza in Borno state between Boko Haram and the Military.

The fighting that started last night when insurgents in an attemtp to capture Gwoza attacked a military facility at Bita where they met a stiff resistatnce from the army, went on throughout Monday night and continued Tuesday morning.

The fight was said to have forced the military to deploy fighter jets from Yola to support ground troops who were being overwhelmed.

A source close to the ongoing war said the quick response by the jets was a big relief to the troops.

Gwoza is one of the Borno twons recaptured from the militants, and some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the area returned there recently on the assurance that normalcy has been restored to the area.


http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/military-in-gun-battle-with-boko-haram-in-borno/137013.html#qXRH5AdbdTXWHrfg.99

South Africa will send its special forces to assist Nigeria in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

This was revealed on Monday by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, during a meeting with his South African counterpart, Nobise Mapisa-Nqakula, in Abuja.

The Minister stated that discussions on the deployment of South Africa’s special forces had reached an advanced stage and the arrangement would soon be concluded.



“It is a very good thing that we are thinking that South Africa being our close ally should come and help us in developing our industrial complex, that is the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria.”

“We are of the opinion that very soon, when the two Commanders-in-Chief meet, and the visit is finalised, we will look into going deep on how the two countries will work together and come to an agreement on the MoU and technical expertise between the two countries.”

South Africa will send its special forces to assist Nigeria in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

This was revealed on Monday by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, during a meeting with his South African counterpart, Nobise Mapisa-Nqakula, in Abuja.

The Minister stated that discussions on the deployment of South Africa’s special forces had reached an advanced stage and the arrangement would soon be concluded.

“It is a very good thing that we are thinking that South Africa being our close ally should come and help us in developing our industrial complex, that is the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria.”

“We are of the opinion that very soon, when the two Commanders-in-Chief meet, and the visit is finalised, we will look into going deep on how the two countries will work together and come to an agreement on the MoU and technical expertise between the two countries.”

WE HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS THAT NIGERIA IS NOT ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY.....MOREOVER THEIR MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS RUDIMENTARY AND NOTHING TO COMPARE.....ALAS PRAISE SINGERS@AUGUSTUS HAS BEEN DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE......NOTE THE ROOIVALK ABOUT COUNTRIES INTRESTED IN BUYING

The Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Isyaku Umar, has lamented that the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna has only one serviceable aircraft for the training of officers and men.

Umar told Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh, who was on his maiden familiarization tour of the NAF base in Kaduna yesterday that “the NAF base has only one serviceable aircraft used in the training of its personnel”, saying the training base needs a minimum of three aircraft to be able to conduct its local training as well as VIP missions. He said since his assumption the command has been able to aid the federal overnment’s efforts in internal security operations with men and helicopter deployment and has as well participated actively in the recent Mali operation in line with NAF’s directives.

https://beegeagle./2013/02/08/nigerian-air-forces-301-flying-training-school-in-kaduna-has-only-one-serviceable-aircraft-of-the-required-complement-of-3-trainer-aircraft-11-student-and-instructor-pilots-conclude-training-at-303/

Senior leaders of the Air Force cannot explain why Nigeria even needs an Air Force, but they continue to pursue combat aircraft to battle an unknown threat. Nigeria has an Air Force with few functional aircraft. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is largely irrelevant. Most of the Generals are pilots who feel the need to focus on fighter aircraft to protect Nigerian airspace against foreign incursion (by whom they won't say). With the exception of the helicopter fleet being used in the Niger Delta, most of NAF's aircraft are non-functional. There are six times as many general officers and flag officers in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Nigerian Navy (NN) as there are operational ships and aircraft.

As of 2009, most of its fleets were grounded and its training institutions were constrained with shortages of technical skills such as instructors and institutional facilities. The highest percentage of the actual allocation to NAF compared with the annual budget proposal was just 31% in 2002. Evidently, the current budgetary allocations to the NAF cannot sustain effective and efficient aircraft maintenance activities. This is due to the constraints in spares acquisition. Lack of funding has been responsible for an inability to preserve aircraft regularly… Aircraft become due for Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) with time, and not by hours flown, because they are most of the time grounded for unserviceability. The reasons for unserviceability are usually traceable to lack of spares occasioned by insufficient funding.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/nigeria/air-force.htm

BLUE LIES NO CAPACITY TO PRODUCE YOUR OWN....MAYBE THROUGH REVERSE ENGINEERING

Israeli drones under African skies


Post 04 May 2006

Last Updated on 23 April 2008

By Yossi Melman, Haaretz

Hits: 3899


A few days ago, the American ambassador in Nigeria met with the Nigerian defense minister, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso. The ambassador complained about a major weapons deal that the Nigerian defense ministry had recently signed with the private Israeli company Aeronautics Defense Systems. He was upset that the deal had been given to an Israeli company without an international tender, thereby preventing American companies from bidding. Kwankwaso promised to clarify the issue and get back to him.

But despite the company and the Israeli Defense Ministry's concern over the American intervention, Israeli officials are convinced that the deal will go through.

The deal reflects only a small part of the operations of Aeronautics, a Yavneh-based company that manufactures drones and makes every effort to keep away from the media.


Largest arms deal

This is the largest arms deal that Israel has ever made with Nigeria. It was signed in the Nigerian capital in March between a local daughter company of Aeronautics and the Nigerian defense ministry. The Israeli company has agreed to design, develop, manufacture, install and prepare for operation three Aerostar Unmanned Aerial Vehicle intelligence systems and three Seastar systems for aerial and marine use. Each Aerostar system includes between three and six small unmanned planes, and each plane is equipped with sensors and cameras with both day- and night-vision capabilities. The drones can remain in the air for up to 14 hours.

The Seastar systems have drones that operate from ships and will be used by the Nigerian navy in the Delta region of the Niger River, an oil-rich area that in the last few months has become a battlefield where militias and guerrilla groups are fighting the federal government.

The increasing demand for oil and the hike in oil prices has turned the area into a strategically important region that serves as a focus of activity for American, British and French oil companies - and recently, also Chinese, Russian and Korean companies.

The Aeronautics deal is unusually large for Nigeria, which recently agreed to purchase 15 warplanes and flight training planes from China for a quarter of a billion dollars - $10 million less than it is paying for the Israeli deal.

The aggressive operating and marketing methods practiced by Aeronautics, which was founded in 1997 and is not selective in its choice of clients, have embroiled it in international scandals and a police inquiry over the last two years.

The company's expertise lies in supplying intelligence systems, primarily via drones. At first it won a tender to supply drone services to the IDF for activity in the Gaza area.

Aeronautics beat out Israel Aircraft Industries by offering its services at low prices. With an IDF contract in its pocket, Aeronautics was able to boast, as other manufacturers do, that the system had "proven itself in battle."

The early success whetted the appetite of the small company, which soon began ogling international markets. Aeronautics began operating in African countries, in the midst of civil war, whose corrupt regimes had a rich history of civil-rights violations, such as Equatorial Guinea.

The company's official Web site states that it is now active in India, the United States, England, Ethiopia, Russia, Nepal and Taiwan.


Ivory Coast dealings

In 2005 Aeronautics sold drones to the army of the Ivory Coast, involved in a civil war, while a French peace force was located there. A French unit gained control of Aeronautics equipment and destroyed it.

The Israeli involvement angered France, which demanded that Israel's Defense Ministry instruct Aeronautics and other Israeli companies to cut all ties with the Ivory Coast immediately and obey UN sanctions.

After a delay of several months, Israel was compelled to join countries around the world in imposing sanctions and halting the export of weapons to the Ivory Coast.

It was another episode that led to a police investigation of Aeronautics. The inquiry centered around the suspicion that the company had transferred information to a company in Russia without the Israeli government's permission. The Defense Ministry official responsible for security, Yehiel Horev, has been able to demand serious indictments for similar, suspected violations in the past, but the case was closed in this instance; the official reason was that the company was suspected of "technical violations."


A blind eye

This forgiving attitude toward Aeronautics gave people involved in the security export field the impression that the company had high-level patrons. Its board of directors and consultants include Major General Avigdor ("Yanush" Ben-Gal and former IDF chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, and previously included former Shin Bet security service head Yaakov Perry as well. Perry said he left the company more than a year ago and was not involved in the Nigeria deal. Ben-Gal did not respond to a Haaretz request for comment.

Two Israeli businessmen - Alon Nelken from Savyon and Amit Sadeh, who represents him in Nigeria - mediated the Aeronautics-Nigeria deal. Both are well-connected to Nigerian government officials. To seal the deal, they enlisted the help of former Nigerian president General Ibrahim Babangida, who convinced the country's national security adviser - Lieutenant General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, a powerful figure in Nigeria - of the importance of the Aeronautics deal.

Nelken, 52, came to Nigeria about 25 years ago as a representative of Israeli construction company Solel Boneh. He stayed there, working as a real estate entrepreneur and the owner of a security consulting company. He owns, among other projects, the Mega Plaza mall in Lagos.

The Nigerian government has already paid an advance of 10 percent ($26 million) for the Aeronautics deal, and some $5 million of that amount has been allocated to various agents.

Nelken and Sadeh are not listed in the Israeli Defense Ministry's security assistance division, apparently indicating that they are not allowed to be involved in security exports from Israel or even to conduct negotiations related to such imports. In response to a query on this matter, Aeronautics said: "This is a question that Nelken must be asked." Nelken confirmed that he had been involved in the deal, but refused to describe the extent of his involvement. The Defense Ministry did not respond to questions on the matter.

Nelken and Auronautics said the company had won the tender legally, beating out an American company, and is operating with the coordination and approval of the Israeli Defense Ministry.


History of close ties

Israel and Nigeria - the most populated country in Africa - share a history of close ties. Israeli companies operate in Nigeria in the fields of infrastructure, communications and agriculture. Hundreds of Israelis live there and ships belonging to the Israeli Zim shipping company stop at Nigerian ports. The two countries have long had security ties, and Israeli companies have previously sold Nigeria weapons for its police and military forces and its intelligence services.

Until a few years ago, Israeli Brigadier General (Res.) Shlomo Ilya was one of the major players in the supply of arms and security equipment to Nigeria. At the time, he was joined by Ben-Gal and Meir Dagan, now head of the Mossad.

Several Israeli companies operate in the Niger Delta, including JDP, which is owned by the Ashtrom International construction group and SCC, owned by Yosef Kalish from Haifa (who also owns the Sharbiv construction company in Israel.)

These companies are involved in infrastructure and agriculture initiatives and employ hundreds of workers.


Good for the State of Israel?

The Israeli embassy in Abuja was in on the secret contacts. Ambassador Noam Katz refused to discuss the issue, but an official Israeli source said that the deal involved "equipment that doesn't shoot," and that it was good for the State of Israel, especially in light of Nigeria's strengthened position as one of the world's major oil exporters.

However, some Israelis - and not just business competitors - are criticizing the deal. They say they are concerned that the presence of Israeli arms in Nigeria, especially in the Delta region, is liable to have negative ramifications. An Israeli businessman warned there was a fear that "due to the deal, the local population, with which we have excellent ties, will identify Israel and Israelis with its enemies."

http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/newsflash/israeli-drones-under-african-skies.html