New Possible Addition in Nigeria Resort Row

This report is explaining the plans of building the Badagry Historical Resort is Badagry, Nigeria. It will be a resort and a slave memorial because Badagry is a historic slave port. Also, to increase tourism there will be a museum dedicated to the Jackson Five included hoping that the museum will attract African-Americans traveling to Nigeria. In addition to the museum, Marlon Jackson of the Jackson Five has been involved in the planning process along with developers, one being the creator of the Power Rangers. The resort has sparked a lot of controversy though. It has been repeatedly categorized as a "money-making scheme" and "morally reprehensible" also, like "dancing on the graves of dead people and saying that your honoring them". While the plan has its critics, it has it's supporters, too. According to the article, only 300,000 tourists come to Nigeria a year and if the Resort is built it is expected to increase that number. And it will provide a relaxing yet educational visit. There are still problems facing the plans though. Currently, the Nigerian government will not issue any one a visa without a invitation letter, and with a poor tourist infrastructure there is not that many accommodations appealing to European or American visitors as well as expensive plane rides. But, the plan is continuing despite the critics and obstacles.

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The article relates to what we are learning in class by talking about the tourist economy in Nigeria, as well as the government policies regarding entrance to the country as well as those policies prohibiting more economic development.
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Helicopter Attacks In Niger Delta

This article is about a helicopter that was attacked by Nigerian gunmen in southern Nigeria. The helicopter, carrying 11 Italian oil company passengers, reached its destination safely with only one person injured in the attack. MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) was responsible for this. They warned the oil industry would target their helicopters in the future as well. MEND continually attacks oil facilities in the Niger Delta in order to get a portion of the oil resources. Gunboats are also being used as a form of defense and violence. These attacks have caused the Nigerian daily oil production to drop .6 million barrels in the past three years.


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This article relates to what we have been learning in class by what social factors affect the economy. Because there have been so many violent crimes, oil production, which is the main source of wealth in the Niger Delta region, has slowed tremendously. This results in a poor economy, and not allowing the region to prosper as much as it should. Militiant groups, like MEND, cause problems in trying to take oil for themselves, going to dramatic measures. The society is too selfish and can't function correctly to provide a safe and stable economy.

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Air Traffic Engineers Threaten to Strike

Nigeria's National Association of Aircraft Engineers, or NAAE, have threatened to walk off the job, which would close Nigeria's airspace until they returned to work. The threatened strike was sparked by claims by the NAAE of disparities in the "increment of allowances of air traffic controllers." The president of the association, Bulus Bodam, said that professions in the same working environment should be treated equally. The NAAE has given the government notice that it will withdraw its service of providing critical instruments such as navigation and radar equipment. This threat is being taken seriously by the government's aviation department, and if left unresolved, the impending strike will remove necessary, if inefficient and substandard, equipment for airtravel and will ground all Nigerian flights.

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This article demonstrates the ability of workers and unions to pressure the government to succumb to their demands. The ability of these pressures from the bottom to actually reach the government, while inconvienient for many, are a sign that some power may be shifting to ordinary people who have found a way to make their demands heard.

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West Africa pirate threat on rise

Attention on piracy has shifted from the coast of Somalia to the growing threat of attacks off West Africa. The International Maritime Burea says that it knows of over 100 pirate attacks off west Africa, though only 40 were reported. The lack of reportings has been party due to a reluctance of shipping countries to upset local West African authorities. The latest attack happened recently when pirates shot at a Greek-ownedtanker off Nigeria's coast. Many claim that the piracy off Somalia has overshadowed the piracy occuring off the Western coast of Africa and that awareness must be raised.

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This article demonstrates the economic tensions that Nigeria and many African nations are facing. Many Africans are upset regaurding the unequal distribution of wealth and have resorted to violent tactics. Pirating has been very prominent along the Western coast of Africa, and the government has had a troubling time trying to enforce it's authority in the trade waters.

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Nigeria Welcomes Mother of Six!

Oh happy day! Nigeria has recorded the birth of its first set of sextuplets on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at approximately 4:00 am at the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital (OOTH) in Sagamu; a woman named Amuda Ajoke Bello, 32 years of age, gave birth to the six baby infants.
Professor Femi Ajayi, The Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Hospital, said the babies, three boys and three girls, weighed between 650, 600, 850, while the three others weigh 900 grams respectively. They are in the intensive care unit at the hospital understandably.
The woman is said to be in stable condition. Professor Ajayi attributed the feat and the success of the birth to "pure professionalism."
This was the first time the nation would be recording this high a number of successful live births.
The father, a battery charger, was said to have fled when he received the news. That’s no surprise. African men have a habit of leaving when times get tough.
Hospital management has decided to take care of the medical bill as a way to lessen the burden of the parents of the sextuplets.

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This just goes to show that Nigeria may not be the safest and cleanest country in the world but things are still better there but it’s still better than a lot of places in Africa.

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Gunmen Kill Football Fans

A bus of football fans on their way to a game in southern Nigeria were ambused by a group of gunmen. At least six of the fans were killed and some are still in the hospital. The excecution-style murders were said to be revenge from a previous nightclub shooting. Bayelsa and Delta, where this occured, is a common place for shootings. Criminal gangs and militant groups frequently raid vehicles to hold people for ransom. Hundreds of people have been victims of "cult" violence such as this. Around election time, politicians are even known to pay campus gangs to commit crimes to other competitors. These violent ambushes have forced international companies out of this gas and oil-rich region for their safefty.

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This article relates to what we have been learning in class such as political violence, civil society, and the economy. Gangs that concentrate in Nigeria create violent attacks on one another for retaliation. Political figures contribute to this violence by supporting campus gangs. Because there is so much violence among the Niger Delta, it cuts into the level of economy. Nigeria could be profiting much more in their oil and gas industry, but because of all the violence, foreign companies have to remove staff and cut back their operations for safety precautions.

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People Killed in Nigerian Religian Clash

Four people have been killed and 28 others injured during a recent religious clash that broke out in the Nigerian city of Bauchi between Christians and Muslims. The two religions have had a fair share of conflicts between each other including some 2001 riots that killed more than 1,000 people. The Red Cross announced that this recent clash broke out after an argument and that churches, mosques, and houses were burned down in addition to the injured and killed people. The military has been brought in and peace in the area is being restored, but it is sure that this will not be the last clash of the two religions because the Nigerian population is virtually split in half between Christian and Muslim.

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This relates to what we have been learning in class with social cleavages in religion and the military role. The two religions have divided the population and the conflicting religions have been using violence against each other causing a cleavage within the country.

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Nigerians held in custody for kidnapping a Australian in Gambia

Gambian police have arrested six Nigerians accused of keeping an Austrialian man hostage; they had kept him tied up in a bathroom for more than a week after they had enticed him to Africa over the internet.

The gang had extorted about a $9,900 ransom from his family for his release.

The 71 year old man, Justin Liebig, was seized on the 1st of February 2009 and was only freed when his family had wired the money from Australia nine days later.

“The victim was tied to a chair in the toilet, with his mouth covered apparently to prevent him making any noise ... They threatened and forcefully obtained 5,000 euros from his family in Australia, while he was in custody," said Mr. Badjie, the Chief of the Gambian Police.

Sources said that the six Nigerians contacted Mr. Liebig on the internet and somehow convince the poor old man to do business with them in the small West African country. But that was not the case. They kidnapped him on his arrival and held him in Kololi, not far from the Gambia’s capital, Banjul.

Badjie said that this was the third incident of its kind involving none other than Nigerians. The suspects, if fully convicted, will be charged with conspiracy, kidnapping and obtaining money by false pretenses, Badjie said.

"We have different foreigners in the country but the Nigerians are the only people behaving in such a manner," he added.

Nigerian gangs, well Nigerians in general, have earned a pretty well known reputation for extorting money through the internet in what have come to be known as “419” confidence tricks; it’s named after the clause in Nigeria’s penal code that outlaws them.

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This article just goes to show how and why Nigerians in general have such a bad reputation. Incidents like these do not help improve the countries standing. How can you work with a country if they can’t even control or punish their people the right way? Nigeria’s problem is that there aren’t many consequences for breaking the law. The penal system, if you can call it that, is a system that revolves around bribery, not justice. Not in the least bit.

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U.S. urges Nigeria to Deploy Peacekeepers to Somalia

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Susan Rice, Representative of the U.S to the UN, has called upon Nigeria to speed up efforts in its deployment of its peacekeepers to war-torn Somalia.

Nigeria had recently signed a pledge to send an army into Somalia and “In this regard, we want to know what is holding back Nigeria’s pledge to send a battalion of peacekeepers to Somalia,” Rice stated

She also said the “the UN Security Council has already discussed a support package for the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),” and that “a firm response from Nigeria on deployment will facilitate the (UN) Security Council’s planning process and decision by June 1.”

Rice has previously commended Nigeria for its major role in the global peacekeeping process, stating that Nigeria is not just an important African country, but a major contributor to international “peace” and “security.”

Rice also called a for the “strengthening of the existing cordial relations between the U.S. and Nigeria” and “between their two missions at the UN.”

The Nigerian diplomat, Ogwu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international peace and security in a statement on Saturday [verification needed]. She further reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to its earlier pledge to deploy peacekeepers.

Ogwu also explained that the deployment is being hindered by “logistics shortfall” and called for support for “the effective deployment of peacekeepers.”

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This article goes to show the sort of clout Nigeria has in the world. It's almost like the representative of Africa as a whole. Even though economically, political, and internationally, Nigeriastill lags behind the rest of the world, it still has a pretty good standing among international leaders.

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Judge leaves Nigeria rebel trial

The judge in the trial of Henry Okah-a key militant leader in Nigeria's Niger Delta accused of gun-running and treason- has stepped down from the case. Mr. Okah's alledged offences are punishable by death. He is being tried secretly in the city of Jos but his legal team says that he is sick and needs to be flown abroad for treatment. Through all this confusion, another militant group vows that two British hostages will only be released if Mr. Okah is released as well. Mr. Okah participated in The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), which began in 2006 and has been responsible for many attacks on oil infrastructure and countless kidnappings.

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This article demonstrates social cleavages in the Niger Delta region. Militant groups like Mend are fighting for a fairer distribution of oil wealth, and the political institutions governing the area are struggling in their fight with Mend. The groups are very powerful and this article reveals the difficulties that authorites are facing.

US Calls for Speedy Deployment in Somalia

The United States called for Nigeria to commit to its pledge to send a battalion of soldiers to Somalia to participate in the African Union peacekeeping force that is attempting to maintain order in the lawless country. Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, said in a statement that because Nigeria is one of Africa's most influential countries, its commitment is critical to the planning of the UN's strategy to pacify Somalia. Meanwhile, Nigeria's UN ambassador, Joy Ogwu, reaffirmed her country's commitment to commit the battalion, but stated that logistical problems were hindering immediate deployment. The two ambassadors also took the opportunity to make it clear that cooperation between the US and Nigeria is an ongoing priority.

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This article demostrates the complexity of politcal relationships in a globalized world. Regional powers have become critical players when dealing with international issues. Global powers, such as the US and UN, must cooperate with these regional powers instead of acting unilaterally.

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Texas Company Fined for Bribing Nigerian Officials

Houston, Texas-based Halliburton Company, which until 2007 owned KBR (Kellogg, Brown, and Root) company, has been fined for bribing Nigerian oil officials. KBR wanted contracts in order to build a $6-billion gas liquefaction plant in the Niger Delta. This plant has been damaging to Nigeria’s economy in that it helps and supports major international oil companies to ship Nigerian crude oil out of the country for refining, which drops the profits that Africans could obtain for their valuable resource. KBR has yet to admit or deny this bribe. These alleged bribes occurred for an entire decade (1994-2004), during this time, KBR’s parent company, Halliburton was headed by Dick Cheney, who stepped down in 2000 to become vice president.

Nigeria relies heavily on its oil and gas-related resources which account for 87 percent of its foreign exchanges. Companies like KBR and the Houston oil companies are slowing and hurting the Nigerian economy but are not helping in any way; they are being selfish. Neither KBR nor most of Houston oil companies have provided any charitable services to help revitalize Nigerians, who have endured the foreign extraction of their local resource wealth.

Future political plans include Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua to supervise and control corrupt illegitimate robbery of public funds, and monitor the performance of multinational oil companies.

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This article relates back to what we have been learning in class through economic challenges, political power, and international interests. The Nigerian economy is mainly based upon oil, and with international powers taking away it's one valuable natural resource, it doesn't allow African's to be profiting as much as they should. Reforms to fix this issue depends on the President to monitor the international companies that Nigeria works with in order to support economic revitalization.

Nigerian Oil Workers Go On Strike

Oil workers for the company, Total in Nigeria, have decided to protest against the recent situations by striking. The strikers are protesting about the apparent lack of security they receive from armed groups like Mend who have been kidnapping them and their family members. In addition, the kidnappings have increased over the past few months which are fueling the protesters even more. The protesters continued their plans for strike even after their national union executive informed them that the strike would only delay industrial action. The workers picketed their company office along with employees from Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (Pengassan). There have also been repeated rape threats towards kidnapping victims including towards the wife of the former oil minister who had to pay a reported $2.5 million dollars for her release after the kidnappers released a statement declaring that they would "rape her every day" until they were paid.

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The article relates to what we have been learning in class by the social cleavages caused by oil distribution in Nigeria. The armed groups like Mend are fighting for a more equal distribution of the oil wealth instead of all the wealth continuing to only to go the rich. Political violence is also displayed in the article by kidnapping. In addition, interest groups are formed like the workers who have decided to strike and their movement to strike also displays social movements that occur in Nigeria.

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Nigeria Not Ready to Host Under-17 Championship--

According to FIFA (International Federation of Associated Football), Nigeria is not fit to host the Under-17 World Championship.

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, leading an inspection team to inspect all ten facilities across the country has released a statement saying: “I had been to Nigeria 21 times before and never before had I moved around like this."Technically speaking, only the Abuja and Ijebu-Ode stadiums are ready for the World Cup."

''We have seen the facilities in all the bidding venues and we are not impressed with one or two of them because progress has not been made. In most venues, however, work is ongoing and I must say that the FIFA standard is very high; so Nigeria has to intensify preparations if its wants to host the U-17 World Cup'."

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Basically what he’s saying is that if Nigeria doesn’t get its act together, FIFA is going to pull the plug on the project and not let them host the U-17 World Cup. That would do great damage to Nigeria’s already dismal economic state. All the revenue that went into the project already will have gone to waste. Nigeria at this point cannot afford to lose the income that host the Cup will bring.

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Human Rights Review

Nigeria faces an upcoming human rights investigation by the UN Human Rights Council. Many activists claim that the country has a record of abuses, but the government disputes the claim. Among the activists primary concerns are torture, prison conditions, and the death penalty. More than 80% of all inmates in Nigeria claim that they have been tortured, beaten, or threatened with weapons by the Nigerian police. Additionally, Nigeria's 39,000-plus prisoners are held in only 227 prisons, making for poor conditions. Of these, about 26,000 are still awaiting trial. The country also has over 800 prisoners on death row.

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This article addresses the role that the government should play when it comes to detanees held by the state. Since Nigeria is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, a supranational organization, the government must cede some of its power over its prisoners and adhere to some international standards regarding their treatment.

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Power shortages

Nigeria is in a severe crisis. They have a shortage of power which is causing lots of chaos to the country, economically and socially. Social wise, families are dying because of poor quality electricity and power sets. Last month, a 75 year old man, his wife, and four family members were found dead due to fume inhalation from their electricity generating set. Economically, the president, Mr. Umaru Yar'Adua, said that electric power would be his priority, except there is not much advancement. There are so many generators around Nigeria. In fact, the amount of generators in just Lagos and Abuja alone could power all of Nigeria. People in affluent parts of town are using up energy from generators over selfish and unreasonable matters. The use of generators should be limited because of how expensive they are becoming and because it is causing stress among the country.

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This article relates back to what we've been studying by economic and social stresses. Also, political powers aren't doing anything to help this crucial problem. The nation is in a crisis because its leaders have failed to solve the problem although the president has acknowledge they are in a "state of emergency." The government itself is unwilling to sacrifice for the common good of the country which is the attitude of the entire country. No one is willing to give a little of what they have to benefit the whole. The main problem is management inefficiency, lack of maintainance of the generators that they do have, and the lack of spirit of working toward a common goal. If Nigeria is to survive as a modern nation, it must figure out a way to meet its electrical needs with an uninterrupted power supply.

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Gunmen free nine year old Nigerian boy

A nine year old boy was kidnapped and released by a gang in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta. His eleven year old sister was killed in an atempt to protect her brother on their way to school last week. The two children's father was an employee of Royal Dutch Shell. Kidnapping is becoming increasingly common in the region, espeacially the kidnapping of oil workers. Emmanuel Awonusi, the boy who was kidnapped is said to have been released unharmed. The militant groups are trying to achieve a fairer distribution of oil wealth, and often times use deadly tactics to get their point across.

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This article reveals social cleavages caused by economic tensions. The militant groups think that there is an unequal distribution of oil wealth and have in turn resorted to violence. This cleavage has caused many innocent lives to be taken and caused much strife within the region.

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Nigeria Reacts to Baby Death Increase

In the article, it reports that the contaminated teething syrup, “My Pikin”, that is previously responsible for 34 deaths that occurred in December, has now risen to death toll of 84 and 111 cases ranging between the ages of 2 and 7. “My Pikin” is Nigerian pidgin for the words “my baby” and after children began dying of organ failure, engine coolant was found in the Nigerian-made mixture. The Lagos-based company that was manufacturing the syrup was shut down last year by The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and currently all pharmacies have been ordered to give over their stocks to regulators so the case can be further investigated. In addition, all parents have been advised not to administer their children any form of teething syrup until the remaining stocks can be accounted for. The government and health minister has declared that they will thoroughly inspect the case to find answers for the Nigerian people on how this has happen and to ensure that this will never happen again.

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Government accountability can be related to this article in the sense that the Nigerian government is searching for answers and announcing that they will try to prevent this situation from occurring again. The government has already taken steps to ensure this by shutting down the manufacturer and the main supplier and also by investigating. Also, this article reveals the pandemic occuring throughout Nigeria. In addition, medical care has been hard to provide to the children how have taken the syrup because of the quick kidney and other organ failures, the doctors cannot issue help in time.

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Ethnic fires still smoulder in Nigeria

In the report, it describes some of the current and past religous conflicts that have occurred in the Nigerian capital, Jos, between the biggest ethnic group in the area that are apart of the Hausa-Fulani community in northern Nigeria and the local ethnic groups which are predomidatley Christian. In a particular incident, a Christian mob set fire to a Muslim school and killed six students in the attack and throughout the city hundreds of others were reportedly killed within the span of 48 hours. Many people argue that the conflict is not religion but it is a battle over which ethnic group holds the power and are the "rightful owners" of the city. The article reports that many local governements in Nigeria actually show favoritism to people viewed as the original inhabitants which cause an unequal distribution of who receives the better education and employment. The conflicts still are occuring in Nigeria and a seperation of Christians and Muslims have voluntarily occured but a plan on how to cease the prejudice and violence is still wavering.

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The article mentions social cleavages caused by religion. Because Muslims and Christians have had a wide range of violence towards each other over who has the right to the ownership of the city, it has created favoritism in the government. For example, in the report, "Members of the Hausa-Fulani community say they are discriminated against because the government of Plateau State sees them as “settlers”. "

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Nigerian Economy Takes a Dive

After months of denial, the Nigerian government has finally come to terms with the fact that its country is experiencing much of the same economic crises as many other developing countries. Bloomberg recently listed the Nigerian Stock Exchange as having the 2nd worst downturn in the world, and this dropoff has affected not only the poor, but the wealthy as well. Additionally, many doubt that the Nigerian government has the capasity to deal with or even address the catastrophe in the making. Most banks have stopped loaning money altogether, and the country's budget is projected to shrink drastically from last year due to much lower prices of crude oil, which is the last thing that the government needs when trying to deal with an economic crisis. Compounding the problem, the country's infrastructure is in shambles and militants are disrupting trade. If the country is to quickly and successfully recover, reforms must be instituted from the top down that encourage foreign investment. This is essential in bringing in much-needed revenue to overhaul Nigeria's broken economy.

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Nigerians to sue US drug firm

A US appeals court has ruled that Nigerian families can sue Pfizer drugs, an American drug firm, for its alleged role in the deaths of Nigerian children. The company is accused of killing 11 children and injuring 181 others while testing an antibiotic intended to subdue a menengitis epedimic in 1996. The epedemic killed 12,000 Nigerian children in 6 months. Pfizer is alleged to have tested out the antibiotic on 200 ill children without the consent of their parents. It caused 11 deaths and caused blindness, deformities, and brain damage in others. Originally, the law suit was dismissed on the basis that it violated the Alien Tort Statue, a law alloing foreigners to sue in the US courts. But the Second Circuit US Court of Appeals in New York ruled that the statue could be used. Pfizer denies the allegations, and maintains that the tests were taken with government and parental consent.

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In this article, aspects of globalization, medical care, and law processes in Nigeria are discussed. The US firm is providing the globalization aspect by supplying antibiotics in Nigeria, even though it did not turn out well. The medical difficulties plaguing Nigeria are discussed as well, with their menengitis outbreak, and the failure of the antiobiotic. The law processes are also discussed, explaining how the Nigerian people were able to sue the American firm.

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