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Tag: cripple

  • I want to become a Pediatrician, says 17-year-old cripple

    A 17-year-old cripple, Miss Zakiyya Ibrahim, says her desire in life is to become a pediatrician, to assist sick children in her community.

    Zakiyya who resides at Aminu Street, Rigasa, Kaduna told our reporter on Friday that she would never allow her condition to derail her from achieving her goal.

    The girl who has concluded Junior Secondary School, said she has been receiving tremendous support from her family and school mates.

    ” With the help of my hands and tricycle, I can go to school and come back by myself.

    “I thank God for the friends I have in school because non of them had ever mocked or bullied me, and with that, I have been able to concentrate well on my studies,” she said.

    Her mother, Sadiya Ibrahim, said the Zakiyya was crippled when she was two years old after she was diagnosed with pneumonia and since then she could not walk.

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    “My daughter started walking when she was a year old, but since that illness, she had never walked again.”

    The mother said they did not go back to the hospital after the girl became crippled, but resorted to herbal treatment for her condition.

    “We had thought that her problem was a spiritual attack and we continued with herbal treatments to no avail; all efforts did not yield any positive result.”

    When asked if she had taken Zakiyya for immunization after her birth, the mother said she did not, but had only allowed her to be administered with polio drops at home.

    Meanwhile, Zakiyya’s father, Ibrahim Sani, has pledged to support his daughter attain her life’s dream of becoming a pediatrician.

    “I will do my best to ensure all my children are educated, I will never allow my daughter to be a subject of pity,” he asserted.

  • Cripple held for alleged illegal firearms possession

    Cripple held for alleged illegal firearms possession

    The police have arrested a physically-challenged man, Godwin Fawehinmi, for alleged illegal possession of firearms and dangerous weapons.

    Fawehinmi was arrested at Alhaji Sadiku Street in Akowonjo, Egbeda, by the Area M Commander, Austin Akika, an Assistant Commissioner of Police  (ACP), and his team.

    It was gathered that his arrest followed a tip-off  that the suspect usually threatened people with gun.

    Fawehinmi, who was said to have lived abroad for sometime, it was learnt, usually fired warning shots into the air.

    According to a source, three guns including a pump action rifle and a locally made pistol were recovered from his residence.

    The source said: “He was arrested last Sunday. The suspect lived in Europe and that was where he had an accident and became crippled. He returned to Nigeria and since then, he has been acting as area father to boys in his neighbourhood.

    “We got information that he usually opened fire and that people in the area were scared of him. We acted on the information and the Area Commander led some officers to his place to investigate.

    “We found a gun on his body. His house was searched and more guns, two cutlasses and axe were recovered. He does not have licences for them.

    “When he was asked what he was doing with the weapons, he said he used them to protect himself. He was transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad  (FSARS) at the command headquarters.”

  • Ebonyi demands sack of soldiers who assaulted cripple

    Ebonyi demands sack of soldiers who assaulted cripple

    Ebonyi State Governor,  David Umahi has demanded the immediate sack and prosecution of the two soldiers who assaulted a physically challenged man, Chijioke Oratu.

     The governor also gave N500,000 to the victim to aid his recovery and rehabilitation and promised to empower him by setting up a business for him.

    Chijioke Oratu, crippled in both legs, was viciously beaten and kicked by two armed soldiers after being dragged off his wheel chair, as shocked onlookers stood by helplessly.

    The video of the attack apparently captured by a bystander, went viral on social media, sparking outrage.

    The Nigerian Army announced last week that the assailants had been identified and arrested.

    Spokesperson Sani Usman, a Brigadier General, said in a statement the culprits, Bature Samuel and Abdulazeez Usman, who were both corporals, had been demoted to privates and imprisoned for 21 days with hard labour.

    They are to also forfeit their pay for the 21 days.

    But governor David Umahi while receiving the victim at the exco chambers of the government house Abakaliki on Tuesday said the punishment was not commiserate with the crime committed by the soldiers.

    The governor said the state government will write a petition to the army authorities demanding the immediate sack and prosecution of the two soldiers for the attack on Mr Oratu

    “Let me highly commend the Chief of Staff and the GOC of 82 Division for their quick and humanly intervention. In our society we have different sectors of our engagement, the judges or lawyers are not the most important, neither are the doctors, police, soldiers or politicians.

    “The combination of all will make the society that is progressive. And I believe in a society where the right of one stops the right of the other begins. I commend the governor of Anambra state who reacted immediately and sort to rehabilitate this young man before we came in and took over.

    “We commend the Chief of Army Staff on the disciplinary actions taken on those men but we believe that 21 days imprisonment is not enough, they didn’t behave like human beings and to be demoted is not enough.

    “I suggest to them that those soldiers should be sacked and not demoted. We shall write a petition which I will personally submit to the Chief of Army staff demanding the sack and  prosecution of the soldiers who attacked him”.

    The governor also directed the release of N500,000 to enable the victim be treated for the trauma and injuries he sustained from the attack.

    He also directed his Senior Special Adviser on Welfare and Religious matters to liase with the victim and his family on the best way to resettle him.

    The governor also announced the release of relive funds and packages worth over N30m to the people of Azuoffia-Edda community who were allegedly attacked by neighbouring communities in Cross River State.

    He also directed the provision of mosquito nets to the victims and digging of two boreholes at their refugee camp located at Azuoffia-Edda primary school.

  • Maltreatment of cripple: Army demotes soldiers

    Maltreatment of cripple: Army demotes soldiers

    The Nigerian Army has demoted two soldiers, Cpl. Bature Samuel and Cpl. Abdulazeez Usman of 82 Provost Company in Onitsha, Anambra, to Private for human rights abuse

    The Nigerian Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Usman said the demoted soldiers on Feb. 7, maltreated a physically challenged person, Mr Chijioke Uraku, on the street of Onitsha, Anambra, for allegedly wearing Army camouflage uniform,

    Usman said they were arrested, summarily tried on two-count charge and found guilty.

    “Consequently, both have been sentenced to reduction in rank from Corporal to Private Soldiers and 21 days imprisonment with Hard Labour, respectively.

    “It includes forfeiture of 21 days pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian Army has also reached out to the victim of their unjustifiable assault, Mr Chijoke Uraku (alias CJ), as widely reported by the media.

    “We wish to reiterate our avowed determination to ensure that troops conduct themselves in the most orderly and professional manner at all times.

    “Any act of indiscipline would not be tolerated,” he said. (NAN)

  • Health workers vow to cripple public hospitals

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have vowed to cripple activities in Federal Government health facilities.

    JOHESU gave a 15-day ultimatum, from February 3, 2016, to resume its strike if its 10-point demand is not met.

    The ultimatum expires on Wednesday and the group threatened to continue the strike.

    A copy of the associations’ warning, addressed to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation and some security agencies, was signed by JOHESU’s Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah.

    It noted that unless government meets its demand, it will resume the suspended strike.

    The unions decried the neglect of its members, which contribute 95 per cent of health care providers.

    This is the first time the unions would threaten strike since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power last May.

    JOHESU seeks, among others, implementation of a new circular on promotion from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors, “which places premium on the need to sanction defaulting hospital managements”.

  • How shipment delays cripple agric exports

    How shipment delays cripple agric exports

    Exporters of agricultural products are losing millions of naira to delays in shipment. To remain competitive on the world stage, stakeholders are asking shipping companies to address agro export transit challenges. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The past year was tough  for agricultural products shippers – no thanks to delays in shipment.

    One group that was badly hit was cashew exporters, many of who could not get their produce shipped in time to Vietnam and India through the seaports.

    President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Pastor Tola Faseru, recalled that last year, cashew exports at the seaports  were  delayed  for  weeks — if not months.

    Faseru added that cashew cargo were left sitting, undelivered at the ports for months. He recalled that there were cases cashew cargo, remained in transit for 90 days.

    By the time the produce arrived their destinations, Faseru said they had lost their usefulness. Ultimately, that means farmers and exporters receive a lower price for their produce or had them rejected by importers. He criticised the shipping lines for making cargoes undergo longer waits before moving them abroad.

    As they prepare to harvest cashew and ship to their destinations in Asia and Europe, he maintained that shippers have dramatically lowered their expectations for the shipping lines. They fear that residual delays plaguing the shipping system will worsen as farmers and exporters prepare cashew for export from next month. He called the transit issue affecting cashew shippers a “serious situation.”

    To this end, he announced that the association was going to keep an eye on the situation and put pressure on shipping companies to make sure that they are ready, willing and able to handle what is a very profitable export crop.

    Consequently, he said they were planning, by taking steps to minimise disruptions where possible, by moving more of the commodity at the same time by containers. If shipments fail to arrive their destinations on time this year, Faseru said the shipping lines will be held responsible and made to pay for such delays.

    Faseru expects robust demand from India and Vietnam this year.This year, he said the group intends  to export at least 6,400 40-feet containers of cashew. The aim is to increase it to 20,000 40-feet containers by 2020. Faseru said  the government and all stakeholders in the cashew value chain were making efforts to raise the production from 180,000 metric tonnes yearly to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2020.

    The country is targeting a yearly income of over $700 million (N138 billion) from the export of cashew nuts by that year.

    According to him, “Cashew is Nigeria’s second largest non-oil foreign exchange earner, with a production volume of 180,000MT and an annual income of $250 million.” The crop has been earmarked as one of the five agro-industrial products among 13 products for diversification and it accounts for 200,000 jobs, he added.

    Some exporters suffered so much losses having to withdrawn their shipments from being exports because they stayed longer in the ports. One of them was the Country Manager, 3F Nigeria IPEX Limited, Karamvir Singh,who  said his organisation had many containers of cashew withdrawn from the ports when the shipping line couldn’t move them in time.

    Shipping delays, according to him, cost agricultural  shippers  million in lost revenue between February through August  and there is the potential for more  losses this year, if they  are not able to move the produce in time to their destinations in Asia.

    Fortunately, the demand for cashew is rising because of increasing consumption in Europe.

    Besides, there is  supply shortage in Asia.

    This is an opportunity for exporters from Nigeria to make money.

    However, he fears that without better transit service, exporters won’t be able to get their commodities to market. The risk is that importers of cashew, including India, Vietnam and Europe, could turn to producers in other countries. Asia producers traditionally have had a competitive advantage over Nigeria because of the reliability and cost-effectiveness of their freight network.

    But the shipping firms, however, assured agriculture shippers they have taken steps to prepare for such shipments, citing knowledge gained from last year’s delays.

    On the state of the industry, the General Manager, Pil Nigeria, Mr. Vernaert Mathias, however, said many shipping firms were going through difficult times and were taking hard measures just to remain afloat. While carriers are, mulling cut costs, he said they faced the challenge of delivering the service their customers demanded.

    Since productivity is a crucial metric, he noted that shipping firms are deploying bigger ships in to reap the benefits of economies of scale.

    He explained, however that the small channels provided by Nigeria’s ports made it difficult for shipping companies to deploy large vessels. In his view, however, the Commercial Manager, Transcap, Mr Paulinus Effiong maintained that addressing the causes of transit delay was important since cashew exporters are facing a lot of challenges.

    The most prominent of which is the difficulty of transferring products to export markets in an appropriate period.

    According to him, clearance delays seriously affect the competitiveness of exporters.

    He has called on the industry and regulators to work together in order to avoid any future crises by ensuring better scenario planning and that sufficient supply chain contingency strategies are in place.

    Commercial Manager, CMA COM Delmas Nigeria Limited, Mr Augustine Obagidi observed that export difficulties have to be considered in a larger framework from the moment the goods leave the exporter premises until their shipment. Obagidi said the delays in moving cashew shipments are rippling through supply chains. In the context of the ports in Apapa, he explained, the disadvantage multiplies, in that agro exporters also suffer from delays and extra costs due to Apapa road traffic and trucking.

    According to him, the congestion on the ports’ link roads has been significant. A large factor in the current backups is high numbers in trucks and cargo volume currently going to the ports.

    Trucks, he explained, are stalled for hours in a miles-long line to gain entry to the terminal at Apapa.

    He said several truck drivers are fed up with the congestion. Many truckers are independent operators, meaning they only make money when they complete a delivery. These days, they’re lucky to make two hauls a day, compared with four or five several years ago. The resulting shortage is contributing to increased freight costs.

    He warned about the impact on shipping and the economy if there is insufficient road and rail infrastructure, port capacity and systems in place. He explained that shipping lines cannot be blamed for the congestion happening on the link roads.

    According to him, there is the need for cashew exporters, shipping firms and terminal operators to work more together to the problem. Export Manager, Safmarine, Maureen Okojie said shippers are also part of the problem.

    Okojie said last minutes changes made by shippers on the final destination of the cargoes sometimes make things difficult for the shipping companies due to planned schedules.

    Once the schedule has been published, she explained that it is difficult to change it because of the need to ensure reliability. Shippers, according to her, are not justified to complain in such instances, taking into account the need to ensure reliability in vessel schedule performance.

    Though it is understandable that shippers try to take advantage of  when it suits them operationally and financially, Okojie noted  scheduling is most times sacrosanct  since it would costs them operational efficiency or money to change direction that has been scheduled in the interest of shippers.

    For this reason, she advised cashew exporters to indicate the popular destinations they will like their cargo delivers ahead of time.

    Stakeholders reiterated that the crisis at the oil market has shown the importance of having efficient exporting sectors. Therefore, authorities need to introduce new rules requiring customs to clear the goods aimed to be exported. International customers, they noted, would likely to prefer more secure suppliers, which will affect the competitiveness of the cashew industry.

    Exporters complained about bureaucratic corruption and red tape. Operators also complained about demands for irregular fees.

  • Late rains cripple farming

    Farmers  in the Southewest  are battling water shortage during the planting season – no thanks to late rains.

    The Programme Coordinator, Farmers Development Union (FADU), Mr Victor Olowe, cited small yams that have been harvested by farmers as evidence of the water problem.

    Farmers had complained of lack of rains, which affected  their early planting.

    The problems of farmers with climate change was visible in most part of the North and South where farmers are reviving their agricultural heritage.

    According to reports, farmers can only cultivate paddy, millet, beans and other commodities in the few areas of land due to late rains. Crops are limp,while livestock are struggling to find feeds as farmers anxiously await rains.

    Despite a reasonable start in the season, many crops are drying off from a lack of substantial follow-up rain.

    While it is not happening everywhere, farmers in the Southwest  are concerned with the problem.

    Observers believe productivity this year will be reduced drastically.

    The Provost, Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igbo Ora, Oyo State, Prof. Gbemiga Adewale, said bad weather could cripple harvests, adding that this could  affect food prices.

    He urged farmers to focus on tackling climate change, saying it is crucial to tackling miserable harvests.

    The resulting tight supplies of many feed grains could drive up the prices of agricultural commodities.

    Besides, livestock and poultry producers are lamenting the effects of smaller supply and climbing cost of feed.

    Vice President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria(ASBON),Mr  Stephen Oladipupo said this expense has become unmanageable as consequences is worsening on a daily basis. He  said the dramatic increase in the prices of animal feeds is giving poultry farmers problems.

    He warned that, without government action on the feed shortage, consumers and producers will experience devastating effects, from the farm to the meat aisle.

    He said that the costs of animal feed is getting higher by the day.

    However, the farmers cannot adjust the prices for poultry or cattle according to the rising input costs due to competing with imported products and the demand from domestic customers.

    Across the fisheries sector, fishmeal has become a “high-price” strategic marine protein. This follows increasing  local  demand for fishmeal, driven by the growth of the aquaculture industry — while supply is declining, prices are “naturally expected to rise.

    Operators say fishmeal is in short supply due shortage in key feed components. Clearly, with a volatile, but long-term declining supply and rising prices, local fish business operators are  rationing  the use of fishmeal and fish oil.

     

  • Ebonyi accuses EFCC of plot to cripple state

    Ebonyi accuses EFCC of plot to cripple state

    •Fidelity, UBA, Zenith, ICPC joined as defendants

    Ebonyi State government has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the management of Fidelity Bank Plc of working with the enemies of the government to cripple its activities.

    The government’s allegation is contained in a suit it filed against the EFCC and Fidelity Bank, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging, among others, the decision by the bank to freeze its Joint Local Government account No: 5030027464 (held in the bank) allegedly on the directive of the EFCC.

    The bank had, via a letter dated January 21, stated that the EFCC had directed it (the bank) to place a “no debit order” on the account on the grounds that EFCC was investigating the account for fraud allegedly perpetrated by some state officials.

    Governor Martins Elechi is facing impeachment, as 15 members of the House of Assembly are moving against him.

    The suit was filed by the Attorney-General, Ben Igwenyi and the 13 local governments. It has as defendants, the EFCC and Fidelity Bank.

    Last Monday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, upon hearing an application by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), joined the United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc), Zenith Bank Plc and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) as defendants.

    The plaintiffs are seeking an order of injunction directing the second defendant (Fidelity) to lift the ‘no debit order’ placed on the account or any accounts with other banks, and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further placing a ‘no debit order’ on their joint account with Fidelity Bank and tampering with any of their assets under any guise.

    They are also seeking an order that the plaintiffs are entitled to fair and adequate compensation as general damages of N500 million for the disruption of the state’s activities and the embarrassment caused it.

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare that the powers of the EFCC (exercised through Fidelity Bank) pursuant to sections 21, 24, 28, 29 of the EFCC Act on the plaintiffs’ account with Fidelity, is unlawful.

    They want the court to declare that the EFCC, in exercising its powers by directing Fidelity Bank to place a ‘no debit order’ on the plaintiffs’ joint account, without judicial intervention and recourse to the plaintiffs’ rights under Section 36(2) and (5) of the constitution is unconstitutional.

    The plaintiffs, in a supporting affidavit, said the basis of the attachment/freeze of the account is that an investigation is ongoing on the account, and that “the action of the defendants is politically-motivated by political differences.”

    They argued that EFCC’s power to attach assets or property could only be exercised against persons or body of persons corporate or incorporate, who are under investigation and that the government is neither body incorporate or unincorporated. They added that Ebonyi State government is an entity that cannot be arrested.

    “The act of the defendants in freezing the afore-described account has gravely and adversely paralysed the administrative activities of the state and its local government councils.

    “The administrative paralyses engendered by the defendants is dire, especially because civil servants can no longer be paid their salaries and therefore, there are not funds to run the day-to-day affairs of the 13 local governments in the state.”

  • Cripple, three others remanded in prison for rape

    A cripple and three others have been remanded in prison custody by an Oredo Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City.

    The suspects allegedly gang-raped a 22-year-old girl.

    The accused persons, Saturday Enabulele (28), Moses Okoeki (18), Osasumwen Enina (17) and Junior Odubu (20) were also alleged to have on April 13, 2013 at 9 Akugbe Street, Siluko Road, Benin City, beat up the girl, tore her pant, shirt and skirt, dipped their fingers into her private part and filmed her with a camera phone.

    The prosecution further alleged that apart from filming the victim’s nudity and showing same to people, the accused persons and others now at large collected the girl’s Nokia mobile phone and a wallet containing the sum of N10,000.

    They pleaded not guilty to the 12 count charge brought against them.

    The trial Chief Magistrate Peter Edo Asemota remanded them in prison custody in view of the prevalent rate of the offence within the court’s jurisdiction.

    Hearing was adjourned till May 7, 2013.

  • Oil spills ‘cripple Niger Delta’

    Oil spills ‘cripple Niger Delta’

    They were still recovering from the damaging effects of one, when another struck. It has been a string of woes for the coastal communities.

    For the people of Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State and many communities in the Niger Delta, oil spills are the beginning of wisdom.

    Residents of Ibeno are the latest victims of this trend, which oil giants blame on sabotage. The spillage, say experts, is bound to increase the unemployment figure, which the National Bureau of Statistics says is over 50 per cent of youths.

    This oil spill at an ExxonMobil facility in Ibeno has spread at least 20 miles from its source. It has coated seas used by fishermen with poisonous substances.

    The oil giant, in a statement, admitted its facility caused the spill, which it put at some 200 barrels of crude oil.

    A rainbow-tinted oil slick stretching for 32 kilometres from a pipeline that Exxon had shut down because of a leak a week ago is visible.

    Edet Asuquo, 40, a fisherman in the Mkpanak community, told Reuters: “This is the worst spill in this community since Exxon started its operations in the area.

    “The fishermen cannot fish any longer and have no alternative means of survival.”

    The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), which visited Ibeno, following reports of an oil spill from the Qua Iboe Oil Fields operated by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), said urgent step must be taken to avert danger.

    ERA said: “ Two major oil spills were said to have also occurred within the Qua Iboe Oil field on 13 and 24 August 2012 respectively. The present spill occurred on 9 November 2012. It has been a string of woes for the coastal communities.

    “Though MPN, an affiliate of ExxonMobil had in a statement admitted its facility caused the spill which it put at some 200 barrels of crude oil, community members told ERA/FoEN field monitor that the latest incident is one among several spills that they said, was injurious to aquatic life which they depend on for their livelihood.

    “During the visit, members of the community were seen in groups at the coastline bemoaning what had befallen them and its effect on their fishing vocation.

    “ERA/FoEN monitor observed massive crude oil deposits on the shoreline as well as fishing boats and nets stained with crude oil deposits.”

    Chief John Etim, a community leader explained to ERA/FoEN field monitor that more than 7,000 peasant fishermen have been forced to abruptly suspend fishing due to the oil spill that extensively contaminated their waters.

    Etim said: “Frequent spills have impoverished our fishing population. Oil spills have been a major obstacle to we fishermen and it is worsened by the insensitivity of Mobil in the past. Mobil must be reasonable and compensate every one that was impacted.”

    For Chief Ibanga Etang, who is the Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area: “The impact of this oil spill on the predominantly fishing communities in Southern Akwa Ibom is difficult to quantify. In addition to contamination of the waters which cause fish drought, the several spills have distorted the marine food chain. Whenever a spill occurs fishermen are thrown out of business because when the waters become toxic, fish migrate away from their reach. The recurring spills put to question the claims by Mobil management that they have replaced their aged pipeline network.”

    A fish seller, Mrs. Udual Eyo-Sunday, added: “Women engaged in fish processing have also been adversely affected by the oil spill. Whenever there is oil spill, the fishermen do not bring fish back from the waters and when we cannot buy fresh fish we have nothing to dry and sell. Because of this incident, we have found it difficult to feed our children and the situation may continue for a long time. This is why we need relief materials and some form of compensation for the damage to our source of livelihood.”

    Mr. Ayanga Jonathan-Esibe, fisherman in Esit Eket, observed that “I lost my fishing gear to the spill incident because the nets stained by crude cannot be re-used. Even when you wash the nets, the fish will avoid them and you end up without any catch. The nets are now condemned and there is no money to buy new ones. The oil gushed from the ruptured pipeline with enormous pressure into the ocean for several days before it was discovered and subsequently stopped. From my assessment, the 200 barrels admitted by Mobil management is a mere cover up. From the spread of oil on the coastline you can see that the 200 barrels they are claiming is a ploy to evade compensation because if it is 200 barrels you will not find it on the shoreline.”

    To remedy the situation, ERA wants Mobil to immediately cleanup of the polluted waters, shoreline and environment in Ibeno; replace all its aging and leaking pipelines; take responsibility for past and current spills in the community; and carry out comprehensive audit of the environment in Ibeno as a result of the incessant spills.

    It urges NOSDRA to penalise Mobil for this and other spills in order to halt this impunity and punish bad behaviour.

    It calls for the payment of compensation to the impacted community folks, including fisherfolks whose livelihoods have been ruined.

    The Mobil’s outage comes on top of multiple production problems in the country, which is Africa’s biggest crude exporter, after fellow oil majors Shell and Eni reported recent disruptions at onshore sites due to oil theft and the country’s worst flooding in 50 years.

    A fisherman described noticing a large quantity of oil on the surface of the seas and all over the beach the Friday before last, adding that the company has since sprayed chemicals in the water, which was helping disperse it.

    It was the second major oil spill near Exxon facilities in three months. At the end of August, an oil spill left a slick running for miles along the coast.

    Oil spills are common in the country, where enforcement of environmental regulations is lax and armed gangs frequently damage pipelines to steal crude. Shell, Mobil and other oil majors believe thieves are responsible for most of the spills on shore.

    A U.N. report last year criticised the government and multinational oil firms for 50 years of oil pollution that has devastated the Ogoniland region, and some communities are attempting to sue for compensation in Western courts.

    “Our prayers are for tough punishment on the oil companies operating the Niger Delta,” said secretary of the fishermen’s association, Mr. Inyang Ekong.

    Attempts to sue the oil giants abroad have not yielded the desired fruits yet.

    Shell is battling a case instituted by four Nigerian farmers that it should pay compensation for damage to their land.

    The farmers are suing the company in a civil court in The Hague, claiming oil spills ruined their livelihoods.

    Shell’s lawyers told the court it could not be held liable because most spills were caused by criminal damage.

    The case is being brought against Shell by the farmers and the Dutch arm of the environmental group Friends of the Earth.

    If their case is successful, it could pave the way for thousands of other compensation claims.

    The case is linked to spills in Goi, Ogoniland; Oruma in Bayelsa State and a third in Ikot Ada Udo, Akwa Ibom State.

    A ruling is expected early next year.

    President Goodluck Jonathan seems less concerned about oil spillages. His administration has not cleaned up Ogoniland as directed by the UN.

    He seems pre-occupied with removing fuel subsidy.

    Jonathan’s speech last Thursday while receiving the report of the graduating participants of the Senior Executive Course 34, 2012 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, at the Presidential Villa shows his thinking on subsidy.

    He said full deregulation of the downstream sector is the solution to the current fuel shortage.

    Jonathan said: “The popular thinking is that deregulation will bring higher prices; the government insists it will not. The policy says the government will ensure regular supply and free some cash to rebuild the country’s infrastructure.”

    To Jonathan, to attract investors, who will build refineries and end importation of petroleum products, subsidy must go.

    Already, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had warned the Federal Government against any surreptitious move to increase the price of petroleum products in the country.

    NLC President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, warned in a statement on Friday that any increase in the price of fuel would lead to a crisis as the congress would call out Nigerians to resist it.

    He said any increase would culminate in a crisis that would surpass last January’s anti-fuel price hike demonstration.

    Omar urged Jonathan to focus government attention on the need to frontally tackle the corruption that had held the nation’s oil sector hostage.

    He said the President should ensure the prosecution of those indicted for subsidy fraud and the diversion of 1.7 trillion Naira funds meant for the industry, rather than venturing into a total removal of petroleum subsidy.

    Other groups, such as the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) have kicked any total subsidy removal too.

    These are sure trying times for the industry.