MEND Attacks Lagos - No Road Is Infinite

By BBC, Reuters | 13 Jul 2009

Nigerian rebels say they attacked oil tanker dock
By Reuters, Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:58pm GMT
* Rebel group claims rare attack outside Niger Delta
* Militants say they set depot, tankers ablaze
* Police investigating report, unable to confirm

ABUJA, July 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s most prominent militant group said on Monday it had sabotaged a loading dock for oil tankers in Lagos state, widening an offensive against Africa’s biggest oil sector.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said its fighters launched an attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos state overnight, the first in the area since the group began its latest campaign of violence in late May.

“The depot and loading tankers moored at the facility are currently on fire,” MEND said in a statement.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify the attack. A police spokesman said authorities were investigating.

MEND has rarely attacked sites outside the Niger Delta, focusing mainly on oil facilities in the Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states in southern Nigeria.

The militant group has claimed a series of attacks against the oil sector following the military’s largest offensive in the Niger Delta for years in late May.

The violence has forced Royal Dutch Shell, U.S. oil company Chevron and Italy’s Agip to shut down around 300,000 barrels per day of production in the last seven weeks. This has put some upward pressure on global oil prices.

President Umaru Yar’Adua has offered a 60-day amnesty programme to militants and criminals in hopes of restoring peace to the region.

MEND’s suspected leader Henry Okah, on trial for gun-running and treason, has accepted the amnesty programme and is expected to be released early this week, his lawyer said on Sunday.

Although some militants have said they would lay down their arms if Okah was released, analysts believe violence will not subside.

Oil theft is a lucrative business in the region and politicians would continue to hire armed gangs to secure power in the run-up to 2011 elections, analysts said.

Source:
http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFLC49742720090712?feedType=RSS&feedName=nigeriaNews&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

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Nigeria rebels claim Lagos attack
By BBC 13 July 2009 09:24 UK

Nigeria’s most prominent rebel group says it carried out an “unprecedented attack” on an oil tanker facility close to the main commercial city of Lagos.

“The depot and loading tankers moored at the facility are currently on fire,” said the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend).

Security sources told the BBC they had received reports of an explosion and 30 minutes of gunfire in the city.

If confirmed, this would be a major escalation in Mend’s activities.

Its previous attacks have mostly been much further to the south-east, in Rivers and Delta States.

Such attacks have severely cut Nigeria’s oil output. Production has been cut by a fifth in the last three years partly as a result of violence.

In a statement, Mend said that “heavily armed” men had “carried out an unprecedented attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos” at 2230 (2130 GMT) on Sunday.

The jetty is the main entry point for ships entering Nigerian waters from the West and for oil tanker loading.

Leader release

The alleged attack follows claims by Mend in recent days that it had blown up several oil pipelines and captured six foreign crew from onboard an oil tanker. The government recently offered an amnesty to members of any militant group which laid down its weapons - including Mend leader Henry Okah. He is facing treason and gun-running charges since his arrest in Angola in 2007. His release has been a key demand of Mend militant group. On Friday, lawyers for Mr Okah said he had accepted the amnesty offer and his lawyers say he is expected to be freed early this week.

But Mr Okah remains in jail while the terms of his release are negotiated. Lawyer Femi Falana told the AFP news agency that Mr Okah would appear at a hearing later and that it was “most likely” that the attorney general would decide not to pursue the case against him. The Mend rebels have been fighting the rights of local people in the Niger Delta and for an increased share of Nigeria’s vast oil wealth.

In Sunday’s statement, the group said the problems facing Nigeria were “nothing to do with militant freedom fighters but with the corrupt political leadership and certain arrogant tribes still living on past glory”. But the government has in the past dismissed Mend as criminals.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8147035.stm

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MEND’s spokesman on Obama’s visit to Ghana
July 13, 2009 06:46AMT

The MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo applauds Obama’s visit to Ghana saluting him for not choosing “failed” states for his maiden official visit to sub-Saharan Africa.

On behalf of MEND, he sees this as a message for ordinary Africans who do not have to continue tolerating the images on television of their leaders being embraced by US Presidents.

In his words, “This is a cheering message for ordinary Africans who will no longer have to tolerate watching the painful images on television of their corrupt leaders being warmly embraced by US Presidents, if it were possible to delete images from our memory, many people will not hesitate to do away with the mismatched images of Reagan/Mobutu or Clinton/Obasanjo.”

“The problems facing our dear country Nigeria has nothing to do with militant freedom fighters but with the corrupt political leadership and certain arrogant tribes still living on past glory”, he said.

Source
http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5435855-146/MEND%27s_spokesman_on_Obama%27s_visit_to.csp

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Nigerian oil attack ‘kills five’
Militant action has severely cut Nigeria’s oil output
By BBC, Monday, 13 July 2009 16:18 UK

Five people have been killed by Nigerian rebels who attacked an oil tanker facility, officials say.

Emergency crews said the bodies of five workers were found near the facility. They were all burnt beyond recognition.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it had carried out the attack, near Lagos.

Meanwhile the leader of Mend, Henry Okah, has been released weeks after the government offered an amnesty to any rebel group willing to disarm.

But the Lagos attack marks a major escalation the activities of Mend, which has rarely attacked outside the Niger Delta.

The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of local people in the delta and for an increased share of Nigeria’s vast oil wealth, but in the past the government has dismissed them as criminals.

The rebel attacks have severely reduced Nigeria’s oil output. Production has been cut by one-fifth in the past three years, partly as a result of violence.

Rebel’s release

Emergency official Capt Geoffrey Boukoru told the AFP news agency attackers had exchanged fire with naval officers guarding the facility in Tarkwa Bay. The jetty is the main entry point for ships entering Nigerian waters from the West and for oil tanker loading. Capt Boukoru said the rebels were overpowered.

“In all five bodies were burnt beyond recognition, and they were all workers,” he said.

In an statement Mend said “heavily armed” men had “carried out an unprecedented attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos” at 2230 (2130 GMT) on Sunday.

Mend said its fighters had “injured or killed” at least nine navy personnel guarding the facility - though those claims have not been confirmed.

Capt Boukoru, said fire had damaged pipelines and forced the terminal to shut down for repairs.

Earlier, staff from the state-run oil firm NNPC told the BBC there had been a huge explosion followed by gunfire which lasted for about 30 minutes.

But they said there had been no loss of life.

The BBC’s Caroline Duffield in Lagos says the timing of the attacks is significant, coming at a time when the government has offered an amnesty to the militants.

She says they are sending a message to the government - that they will continue to use violence at the same time as negotiations.

They hope to put pressure on the government to extract greater concessions as part of the amnesty. They want to show they have the capability to strike anywhere - even Lagos, the country’s economic heart, our correspondent says.

The alleged attack follows claims by Mend in recent days that it had blown up several oil pipelines and captured six foreign crew from onboard an oil tanker.

The government recently offered an amnesty to members of any militant group that laid down its weapons - including Mend leader Mr Okah who had been facing treason and gun-running charges.

On Friday, lawyers for Mr Okah said he had accepted the amnesty offer.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8148380.stm

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How militants blew up Atlas Cove in Lagos
By Emma Nnadozie and Albert Akpor
Vanguard, Jul 13, 2009

LAGOS - MILITANTS yesterday continued their offensive in the unending bombardment of oil installations in the country blowing off Atlas Cove, a major petroleum product distribution to Mosemi and Ejigbo depots. Three naval personnel including a naval commander identified as Kolawole Joseph Aweh were burnt beyond recognition, Sources said the attack took place at about 10.30pm.

According to sources, the militants numbering 225 and armed to the teeth stormed the oil installation in 15 boats and opened fire sporadically at the sight of a naval personnel who was said to be the Officer- in-charge, killing him on the spot. Others who heard the deafening bombardment took a swift dive into the water for safety. However, two other unidentified ratings who were not so lucky were killed during the militants’ indiscriminate use of fire power.

Destroyed NNPC’s Jetty at Atlass-Cove, Tarkwa Bay, Lagos (12 July 2009)

The militants were said to had continued their offensive by storming the armoury after which they carted away a large number of arms and ammunition. Sources said they planted dynamite on all other strategic area of the oil installation and blew the whole installations into pieces. When Vanguard visited the area at about 1.30 pm today, charred remains of the officers including the commander who was said to had resumed duty barely three weeks at the Atlas Cove were spotted on the ground, several arms and ammunition that were destroyed also littered the ground.

An officer who spoke on condition of anonymity described the invasion as `unprecedented` adding that “it was an attack too many. The navy did not expect this. From the way they came, it is evident that some of them might have been hiding in the neighbouring villages including Takwa bay before they struck”

As at the time of filling this report, it was not possible to get the reaction of the Director of Naval Information, Commodore David Nabaida. But the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS Ibrahim Ishaya, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Ola S. Ibrahim were on groung to assess the extent of damages. They all kept sealed lips over the attack.

Source:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/13/how-militants-blew-up-atlas-cove-in-lagos/comment-page-8/#comment-14850
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Comment By A Poster Named HackLord
July 13, 2009 at 9:20 pm

SSS, NIA and the rag tagged DMI failed to foresee and inform the corrupt politicians that their thievery will lead Nigeria into chaos. Yet these same intelligence agencies have not foreseen that Nigeria is on the verge of disintegration. This is not 1966-1970 but 2009 and Nigeria will disintegrate if the right thing is not done. I am pleading with my dear fellow Nigerians not to waste their time advising this government because the government knows the solution yet they pursue the agenda of the North. MEND have avoided casualties especially civilian but that cannot be said of the military. MEND has again shown finesse by hitting vital targets without much bloodshed. The military however have killed a lot of civilians and achieved nothing. Who do you think is then rag tagged? The frustration of the government sympathizers can be seen by their shameless call for all the villages in the Niger Delta to be wiped out. JOMO GBOMO I know you can read this, I urge MEND to organize sniper squads now. These squads should be prepared to hit key human targets wherever they are in Nigeria. The time is coming when any foreigner doing business in any part of Nigeria will be doing that at his or her own risk. If this government fails to do the right things in time then up the notch.

Source:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/13/how-militants-blew-up-atlas-cove-in-lagos/comment-page-5/#comments

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Statement Released by MEND
13 July 2009

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is grateful to God that the trumped-up charges against Henry Okah has finally been dropped.

Now he will be able to deal with his health, spend time with his family and revive his business.

We hope that the hundreds of other men and women languishing in detention over the Niger Delta issue will also be set free.

For those killed extra judicially by the army and police, we pray for their souls.

MEND considers this release as a step towards genuine peace and prosperity if Nigeria is open to frank talks and deal sincerely with the root issues once and for all.

Some newspapers have been giving speculative figures on the number of attackers and boats used for the Atlas Cove attack on Sunday, July 12.

The fact is that only two gunboats were used with a total of eighteen (18) well armed and experienced commandos.

The naval resistance was weaker than anticipated because after the first shots were fired by them, we responded with heavy caliber machine guns which made them to flee.

We regret any civilian loss of life that may have occured from the attack.

Jomo Gbomo”

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Atlas Cove: MEND cripples fuel supply chain
By Victor Ahiuma-Young, Albert Akpo, Yemie Adeoye & Ifeanyi Okolie
Vanguard, Jul 14, 2009

LAGOS — IN a brazen attack that lasted over three hours, conducted outside the boundaries of the Niger Delta, suspected militants yesterday, blew up the receptor pipelines inside the Atlas Cove jetty, effectively crippling the capacity of the facility to receive petroleum products. Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, the Chief of Naval Staff disclosed that the attack left three naval personnel, including an officer dead, while an eyewitness added that four labourers also lost their lives.

The Atlas Cove jetty is the major petroleum products supply and distribution facility that takes petroleum products feed-stock from ocean-going vessels and distributes same to the Ejigbo and Mosimi depots in South West Nigeria.

Vanguard gathered that the attack commenced at about 8:15pm, Sunday, when armed men suspected to be militants stormed the jetty in 15 boats and started shooting indiscriminately.

An eyewitness disclosed that the Naval personnel on duty were taken unawares, adding that those of them who were not cut down by the hail of bullets had to run for cover, allowing the attackers free reign to operate.

“They (attackers) really took their time. It was as if they had inside information of the operations of the jetty. They also stormed the armoury and carted away available arms and ammunition. After scaring off the security personnel, they proceeded to place dynamites on a critical angle of the pipelines linking the receptor jetty and blew it up,” the eyewitness disclosed.

When Vanguard visited the area at about 1.30 pm yesterday, the charred remains of the officers including the officer, a Navy Commander, who was said to have assumed duty barely three weeks ago at the Atlas Cove were spotted on the ground. Several arms and ammunition that were destroyed also littered the ground.

It would be recalled that two months ago, a combined team of Policemen, Navy, Army and SSS men stormed the Takwa Bay Island after they received intelligence reports that militants were grouping there with a view to carrying out attacks on oil installations in the South West zone of the country. The operation which was described as a huge success led to the arrest of no fewer than 300 suspects who were later charged to court.

MEND claims responsibility
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent by email to the media, saying its fighters launched an attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos state overnight, the first in the area since the group began its latest campaign in May.

“The depot and loading tankers moored at the facility are currently on fire,” MEND claimed.

Attack won’t affect fuel supply —NNPC
While speaking at the jetty yesterday in his reaction to the development, Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, said he was in Calabar attending a retreat with management staff when he was informed of the sad situation at the Atlas Cove jetty.

“We immediately began to get in touch with the authorities, including the Chief of Naval Staff, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Lagos state government and other agencies, to first of all get verify information and then to organise a rapid response for the purpose of saving lives of our staff who were on duty and other military personnel.”

Barkindo disclosed that the fire itself that threatened the whole facility was put off about 4:10 am on yesterday, adding that as far as the Corporation was concerned, “this is the first time that this type of incident has happened in Atlas Cove and its environs.

Literally everybody concerned was taken by complete surprise because this facility had been secured on a twenty four hour basis, seven days a week, we have never had any incident, rather, we have had excellent community relationship with the surrounding communities here who have been extremely helpful to us as a Corporation.”
He described the development as unfortunate and commiserated with the Chief of Naval staff over the loss of his men.

Barkindo also assured that owing to contingency measures put in place, the development would not affect petroleum products supply and distribution in the country. Vanguard gathered that petroleum products would be streamed to the depot from a Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) anchored 7 nautical miles offshore, but linked to the jetty. The NNPC helmsman also pointed out that effective measures were being put in place to guarantee security of lives and personnel.

Naval chief laments men’s death
Also speaking, Admiral Ibrahim who expressed sorrow over the loss of his men, noted that the militants must take advantage of the amnesty offered by Mr. President before he runs out of patience.

Sad devt — NUPENG
In its reaction, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said no fewer than four labourers were burnt to ashes by the resultant inferno while another is on danger list.

Lagos Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Tokunbo Korodo told Vanguard that in spite of the assurance by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, fuel supply in the country would definitely be affected.

He lamented the ugly development and declared that it was an evidence of insecurity in the country and posited that his members would stay off the area until appropriate security measures were put in place.

According to him: “it is a sad development and very bad for the nation. It obviously shows that we are not safe in this country.I can tell you that fuel supply will definitely be affected because the Atlas Cove supplies all NNPC facilities like Ejigbo, Mosimi, Sagamu, Ibadan, Ilorin and others. They can no longer receive supplies.

“The NNPC GMD has assured that suuplies would not be affected. But we cannot see the magic he would perform. The only alternatives left are the private jetties. Until the repairs are completed, there would be no supply from the area.

“Our members will stay off the area until there is adequate security. I can tell you that no fewer than four labourers were burnt to ashes while one is currently on danger list. Although, they are not our members, but they were human beings and Nigerians in search of their daily bread.”

Alaibe condemns attack
The President’s Special Adviser on the Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe has called for a re-think of strategy in the Niger Delta struggle, even as he condemned the attack on Atlas Cove by militants.

Mr. Alaibe who is the immediate past Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission said in a statement in Abuja that the Umaru Yar’Adua government had demonstrated enough seriousness to address the problems of the region and must be given a chance.

His words, “it is time for a rethink of strategy if the objective remains liberating our people from misery and want.

“It is incontrovertible that at no time in the history of this country has the Federal Government of Nigeria demonstrated the level of understanding and appreciation of the crisis than its recent engagement of an amnesty process for the people involved in violent resolution of the crisis.

“Sadly, this demonstration of uncommon courage and understanding by President Umaru Yar’Adua has not been reciprocated.

“I am therefore deeply saddened by the very latest in the series of attacks on oil installations by MEND, reportedly on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos.

“I dare say that this attack and indeed any future such attack on sensitive oil and gas installations is condemnable, unnecessary, diversionary and uncalled for.
“Even as attested to by several stakeholders in Niger Delta, President Yar’Adua’s resolve and sincerity to tackle head-on the myriad of problems confronting the oil-bearing communities of the Niger Delta is unassailable.”

The presidential adviser added, “the President desires to achieve peace which indeed is the only route to progress in the Niger Delta. He has offered his hands of brotherhood and we must unclench ours.

“Now, more than ever before, the whole country is desirous of developing the Niger Delta. However, that can not happen in an atmosphere that encourages blowing up oil and gas installations which further exacerbates the problem of environmental degradation.”
Ijaw Youths blame attack on Tompolo

The Ijaw Youth Campaign for Peace has said that it is saddened by Sunday’s attack on Atlas Cove Terminal in Lagos and the continuous destruction of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta.

In an online statement to Vanguard in Port Harcourt, yesterday signed by its spokesman, Pere Prince, the group called on all Ijaws at home and abroad to reject the actions of MEND for its wanton destruction of the country’s economic property in the land.

 

From left: Alhaji Abdul-Salam Muhammed, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority; Alhaji Salisu Mohammed Barkindo, G M D, NNPC and Admiral Isayah Ibrahim, Chief of Naval Staff at the press briefing on the ruined NNPC Jetty at Atlas-Cove depot, Tarkwa Bay, Lagos.

“We wish to categorically state that yesterday’s (Sunday’s) attack on Atlas Cove Terminal in Lagos and the previous attacks on oil installations which MEND claimed responsibility is condemnable.

“We also urge all Ijaws at home and in the Diaspora to join in condemning this barbaric act on the economy of our nation. This is an act of economic sabotage which will not solve the present crises rather it would bring a set back.

“We wish to alert the general public that Tompolo and few other renegades were responsible for this action. This is rather unfortunate moreso, the long awaited pardon has been granted not only to our freedom fighters, but to our respected brother and son, Henry Okah.

“We should cooperate with government of the day that has shown concrete steps to actualize our dreams, otherwise we will be left with no option if this action persists, but forward names of those involved to the Federal Government requesting to expunge them from enjoying the amnesty, because, we do not want the innocent people to suffer in the event of further conflicts.

“We also wish to say with all sense of respect that we are proud of majority of freedom fighters exemplified by the likes of Boyloaf, Farah Dagogo etc for not being part of this wanton destruction. These actions are capable of denting the image of Ijaws and Niger Deltans in general. We further wish other respected Ijaw elders to condemn this continued act of economic sabotage which will invariably lead us nowhere.”

GOING, GOING, NIGERIA IS GOING!
Friday, July 10, 2009
By Godson Offoaro

This write-up is, derived from reactions I got from the first titled “Love Nigeria Mba, Leave Nigeria no way.” Almost all the reactions were unanimous in the presentation of common obstacles militating against a massive return home to defend the Nigerian nation - from itself. They would want to come for other reasons and not for love of country. Nonetheless, for another kind of love - ethnic based love. If the part of a whole is loved, then eventually, the love would spread. None showed any love for country before self. Every one loved self - unabashedly. All were unanimous in the condemnation of Nigeria, which they likened to, a giant with a clay foot.

All were nostalgic about the good old days of yore when Nigeria earned less but lived well; when ten tins of milk cost one naira in Nigeria and a cup of garri sold for nothing. They reminisced a period in time when the Nigeria railways operated optimally and the Post and Telegraph did its part. They reminisced the days when civil servants retired with out stupendous wealth, content that they were the proud parents of Dr. this and that, and Engineer you know whom. Most have school-going kids and a growing family whom they are not prepared to leave behind in any foreign land for the harsh realities that follow the uncertainties of the Nigerian land space. All appreciated the need to return home to fight for a shirt in defense of motherland from itself. Paradoxically, all declined the offer. Here are some of their reasons.

One was emphatic of his good life abroad where at least, he could enjoy such life’s basic amenities as frequent supply of electricity and good transportation net work. What is the essence of life if it is wasted simply for love of a country that cared less about your personal and collective well-being? “Only when I’m ready to die should I contemplate going to Nigeria to take a shirt in that fight of yours, to make her whole.” “Lookia”, he concluded, “if I died in this your struggle to save Nigeria, nobody will remember me. No body would remember my family. I would merely end up as a number in the statistics. No member of the Nigerian thieving elite will be there for my family - nuclear and extended.”

Said another: “how can I die for a country that does nothing to prevent the daily carnage on its pot-hole ridden roads. Nigeria is good. Nevertheless, it kills its people .Crime is on the rise, with those in uniform forming the bedrock of most of the crimes committed. A good parent does not kill his child. A good parent does not see his child go hungry. A good parent who cannot afford a car buys a good bicycle for his child. A good parent provides his child with good and quality education to the best of his abilities. A good parent would rather die than see his child fall sick or die. A good parent takes every preemptive and preventive measure to shield his child from harm’s way.

A good parent cares for the housing need of his children and does anything possible to ensure that there is always a roof over his child’s head, even at adulthood. Life is a symbiotic thing. The good parent takes care of his child and the child takes care of a good parent in each other’s iinevitable times of need. Nigeria and its leaders are bad. A good parent does not disinherit his children who have toiled tirelessly to preserve the family wealth and resource. Tell me, Mr. Poet without borders, on a scale of 1-10 how would you grade Nigeria performance in any of those areas I have observed. It will be willful blindness for me to return to your country. I cannot wait for the prediction of the American NIC to happen before I contemplate returning to whatever part of the carcass I eventually would find myself in, you know it no matter how skillfully you tried to mask. It is only a question of time, Mr. Poet without borders.”

“In Nigeria, politicians rig elections. The best candidate never wins. Only those with connections and deep pockets win elections. When people attain position through crooked ways, they do everything crooked to maintain their position. They legislate laws crookedly. They execute laws of the land crookedly and the results most of the time are a spewed out are as crooked as a crooked finished product. Because of this, the mass of the people suffer. At least, in the foreign land where I live, I have a voters’ card. I could vote and I and could be voted for in a usually transparent election.” Said another, in a trenchant dismissive tone.

“Living outside Nigeria even in the neighboring Republic of Benin gives the average Nigerian a sense of comfort.” Said Biodun. “Electricity supply in the Republic of Benin is 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. In all, I lead a quality life that Nigeria my place of birth could not offer me. There are no signs out there in the horizon that my country Nigeria is any time soon, willing to prepare such a ground for me or millions of its citizenry. It hurts me so much that, if there is a war today between the country where I live and Nigeria, I will think very hard before I fight on the side of Nigeria. No, I will fight against Nigeria. It is a bad as that. Nigeria is a failed state. Gi’me a break, there are many negative indices there to prove me right.”

After reading all the reactions, which came in torrents, I replied some and deleted some. I was cold and introspective for a while. I was taken aback that none understood that the topic that provoked their comments was an innocuous clarion call to arms, to save motherland, to save Nigeria from imminent collapse. Or could it be that I was not clear enough in the presentation of my case. It could also mean that those who did not respond were in the majority or that they understood the plank of that essay. What if they be in the minority? Doomed if they are doomed if they are not. It is the devil’s alternative. That lootocrats have seized Nigeria by the groins and that it needed more than talk, talk and talk that led to nowhere at least as of this time, to liberate Nigeria. That if this struggle is left to the few willing on ground zero, that most will wake up one day to discover that that country they talked so much about has gone under. Killed by inaction. Killed by knowing what to do but could not do it. That none saw the mess in Nigeria as reason to volunteer to fight made me sober. That one of them could not wait for the élan pa was even more sobering. All are in support of what the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is doing.

It was after reading the reactions of these fellas that I began to think of the, good ol’ country of mine that really would not care for its offsprings. Instinctively, I decided to crowd out the sequel to the originating piece. Thus, this one, which may seem a reversal of all that I have stood for in my untiring defense of Nigeria - a country that it appears does not give a hoot to the suffering of its people. A country whose leaders refuse to grow up and live up to minimum expectation of its loyal and near stupid citizenry.

Nigeria is burning and its leaders are busy pursuing inanities. Nigeria is burning and its elite are busy siphoning the people’s commonwealth overseas. Nigeria is going. It is going and it may soon go. Nigeria’s social institutions, such as hospitals and schools have, particularly in the past two years or so, been reduced to the Stone Age quality, yet its leader’s fiddle. Nigeria is burning while its leaders see every outcry for restitution in the pursuit of a new path, as an affront by renegade individuals. Nigeria is overwhelmed by a cabal of individuals who are masters in debauchery and in abundant possession of a buccaneering mentality.

Now, flash back to four years ago. It was in the month of June 2005. That was, when the highly respected American National Intelligence Council (NIC) went to town with its matter of fact-findings on the state of the Nigerian nation. The institution had in its no holds bared prediction warned that Nigeria would be no more within 10 years if its leaders continued on their then methods. It noted almost with pain and trepidation then, that the country possessed in abundance, all the ingredients that are the hallmarks of a failed state. Then skeptics, most of them from the Nigerian ruling class, including the former deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu went bananas. The uproar was so loud that it almost dented Nigeria/ US relations.

It was so tense, that the American government (essentially for sake of its economic life) had to issue a counter warning to the effect that Nigeria’ economic and political health was sound. Having made up with the Nigerian ruling class, the US continued receiving its daily volume of crude oil supply from Nigeria. Meanwhile, the leaders of Nigeria continued their looting spree in a bizarre and complete neglect of all the recommendations of NIC. The case was first swept under the carpet, and then the case was closed or so it seemed.

Having papered over the ‘little’ crack, the US crude oil interest in the Gulf of Guinea region intensified. Having put out the smoldering fire, from then, what happened in Nigeria and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa became a passing internal problem with a “no go area line” boldly drawn from the bosses in Washington and the diplomats on the field obeyed. As long as oil flowed and there was equilibrium in the international oil market, nothing else, mattered for the United States.

So much so that while the US continued their search for a better life for its unborn children, the Nigerian counterpart perfected its denial of basic amenities to its citizenry and in the process mortgaged the lives of its populace, unborn. Medical facilities as epitomized by the equipment available in our general hospitals, continued their downwards spiral decline in terms availability, quality and use. Corruption wore a new look as Governors of the existing states began their competition to outdo each other in their race to stash away the peoples money. The EFCC made spirited efforts to check the decay but the government tied its hands. Some governors who were fingered, arrested voted out were soon rewarded with juicier contracts or appointment as federal ministers and chairpersons of boards of sensitive federal institutions. To the Nigerian ruling class, it was the best of times, to the average Nigerian on the street; it was the worst of times.

However, those were diplomatic niceties needed to paper over a fragile and near volatile relationship that anchored on one-sided mutual interest - that of the United States - because of crude oil. Now, realities are dawning on Nigeria. It appears that the NIC prediction is somewhere locking in the backyard. Nigeria’s crude oil export has thinned down to a mere 800 barrels a day, down from an all time high of over three million barrels a day.

Thanks to the forces of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has upped its ante in their liberating wars of attrition in the Delta. If the nation bled when oil was selling at over hundred dollars a barrel and Nigeria pumped over 3 million barrels a day into the world market (and we had plenty of money but did nothing to improve the lives of the nations’ citizenry), how would the nation fair when oil is selling at half that amount (under 60 dollars per barrel) and production reduced to a mere 800 barrels per day?

This brings to mind, the MEND demand that has brought the nation to this parlous state. Why can’t those who would eventually own the money any way not make concessions to MEND? The solution is simple. Give MEND its 50 per cent value of the oil extracted from their own land. Keep the remaining 50 per cent and as usual do as it pleases you (the ruling class) with the money or be prepared to have 100 per cent of nothing. Nigeria is going. It is right now on the throes and pangs of death. Pardon the tautology. It just happened that the muse is at work.