Abuja Day 2: Is the world exploiting the Niger Delta?
| 14:10 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007
We’ve had some humbling moments on previous WHYS trips when hundreds of you have turned out to take part in our shows, but to meet Sam, Roberts, Daniel, Sam, Nick and Kingsley last night was something else. They’d all travelled over 1000kms from different parts of Nigeria to attend the show.
In my line of work, it’s best not to be lost for words too often, but the stories of their journeys and their enthusiasm for WHYS stopped me in my tracks. If you’ve ever taken part in a show, be sure that there are people here who are fascinated by what you’ve got to say.
We’re in Abuja again today: if you’ve got a question about life in Nigeria – any subject is fine – then please email us.
We’re lucky enough to have a pool at the hotel and as I seem to be permanently over-heating here in Abuja I thought I’d go and cool down before breakfast. It seems I wasn’t the only one to have that idea. There are these beautiful blue and yellow lizards who loiter on the hot tiles next to the pool, warming themselves just enough before scuttling to the shade.
Once I was in the pool it became clear that I wasn’t the only one taking a morning dip. The crickets who serenade us each night had descended en masse. They float on their sides and seem dead but they’re not. If you’re doing breaststroke, it really is best to keep your mouth shut. More interesting than your average swim, but unlikely to be a major talking point on the show, so I’d best move on…
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NIGER DELTA?
Yesterday, Kingsley (from Abuja, not he of the 1000km journey) had a fierce exchange with the People’s Democratic Party national secretary Chief Ojo Maduekwe about the Niger Delta. This is the oil-rich area that Nigeria with 90% of its foreign revenue.
Kingsley claimed there was no election there last month, the region is being marginalised by the government, it remains short of the benefits that its natural resources should bring, the oil industry is killing all the fish. We’ll pick them up today and see if they stand up to scrutiny.
One guest last night made the point that as many of our countries buy Niger Delta oil this should be of interest to all of us. (It’s the 5th biggest source of oil to the States for instance.) I agree with him.
There’s lots of info on the Niger Delta .
This year, over 60 foreign workers have been kidnapped by The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger. Here’s news of the .
IS NIGERIA LETTING SOMALIA DOWN?
Not my suggestion, but there are some of you who are furious that still not a single Nigerian troop has arrived in Somalia to help with the African Union’s peace-keeping operation. So far only 1700 Ugandans have arrived.
An estimated 400,000 people have been displaced from their Mogadishu homes this year by fighting between the Ethiopians (who say they want to leave when the AU arrives), clan militia and Islamists. The UN’s now says this is a worse refugee crisis than Darfur.
Speaking to some of you already about this, it seems these are the main options:
1) Ethiopian troops leave, and leave Somalis to resolve this themselves.
2) Ethiopian troops leave, and AU troops (just Ugandans) continue to peace-keep.
3) Ethiopian troops leave, and AU troops from a broad range of countries including Nigeria arrive to peace-keep.
4) Ethiopian troops leave, and AU troops arrive to peace-keep, with financial and possibly military assistance from the UN.
Which do you pick? Here’s the on Somalia.
Speak to you later.
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