Acquisition of 45% Stake in the Nigerian SEPLAT

29 Jan 2010 19:20 Africa/Lagos


Acquisition of 45% Stake in the Nigerian SEPLAT

PARIS, January 29/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --


- SEPLAT Agrees to Acquire a 45% Stake in OMLs 4, 38 and 41 in Nigeria


SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD (SEPLAT), SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY of NIGERIA Ltd (SPDC), TOTAL E&P NIGERIA Ltd, and NIGERIA AGIP OIL COMPANY have signed an agreement concerning the acquisition by SEPLAT of a 45% stake in OML 4, 38 and 41 in Nigerian onshore operations. The outstanding 55% stake remains the property of the NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC).


This transaction, which requires the consent of the NNPC, the national oil company, and the approval of the Federal Government of Nigeria, is expected to be completed within the next six months.


MAUREL & PROM acquired a 45% stake in SEPLAT, a Nigerian-registered company. Subsequent to this deal, MAUREL & PROM would own 20.25% of the rights before royalties (20% for oil) in OML 4, 38 and 41. SEPLAT's other shareholders include the Nigerian operators PLATFORM PETROLEUM Ltd (22%) and SHEBAH PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Ltd (33%). The two companies operate production and exploration assets in Nigeria, as well as a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO). Given that SEPLAT's capital is mostly held by Nigerian operators, the company has the legal status of an "indigenous company".


MAUREL & PROM will make an initial investment of US$193 m in SEPLAT, and will undertake necessary measures to facilitate a similar amount to finance the share of the other SEPLAT shareholders. This investment does not require additional public fund raising for MAUREL & PROM. The operating company will receive technical support from MAUREL & PROM to facilitate further development of these assets.


According to Gaffney, Cline and Associates, SEPLAT's share of the transaction would involve 2P (P1+P2) reserves before royalties of 76 Mboe (Oil and condensates). In addition, other fields have been discovered which require further work to enable certification of additional reserves, and an exploration potential which is backed by a set of 2D and 3D seismic lines is yet to be quantified.


During the transition period, the SPDC teams will exploit the fields together with the SEPLAT teams, to ensure a smooth transition and to provide for the full transfer of operations. According to SPDC, the current operator, the estimated production capacity is approximately 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (100%). This does not include development of new fields. Oil production is currently shut down awaiting completion of repairs to the export pipeline. Restart of production is currently expected by mid February 2010. Gas production is sold to the local market.


This document may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial position, results, business, and industrial strategy of Maurel & Prom. By nature, forward-looking


statements contain risks and uncertainties to the extent that they are based on events or circumstances that may or may not happen in the future. These projections are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which may prove to be incorrect and which depend on a number of risk factors, such as fluctuations in crude oil prices, changes in exchange rates, uncertainties related to the valuation of our oil reserves, actual rates of oil production and the related costs, operational problems, political stability, legislative or regulatory reforms, or even wars, terrorism or sabotage.



Maurel & Prom is listed for trading on Euronext Paris -
Compartment A - CAC mid 100 Index

Isin FR0000051070 / Bloomberg MAU.FP / Reuters MAUP.PA

Prochains rendez-vous :
02/02/2010 2009 Sales
04/08/2010 2009 Results, analysts meeting
05/20/2010 Annual General meeting

For further information, visit http://www.maureletprom.com

Contact:
INFLUENCES
+33-1-42-72-46-76
communication@agence-influences.fr




Source: Maurel & Prom

Contact: INFLUENCES, +33-1-42-72-46-76, communication@agence-influences.fr




French: Acquisition de 45 % dans le nigérian SEPLAT

French Newspaper Issues Apology to Ukrainian Businessman and Political Leader Rinat Akhmetov

29 Jan 2010 01:05 Africa/Lagos

French Newspaper Issues Apology to Ukrainian Businessman and Political Leader Rinat Akhmetov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel to Rinat Akhmetov:


The French daily newspaper Le Figaro today issued a retraction of previously published false allegations regarding Rinat Akhmetov, the Ukrainian businessman and political leader, and apologized to Mr. Akhmetov for the untrue information.


The retraction related to an article that was first published in the newspaper's print and electronic editions on January 18, 2010. In a formal statement that appeared in today's edition, Le Figaro acknowledged that "it has no evidence to support" the claims made about Mr. Akhmetov in the article.


Le Figaro further stated that the newspaper "regrets that these claims were made" and formally apologized to Mr. Akhmetov for any harm that he had suffered.


Speaking from Washington, D.C., Mr. Akhmetov's U.S. lawyer, Mark J. MacDougall, stated, "The editors and publisher of Le Figaro have acted responsibly in issuing a swift apology and correcting the false statements published about Mr. Akhmetov."


MacDougall added, "Mr. Akhmetov values his reputation throughout Europe, and today's action by Le Figaro recognizes that Mr. Akhmetov's good name was put at risk when false accusations were published."


Mr. Akhmetov is the principal shareholder of System Capital Management, one of the largest industrial companies in Ukraine.


Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, numbers more than 800 lawyers and advisors in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.


Source: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

CONTACT: Lauren Kerwin of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP,
+1-202-887-4435, lkerwin@akingump.com




Hot Topics
Quarterly Earnings Reports
Toyota Temporarily Suspends Sales of Selected Vehicles
Earthquake in Haiti
U.S. Coupon Market Posts Record-breaking Distribution and Redemption Numbers in 2009
Ernst & Young LLP Quarterly IPO Pipeline Report Shows the Most New Registrants in Two Years
Bill and Melinda Gates Pledge $10 Billion in Call for Decade of Vaccines
Super Bowl

Africans for Haiti

For Immediate Publication:

Africans For Haiti: Board Members and Patrons Needed For The "Microfinance For Haiti (MFH) "African Solidarity Project.

As you are rightly aware, once the TV cameras leave Haiti, most of those groups competing for headlines-grabbing photo opportunities with quake survivors will leave. This is not the first disaster for Haiti through promises where made and broken.

Respected Africans in persons of Madame Graca Mandela and Professor Chinua Achebe have called for an African Solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters.

To support the quake victims rebuild their lives bottom-up over the medium or long term (sustainability), I have initiated the Microfinance For Haiti (MFH) solidarity project of my NGO the African Council for Arts and Culture eV., Germany. It is part of my action for the Africans for Haiti call from the Diaspora point of view.

There are four (4) more seats available on the Board and you can occupy any of them as you dee fit.

The target beneficiaries of my Microfinance For Haiti (MFH) are primarily widows, petty traders,artisans and other enterprising survivors who need to rebuild their small businesses from scratch. You can sponsor a widow start a small business through MFH as an alternative to a seat on the Board.

http://www.microfinanceforhaiti.org/SponsoraWidowinHaiti.html

I remain at your disposal for further details while looking forward to a lasting cooperation in other appropriate forms for Haiti.



Bubacarr Sankanu

Founder,

Microfinance For Haiti (MFH)

Tel.: +49(0)177-484-2957

Email: sankanu@microfinanceforhaiti.org

www.microfinanceforhaiti.org

U.S. Two-Prong Strategy with Yemen Government to Provide Security and Thwart Terrorism on the Arabian Peninsula

26 Jan 2010 00:56 Africa/Lagos

U.S. Two-Prong Strategy with Yemen Government to Provide Security and Thwart Terrorism on the Arabian Peninsula

DATELINE CITY: 25 January, 2010/Washington, D.C.

FORMAT: (2) Soundbites


STORY SUMMARY: State Department's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Daniel Benjamin comments on the U.S. - Yemen strategy for success against the terrorism in the Arabian Peninsula.


RESOURCES More available at http://thedigitalcenter.com/projects/1442-us-two-prong-strategy-with-yemen-gov ernment-to-provide-security-and-thwart-terrorism-on-the-arabian-peninsula



http://www.state.gov/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/index.htm
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/speeches/2010/index.htm

(2) SOUNDBITES / VIDEO:
Daniel Benjamin, Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Soundbite (1)

Summary: Ambassador Benjamin says that the U.S. two-prong strategy with the Yemen government, aimed at security threats and very serious economic problems, will be fruitful for both countries.


IN: "It is very much a two prong strategy we have, first of all there's been a lot of attention paid to the work we're doing with the Yemeni Government to increase paid its ability to take care of its own Security threats and to take on in particular Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula that is vitally important but we also know that if we're going to have a sustainable long-term engagement with Yemen if we're going to deal with the threat that it faces and we face as well. It's going to require a sustained engagement to deal with that country's very serious economic problems particularly the depletion of natural resources; it's got serious demographic challenges. Water, a depleting water table and also its governance problems and social issues and so our assistance is very much aimed at doing that very well." OUT TRT: 56


Daniel Benjamin, Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Soundbite (2)

Summary: Ambassador Benjamin says that the Obama Administration is very pleased by the strong stance Yemen has taken against Al-Qaeda.


IN: "We are very pleased by the strong stance that President Salih and his government have taken in terms of confronting Al-Qaeda, particularly since the December 17th engagements, operations that have continued through until this month. But I should also note that this is not - it may appear on the surface to be a suddenly new involvement in things Yemeni for the United States. But in fact, this Administration has been engaged on Yemen really since the very beginning. The new Administration came in and recognized early on that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was gaining strength and was going to pose a significant terrorist threat and ordered up a comprehensive policy review to ensure that we were using all the tools at our power to deal with the terrorist threat there. That review was completed in the fall. OUT TRT: 1:10


Total TRT: 2:19

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State


FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR HARD COPY, PLEASE E-MAIL: digitalcenter@multivu.com


Media Contact: Ken Richards, +1-202-647-6251, richardskn@state.gov


/PRNewswire -- Jan. 25/


Video: http://thedigitalcenter.com/projects/1442-us-two-prong-strategy-with-yemen-government-to-provide-security-and-thwart-terrorism-on-the-arabian-peninsula
Source: U.S. Department of State

Web Site: http://www.state.gov/

Former Willbros International Executives Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in $6 Million Nigerian Bribery Scandal

29 Jan 2010 00:46 Africa/Lagos


Former Willbros International Executives Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in $6 Million Foreign Bribery Scheme

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two former executives of Willbros International Inc. (WII), a subsidiary of Houston-based Willbros Group Inc. (Willbros), were sentenced today for their roles in a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and officials from a Nigerian political party, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and Acting Assistant Director in Charge John G. Perren of the FBI's Washington Field Office.


Jason Edward Steph, 40, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Simeon T. Lake III in Houston. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lake ordered Steph to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay a $2,000 fine. The court acknowledged at the sentencing hearing the assistance Steph provided in ongoing investigations.


Jim Bob Brown, 48, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison by Judge Lake. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lake ordered Brown to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay a fine of $1,000 per month while Brown is on supervised release. The court acknowledged at the sentencing hearing the assistance Brown provided in ongoing investigations.


Steph and Brown both had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) before Judge Lake in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In pleading guilty, Steph and Brown admitted that Willbros, a publicly traded company that provides construction, engineering and other services in the oil and gas industry, conducted its international operations through WII and that they were both employees of WII. Steph admitted that beginning in approximately late 2003, he conspired with others to make a series of corrupt payments totaling more than $6 million to various Nigerian officials and officials from a Nigerian political party to assist Willbros in obtaining and retaining the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS) Project, which was valued at approximately $387 million.


Steph also admitted that in early 2005, he, along with former WII executive Brown and others, arranged for the payment of approximately $1.8 million in cash to government officials in Nigeria to further the conspiracy. Steph admitted that in order to make these payments, he obtained $550,000 in cash from another co-conspirator for the purpose of paying that money to Nigerian government officials. He also admitted that he obtained approximately $350,000 from a petty cash account, which was raised over several weeks by falsely inflating petty cash funding requests transmitted to Willbros and by covering the inflated amounts with invoices from fictitious vendors representing purportedly legitimate business expenses.


Brown admitted that in early 2005, he conspired with others to pay bribes to government officials in Nigeria for the purpose of retaining the EGGS Project. Brown admitted that to further this conspiracy, he, with the assistance of others, obtained a suitcase filled with $1 million in cash from WII's German construction company partner, which Brown then paid to another co-conspirator for the purpose of forwarding that money to Nigerian government officials.


Brown also admitted that in at least 1996 and continuing through at least 2004, he conspired with others to negotiate lower federal and state tax obligations in exchange for corrupt, "under the table" payments to Nigerian revenue officials, including officials responsible for auditing and enforcing taxes, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and for securing an improper advantage. Brown admitted he also conspired with others to make corrupt payments to officials of the Nigerian judicial system in exchange for favorable action on pending cases, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and for securing an improper advantage.


Additionally, Brown admitted to making at least $300,000 in corrupt payments to Ecuadorian government officials affiliated with PetroEcuador and PetroCommercial, for the purpose of obtaining and retaining business for Willbros, WII and others, including the Proyecto Santo Domingo project. In connection with the Ecuador transaction, Brown and others agreed to pay $150,000 to the Ecuadorian officials up front and $150,000 at the project's conclusion.


To date, in addition to Steph and Brown, the prosecution in this matter also includes:


On Nov. 12, 2009, former WII consultant Paul Novak pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and one substantive count of violating the FCPA, in connection with his role in paying bribes to Nigerian government officials. Novak's sentencing is currently scheduled for July 9, 2010.


On Dec. 19, 2008, an indictment was unsealed against former Willbros executive Kenneth Tillery, charging him with conspiring to make more than $6.3 million in bribe payments to Nigerian and Ecuadoran officials; two individual counts of violating the FCPA in connection with the authorization of specific corrupt payments to officials in those countries; and one count of conspiring to launder the bribe payments through purported consulting companies. He remains a fugitive.


On May 14, 2008, Willbros entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to pay a $22 million criminal penalty, in connection with the company's payment of bribes to government officials in Nigeria and Ecuador.


This case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorney Laura N. Perkins of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office squad that specializes in investigations of FCPA violations.


Source: U.S. Department of Justice

CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD +1-202-514-1888


Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
29 Jan 2010
00:46
Former Willbros International Executives Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in $6 Million Foreign Bribery Scheme
28 Jan 2010
13:18
Nokia Q4 2009 Net Sales EUR 12.0 Billion, Non-IFRS EPS EUR 0.25 (Reported EPS EUR 0.26)
13:00
Bristow Group to Present at the 2010 Credit Suisse Energy Summit
02:45
Global Health Initiative Working Group Media Advisory: Experts Available for Comment on the State of the Union Address

Essence Celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2010: Where Black Women Come First

28 Jan 2010 15:15 Africa/Lagos


Essence Celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2010: Where Black Women Come First

Year Long Tribute Kicks Off During Black History Month ESSENCE Magazine Commemorative 40th Anniversary Issue in September

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- ESSENCE will mark its 40th anniversary in 2010; beginning a year long celebration in honor of African-American women during Black History Month. Specifically, ESSENCE will commemorate its 40th anniversary with initiatives aimed at helping Black women put themselves first, including new ESSENCE magazine features, Essence.com content and a series of special "ESSENCE Presents" events.


"ESSENCE will celebrate its 40th anniversary all year long by touting what Black women have accomplished, and, more importantly, helping her to shape her perspective on the future. With three generations of Black women now represented in the White House, and African-American women making enormous strides both professionally and personally - studies show that African-American women feel more optimistic and powerful than ever before," said Essence Communications Inc. President Michelle Ebanks. "Because ESSENCE empowers her to put herself first, Black women are poised to be happier, healthier, and more fulfilled - as she strives to reach her full potential."


Throughout the year, ESSENCE magazine will debut new features, profiles and celebrity columns each month, and Essence.com will unveil new video programs, flashbacks and exclusive interviews daily. In addition, ESSENCE is presenting several special events throughout the year to commemorate its 40th anniversary - including ESSENCE Presents Black Women in Music during Grammy week, ESSENCE Presents Black Women in Hollywood during Oscar week, and the signature 16th annual Essence Music Festival during 4th of July weekend in New Orleans.


"Beginning our celebration during Black History Month provides the perfect context for us to note the significant achievements of Black women, as well as renew our commitment to the ESSENCE legacy of offering information, inspiration and unconditional affirmation," said Angela Burt-Murray, Editor-in-Chief, ESSENCE. "As the place 'Where Black Women Come First', ESSENCE is dedicated to strengthening African-American women, and by extension African-American families and African-American communities."


The celebration culminates with the ESSENCE magazine commemorative 40th anniversary collector's edition issue in September 2010.


About Essence Communications Inc.:


Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is "Where Black Women Come First". The company's flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 40 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.1 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women's lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.


Source: ESSENCE

CONTACT: Dana Baxter, +1-212-522-1634, dbaxter@essence.com; or Sheila
Harris, +1-212-522-1089, sharris@essence.com, both of ESSENCE


Web Site: http://www.essence.com/

From Essence with Love
alicia keys barack obama beyonce beyonce knowles black love black women bridal bliss chanel iman chris brown chris henry ciara diddy earthquake fashion first lady michelle obama hair haiti haiti earthquake halle berry health holiday iman janet jackson jay-z jennifer hudson joy bryant kelly rowland keri hilson love mariah carey marriage mary j blige mary j. blige michael jackson michelle obama mo'nique music obama oprah oprah winfrey paula patton poll precious president barack obama president obama princess and the frog real housewives of atlanta relationships rihanna sex solange star gazing steve harvey tiger woods tyra banks usher wedding white house will you marry me zoe saldana

President Barack Obama: I Don't Quit

President Barack Obama


Michael Chima --

I just finished delivering my first State of the Union, and I wanted to send you a quick note.

We face big and difficult challenges. Change on the scale we seek does not come easily. But I will never accept second place for the United States of America.

That is why I called for a robust jobs bill without delay. It's why I proposed a small businesses tax credit, new investments in infrastructure, and pushed for climate legislation to create a clean energy economy.

It's why we're taking on big banks, reforming Wall Street, revitalizing our education system, increasing transparency -- and finishing the job on health insurance reform.

It's why I need your help -- because I am determined to fight to defend the middle class, and special interest lobbyists will go all out to fight us.

Help me show that the American people are ready to join this fight for the middle class -- add your name to a letter to Congress today:

http://my.barackobama.com/SOTU

We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But we don't quit. I don't quit.

Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

..
President Barack Obama


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
28 Jan 2010
16:41
The State of the Union: Administration, Congress Must Pair Education Investment With Policy Change, Says Campaign for High School Equity
16:00
President's Job Proposals are a Good Start, But More is Needed
15:42
Bombardier Transportation Praises Obama Administration's Effort to Create Jobs and Rebuild U.S. Rail Economy
15:26
DNC: GOP Makes Pitch to Latinos, Forgets to Add Ideas
15:13
Catholic Charities USA Responds to State of the Union; Reports Alarming 4th Quarter 2009 Snapshot Survey Results
13:00
President Obama's State of the Union Address: A Statement From the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
07:19
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Calls President Obama's State of the Union Address 'A Home Run for the Middle Class', Says Democratic National Committee
07:04
Richard R. Buery, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Aid Society, Released the Following Statement Regarding President Obama's State of the Union Address:
07:04
Landrieu Praises President's Commitment to Make Small Business a Key Priority
06:52
Americans More Favorable of President's Plans for Health Care, Economy and Foreign Policy after Viewing State of the Union Address
05:13
President Obama's Vague Mention of Global HIV/AIDS Fight and Infectious Disease Threats Lack Budget Commitment
05:12
Velazquez Praises President's Agenda Helping Small Businesses
05:06
FRC Pledges to Oppose President's Proposals to Sexualize the Military, Socialize Child Care and Penalize Married Couples
05:01
Oxfam America Reaction to State of the Union Address
04:59
Congressman Fattah Lauds President Obama's Direction on Jobs and the Middle Class
04:58
GOP Response Insults Jobless Americans
04:57
Obama Calls for Change Working Families Are Still Waiting For
04:55
DGA Chair Markell on State of the Union
04:53
Bread for the World Applauds Obama's Focus on Job Creation
04:50
Pelosi Statement Following President Obama's State of the Union Address
04:46
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Calls President Obama's State of the Union Address 'A Home Run for the Middle Class'
04:42
Experts Say President Obama's Remarks on Gay Ban Fall Short of 2010 Challenges
04:33
NSBA Responds to State of the Union Address
04:28
Machinists President Buffenbarger Responds to President Obama's First State of Union Address
04:27
Statement of Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO on President Obama's State of the Union Address
04:01
APTA President Applauds President Obama's State of the Union Address
03:47
Statement by AFGE National President John Gage on the State of the Union Address
01:19
Excerpts of President Obama's State of the Union Address
01:04
State of the Union Political Experts Available for Analysis and Interviews
00:42
Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
00:23
Alliance Urges Obama to Push Energy Efficiency as Engine of Job Creation in State of the Union Address
27 Jan 2010
23:50
FRC to Host State of the Union, Voice of the People Webcast
22:56
President Obama Should Appoint Independent Panel to Evaluate Climate Change-National Security Link in Wake of Climate Science Scandals, Former Commander of Pacific Fleet Says in Open Letter
22:48
GW Experts Available to Analyze President Obama's State of the Union Address
19:15
PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: State of the Union Address
16:59
AICPA Top Tax Expert Available to Comment on Tax Measures Proposed by President Obama in State of the Union Address
15:00
State of the Union: Recovery Measures will Reach Main Street and Contractors in 2010
13:56
Bauer Says it's 'Not Too Late' For Obama, But This is a Defining Moment

Hot Topics
Quarterly Earnings Reports
State of the Union
Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Inch Lower
CFOs: Optimism on the Rise, Committed to Efficiency Post-Recession
Rentrak Announces Top DVD Sales and Rentals for Week Ending January 24, 2010
Confidence Barometer 2010: Most Hotel Operators Cautiously Optimistic
Weather Boosts Online Shopping at Sites Providing Voucher Codes and Discounts
Walmart Leverages Global Scale to Lower Costs of Goods, Accelerate Speed to Market, Improve Quality of Products
Toyota Temporarily Suspends Sales of Selected Vehicles
Earthquake in Haiti

Clinton: Nigeria faces threat from Radicalization

Hillary Clinton

United States Department of State (Washington, DC)

Nigeria: Excerpt of Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Town Hall Meeting
Hillary Clinton
27 January 2010


The following remarks on Nigeria were made by the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, at a town hall meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC to mark the first anniversary of her appointment to the post:

QUESTION: Good morning, Madame Secretary. My name is Todd Woodard and I’m a contractor supporting the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.

Given the recent alleged attempted attack by the young Nigerian on Christmas Day and also the purported audio message from Usama bin Ladin heralding that attack and assuming responsibility for it, I’m curious to hear your thoughts regarding the connection between Islamist organizations and young Muslims in Western Africa, specifically Nigeria. I’m curious to hear what your opinion is regarding the driving factors for the youth accepting and embracing the Islamist ideology.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it’s an excellent question, and volumes have been written to try to answer that. But let me just briefly say that there is a connection between young people and the efforts to radicalize them that are promoted, sponsored, financed by al-Qaida and other extreme organizations with a very narrow definition of Islam. And they have been quite effective on the internet, as you know. We can track connections between not just the Christmas Day bomber but the Fort Hood shooter, the shooter at the Little Rock military recruitment station, and can see that they were at least listening to and interacting with very extreme voices on the side of Islamist ideology.

In Nigeria, which is, as you know, evenly divided between Muslims and Christians, about 75 million of each – Christians predominantly in the south, Muslims predominantly in the north – there has been an accommodation that has enabled Nigeria to survive politically. But the failure of the Nigerian leadership over many years to respond to the legitimate needs of their own young people, to have a government that promoted a meritocracy, that really understood that democracy can’t just be given lip service, it has to be delivering services to the people, has meant there is a lot of alienation in that country and others.

Young people in the world today, they see other options. They’re all interconnected through the internet. And the information we have on the Christmas Day bomber so far seems to suggest that he was disturbed by his father’s wealth and the kind of living conditions that he viewed as being not Islamic enough and just the kinds of attitudes young people often portray toward their families as they go through their maturing. But in this case, and in so many others, such young people are targets for recruiters to extremism.

So I do think that Nigeria faces a threat from increasing radicalization that needs to be addressed, and not just by military means. There has to be a recognition that in the last 10 years, a lot of the indicators about quality of life in Nigeria have gone the wrong direction. The rate of illiteracy is growing, not falling, in a country that used to have a very high rate of literacy in Africa. The health statistics are going the wrong direction. The corruption is unbelievable. And when I did a town hall in Abuja, people were just literally standing and shouting about what it was like to live in a country where the elite was so dominant, where corruption was so rampant, where criminality was so pervasive.


And that is an opening for extremism that offers an alternative world view. You want to live in peace and safety and feel good about yourself and be part of a community that you can be proud of, then turn away from your society and your family and come with us. And that can be a powerful message, whether it’s a gang in America or an extremist organization in Nigeria. And part of what I’ve been trying to tell leaders in all of my travels is that we’re not just lecturing about human rights or good governance or anticorruption measures because they’re our values; we think they are absolutely essential to the long-term survival of a lot of these governments and the societies and the political systems.

So this is – there are individual reasons why people get recruited and radicalized, but your question about Nigeria really raises all of the elements that make the circumstances ripe for people being targeted as they are, and they have to be addressed.

Nollywood Noisemakers and the Rest of Us

Nollywood Noisemakers and the Rest of Us

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

It was in the book Nollywood: The Video Phenomenon in Nigeria written by Monsieur Pierre Barrot that he called one of the top players in the contemporary Nigerian film industry a Nollywood Noisemaker. Of course M. Barrot knew what he was talking about when he made that derogatory jest, because he was the French Audio-visual Attaché in Nigeria where he was involved in the development of the local film industry and he could separate the sheep from the goats in Idumota and Onitsha.


Nollywood noisemakers are legion and they are well known for their street brawls over bragging rights for the titular positions in their various guilds and making home videos. Then they went over the moon when UNESCO reported that Nigeria has overtaken Hollywood as the second largest film producer in the world after India’s Bollywood. But the last French Audio-visual Attaché in Nigeria, Monsieur Robert Minangoy laughed at the report and waved it off in dismissal.

How can you compare 485 major films produced by the United States to Nollywood’s 872 home videos? Moreover, the figures were based on a survey done by UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) in 2006. Bollywood made 1,091 feature-length films in 2006 and if you know the stuff and the format of these Indian films, you would be an ignorant fool to compare them to the cheap home videos in Nollywood.

99% of Nollywood videos cannot be screened at any major film festival, cinema and on TV in America or Europe, because the quality is amateurish and Nollywood movie makers have pirated American and European songs and music in their home videos. In fact, it is common to hear complete tracks of Céline Dion or Beyoncé Knowles in many Nollywood movies and they violated these copyrights with impunity.




Nollywood has crashed since the UNESCO report was published and the current statistics will send that report into the waste bin, because majority of the prolific Nollywood producers are broke and in fact, many of them complained of hunger on TV when they were protesting against piracy on the streets of Lagos. They were pointing accusing fingers at the famous Alaba International Market in Lagos where traders are duplicating copies of both Nigerian and foreign movies and hawking them on the streets like cheap peanuts..
Only the well-fed producers are still active and in fact, they are not making up to half of the 872 home videos recorded in 2006.

Nollywood noisemakers can even claim that Nigeria is the largest producer of home video movies in the world, but they must tackle the problem of the poor quality of their productions. If Nigerians want to celebrate a UNESCO Report on being the second largest producer of B movies in the world, they can do so shamelessly, but they are only celebrating their mediocrity and continue to be the laughing stock of Hollywood and Bollywood. It is ridiculous for Nigeria to boast of making over 872 movies annually, but not a single one has even qualified for screening at the Cannes Film Festival and most of them cannot make the box office in America!
How many Nollywood movies have been shown in cinemas?

What we should be proud of is quality and not quantity.

You must improve and perfect your craft and art, no matter the format of the Media you are using.

Quality has no substitute.


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON NOLLYWOOD:

Nollywood
Nollywood: The Video Phenomenon in Nigeria

Viewing African Cinema in the Twenty-First Century: Art Films and the Nollywood Video Revolution






ALSO RECOMMENDED:

Nneka's 'The Uncomfortable Truth' Named iTunes Single Of The Week

Nneka

26 Jan 2010 15:00 Africa/Lagos


Nneka's 'The Uncomfortable Truth' Named iTunes Single Of The Week

US Debut Album Concrete Jungle Available Exclusively on iTunes January 26th - February 1st Concrete Jungle Available Everywhere on February 2nd Nneka to perform on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on February 3rd

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Nneka's timely and poignant song, "The Uncomfortable Truth" has been named as iTunes' Single Of The Week offering the track as a free download starting today through February 1st. The song is the lead single from the singer/songwriter's US album debut Concrete Jungle, which will be offered exclusively on the iTunes Store during that same time period for just $6.99.


Having released three previous albums in Europe and beyond, Nneka's music has been heard and loved by hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe. Admirers within press and music circles continue to grow, and she has been embraced by the likes of Garth Trinidad, Gilles Peterson, The Roots & Perez Hilton alike. In a recent blog entry, Hilton introduced Nneka to his readers explaining that her music "is a gift to the world."


Having been declared by both Spin and Rolling Stone as one of the best new artists in 2010, Nneka is set to bring her message of hope and truth to the United States while embarking on her upcoming Concrete Jungle Tour on January 27th. Her first US release stands as an offering of love, hope and optimism dedicated to the people of Warri & the Niger Delta of Nigeria, and the US is ready to embrace that message and it's messenger with open arms.


"The Uncomfortable Truth" will be available for free download on iTunes starting today, Tuesday, January 26th.


Nneka's first US album, Concrete Jungle will also be available on iTunes exclusively this week for $6.99.


Concrete Jungle Tour Dates

Jan 27 San Francisco, CA @ Red Devil Lounge
Jan 29 Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Cafe
Feb 2 New York, NY @ S.O.B's (Official Release Party)
Feb 3 Performance on David Letterman
Feb 4 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
Feb 5 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
Feb 6 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Club Stage
Feb 8 Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Theatre
Feb 9 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
Feb 11 Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley
Feb 13 St. Louis, MO @ The Gramophone
Feb 14 Chicago, IL @ Double Door


www.nnekaworld.com

Source: Epic Records

CONTACT: Pam Nashel Leto, +1-212-989-2222 x 111, pam@Girlie.com, Kabeer
Malhotra, +1-212-989-2222 x 123, kabeer@Girlie.com, Vickie Starr,
+1-212-989-2222, x101vickie@Girlie.com, or Alexandra Dunne, +1-212-833-5429,
alexandra.dunne@sonymusic.com


Web Site: http://www.nnekaworld.com/