> > ----Original Message Follows---- > Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 19:55:47 -0500 > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > From: "MOSOP International Secretariat" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Multiple recipients of list SHELL-NIGERIA-ACTION > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: **BBC report** ``Hard time ahead for Nigerian economy' > > Thursday, December 31, 1998 Published at 20:26 GMT > > BBC report `Hard time ahead for Nigerian economy' > > Nigeria's military government has warned of a declining economy and a > continuing fall in living standards as the country prepares for a return > to > civilian rule next May. > > Speaking on the eve of the budget for 1999, the head of state, General > Abdulsalami Abubakar, blamed the situation on the fall in oil revenue > which > is Nigeria's principal source of foreign exchange. > > He said the unrest in the Niger Delta - the source of most of Nigeria's > oil - had exacerbated the situation, and hinted at a tougher policy > towards > controlling the unrest, saying that his government would "restore > normalcy > and security in the area". > > "While respecting human rights, we will not allow people to take order > into > their hands," General Abubakar said. > > The country's budget for 1998 was drawn up on the premise that a barrel > of > oil, of which about two million are produced every day, would sell for > US$17. The budget for the coming year is being calculated on an oil > price of > barely US$9. > > The BBC Correspondent in Lagos, Barnaby Phillips, says this has meant > that > some very tough economic decisions have had to be made. Already the > government has indicated it will have to climb down from an increase in > civil servant's wages that was announced in September, and it has > de-regulated the fuel market causing petrol prices to double. > > The fall in oil prices also means the government will be unable to pay > the > minimum wage it announced recently, and may have to impose a lower rate. > > Our correspondent says General Abubakar's government has won plaudits > around > the world for the manner in which it has transformed the political > situation > in Nigeria. > > The government's concern is that the problems surrounding oil production > and > oil prices should not threaten Nigeria's stability, with state elections > due > in January and parliamentary and presidential elections in February. > > The unrest in the oil producing area of Nigeria stems from a desire to > have > more of the oil-related money invested in local communities, expressed > in > better amenities and more jobs. > > Local protestors had given the oil companies until 30 December to > withdraw > from the Ijaw area until the issue of "ownership and control of > resources" > are settled. The oil companies have so far responded by asking the > government for improved security. > > [See the BBC report: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_245000/245642.stm] > > (c) BBC News, 1998. > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), > 20 Station Road, > Port Harcourt, Nigeria > Tel/ fax. [+234] 84 230 250 > Tel. [+871] 761 866639 (Inmarsat) > e-mail: MOSOP [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), > International Secretariat: Suite 5, 3 - 4 Albion Place, > Galena Road, London W6 0LT, United Kingdom. > Tel. (+44) (0)181 563 8614 > Fax. (+44) (0)181 563 8615 http://www.oneworld.org/mosop/ > e-mail: MOSOP International secretariat [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > "Lord take my soul, but the struggle continues" > - Ken Saro-Wiwa, the gallows, November 10th 1995. > > 'Ogoni is a land of half a million people in the Niger Delta region of > Nigeria. Since 1958, oil companies such as Shell have exploited Ogoni's > oil > wealth, while the Ogoni people have suffered economic deprivation, the > environmental devastation of our land and the discriminatory policies of > successive Nigerian governments'. > > 'The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People demands economic > justice, > human rights - including the right to choose the use of our land and its > resources - and to a future free of violence. MOSOP is the democratic > voice > of the Ogoni people'. > > > >
----Original Message Follows---- Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 19:55:47 -0500 Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "MOSOP International Secretariat" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of list SHELL-NIGERIA-ACTION <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: **BBC report** ``Hard time ahead for Nigerian economy' Thursday, December 31, 1998 Published at 20:26 GMT BBC report `Hard time ahead for Nigerian economy' Nigeria's military government has warned of a declining economy and a continuing fall in living standards as the country prepares for a return to civilian rule next May. Speaking on the eve of the budget for 1999, the head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, blamed the situation on the fall in oil revenue which is Nigeria's principal source of foreign exchange. He said the unrest in the Niger Delta - the source of most of Nigeria's oil - had exacerbated the situation, and hinted at a tougher policy towards controlling the unrest, saying that his government would "restore normalcy and security in the area". "While respecting human rights, we will not allow people to take order into their hands," General Abubakar said. The country's budget for 1998 was drawn up on the premise that a barrel of oil, of which about two million are produced every day, would sell for US$17. The budget for the coming year is being calculated on an oil price of barely US$9. The BBC Correspondent in Lagos, Barnaby Phillips, says this has meant that some very tough economic decisions have had to be made. Already the government has indicated it will have to climb down from an increase in civil servant's wages that was announced in September, and it has de-regulated the fuel market causing petrol prices to double. The fall in oil prices also means the government will be unable to pay the minimum wage it announced recently, and may have to impose a lower rate. Our correspondent says General Abubakar's government has won plaudits around the world for the manner in which it has transformed the political situation in Nigeria. The government's concern is that the problems surrounding oil production and oil prices should not threaten Nigeria's stability, with state elections due in January and parliamentary and presidential elections in February. The unrest in the oil producing area of Nigeria stems from a desire to have more of the oil-related money invested in local communities, expressed in better amenities and more jobs. Local protestors had given the oil companies until 30 December to withdraw from the Ijaw area until the issue of "ownership and control of resources" are settled. The oil companies have so far responded by asking the government for improved security. [See the BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_245000/245642.stm] (c) BBC News, 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), 20 Station Road, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Tel/ fax. [+234] 84 230 250 Tel. [+871] 761 866639 (Inmarsat) e-mail: MOSOP [EMAIL PROTECTED] Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), International Secretariat: Suite 5, 3 - 4 Albion Place, Galena Road, London W6 0LT, United Kingdom. Tel. (+44) (0)181 563 8614 Fax. (+44) (0)181 563 8615 http://www.oneworld.org/mosop/ e-mail: MOSOP International secretariat [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Lord take my soul, but the struggle continues" - Ken Saro-Wiwa, the gallows, November 10th 1995. 'Ogoni is a land of half a million people in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Since 1958, oil companies such as Shell have exploited Ogoni's oil wealth, while the Ogoni people have suffered economic deprivation, the environmental devastation of our land and the discriminatory policies of successive Nigerian governments'. 'The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People demands economic justice, human rights - including the right to choose the use of our land and its resources - and to a future free of violence. MOSOP is the democratic voice of the Ogoni people'. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
