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GUEST: Reverend Nnmio Bassey, Director of Friends of the Earth, Nigeria, Roxanne Lawson, International Policy Campaigner with Friends of the Earth USA

Property damage to oil infrastructure in Nigeria has escalated since last month’s controversial elections in which Umaru Yar’Adua was elected to the presidency. The elections have received massive criticism for reports of ballot fraud, voter intimidation, bribery, and other forms of corruption. Analysts believe the corruption to be the work of ruling party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and current president, Olusegun Obasanjo. Yar’Adua is also seen by many as Obasanjo’s “puppet.” Since then, various militant groups have increased activity, bombing oil refineries and pipelines and kidnapping oil factory workers from foreign companies such as Chevron and Agip. Recently 4 US oil workers were kidnapped on the heels of the release of 11 other Korean and Phillipino workers. To date no one kidnapped has been harmed. One militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has stated its demand for redistribution of oil-wealth to the Nigerian people, most of whom live in poverty. They have committed to continuing attacks in anticipation of Yar’Adua’s inauguration on May 29.

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