17 April 1980 -ITN News Students demonstrate against corruption/looting scandal

17 April 1980 -ITN News Students demonstrate against corruption/looting scandal Students at the University of Lagos took to the streets on Tuesday (15 April) and marched to the National Assembly to protest over what has come to be known as Nigeria's Oilgate Scandal'. More than four and three quarter billion dollars is allegedly missing from the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). SYNOPSIS: In September 1979 a Nigerian national newspapers reported that the money was missing from the account books recording NNPC sales of crude oil and petroleum products. The Senate leader of the Peoples Redemption Party, Sabo Barkin Zuwo, raised the matter in the Senate. Two weeks ago the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Edwin Ezeoke said an investigation into the alleged loss would go ahead despite denial of the loss by NNPC Chairman, Oke Halm. Mr. Halm had also denied allegations that the money had been traced to a London bank account. The students are demanding to know who are the operators of the alleged bank account. Although a House Committee has already started a probe into the missing money the students also want a Judicial Inquiry into the scandal so anyone found guilty of misconduct can be brought to justice. The House of Representatives Committee investigating the scandal has announced it has a prima facie case that the money is missing from the NNPC and have sought police protection for its members. Nigeria, which ranks eights among the world's top crude oil producers is experiencing an economic boom. Forty five percent of Nigeria's 2.2 million barrels daily production goes to the United States, making it the second biggest US supplier after Saudi Arabia. Proven reserves in Nigerian fields are estimated at about 18 billion barrels - but large areas have yet to be explored. 25th February 1980 - ITN News PRESIDENT SHAGARI VISITS AJAOKUTA STEEL PROJECT -- PART OF A NEW INDUSTRY THAT WILL HELP THE COUNTRY PRODUCE IT'S OWN STEEL BEFORE 1983. The Nigerian steel Development Minister Paul Unongo announced recently that Nigeria will start producing its own steel before 1983. President Alhaji Shehu Shagari visited one of the most important sites of the growing Nigerian steel industry a few days before the announcement. The Ajaokuta Steel Plant is one of the many projects aimed at speeding up the industrialisation of Nigeria. The President said the success of projects like it would result in what he called an increased tempo in the country's economic growth. SYNOPSIS: Ajaokuta was chosen as the site of the Plant in 1974. But the planning of an iron and steel industry in Nigeria dates back to the late fifties. Various foreign firms have acted as consultants to the federal government's Steel Development Ministry. And President Shagari himself has been a champion of the growing industry. It is federal government policy that the development of the steel industry will be the foundation of Nigeria's growing technology and industrialisation. The demand for steel in Nigeria has been increasing over the years and so far, the country has relied entirely on it's import. It will be children like this one who will most benefit from the current construction at Ajaokuta. Not only will the industry provide jobs, but the President himself pointed out the auxiliary industries will grow up offering even more employment for young Nigerians. 10th June 1980  - ITN news MASS STATE FUNERAL AND BURIAL OF AIR-CRASH VICTIMS. In Nigeria, eighteen people who died in an air-crash have been buried after a state funeral that included open air Moslem and Christian services. Nigerian President Alhaji Shehu Shagari read a Valediction for the victims at the service in Lagos on Saturday (7 June). They died in a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Escravos River Bar in Nigeria's Bendel State twelve days before (26 May). SYNOPSIS: The coffins were flown to Lagos airport from Benin City, the capital of Bendel State, on the day of the mass funeral. All the victims except a crew of three, were members of a Nigerian government delegation flying for bilateral talks to the islands of Sao Tome and Principe. The dead included a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry, Dr. Abubakar Usman, four others from the ministry, plus armed forces personnel and four journalists. Later, at Tafawa Balewa Square, the President spoke. The state burial was at the Atan cemetery in Lagos. 23rd July 1980 -ITN News US Vice president Arrives on 4-day state visit United States Vice-President Walter Mondale arrived in Lagos on Sunday (20 July) for a four-day officials visit to Nigeria -- a visit he was expected to use to express concern to Nigeria over rising oil prices. SYNOPSIS: Waiting to meet Mr. Mondale was Mr. Alex Ekwueme, the Vice-President of Nigeria, and his wife. Nigeria is the second most important exporter of oil to the U.S. after Saudi Arabia, providing sixteen percent of the total imports of oil into the United States. Mr. Mondale is on a four-nation West African tour. Apart from Nigeria he has been having talks in Senegal, Niger and Cane Verde. Nigeria is his third visit of the tour. The United States has a 7 1/2 billion dollar trade deficit with Nigeria this year and American officials say it could rise to eleven billion dollars in 1981.

PRESIDENT SHAGARI VISITS OGUNPA FLOOD DISASTER AREA IN IBADAN WHERE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY PEOPLE DIED DURING A TWELVE HOUR RAINSTORM. Nigerian President Shehu Shagari visited the scene of flash-flooding at Ibadan, about one hundred moles (160 kilometres) north of the capital Lagos, on Sunday (7 September) where two hundred and forty were killed during a rainstorm the previous week. SYNOPSIS: It was the heaviest downpour the topical city of Ibadan had suffered in four years. In twelve hours, ten point seven nine inches fell on the Ogunpa region swelling in Ogunpa River until it burst its banks. The floodwaters raced across the land crushing houses and catching many people unprepared. Among those drowned were children and pregnant women. Many thousands more have been left homeless.