Nigeria planning to launch military satellite

Russia will launch Nigeria's first satellite in September, boosting surveillance of the West African country's military and crude oil facilities, Information Minister Chukwuemeka Chikelu said.

"Some of the functions of the satellite will be defence and security surveillance, pipeline surveillance, population surveying and soil mapping," he told reporters.

Nigeria, the world's eighth biggest crude oil exporter, loses between 200 000 and 300 000 barrels per day of crude to thieves who puncture pipelines in the Niger Delta.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=68&art_id=qw106155270219B212&set_id=1

1. I've got a 6th sense now. On reading the title I laughed and thought, 'What does Nigeria need a military satellite for when they have millions of starving people? To watch the American oil fields? LOL'

Then I read the story.

2. What exactly are the 'thieves' stealing? Do they put a bucket under the hole they just punctured? Maybe there are no jobs in Nigeria so they don't have money to buy gasoline?

I can see a real turn around in Africa since Chimpy's landmark trip!

http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

The african continent will be a mess forever. The number of leaders over there that put the people of thier country first over thier own asperations is very minimal. Untill that happens, nothing will change. Bush, Carter, Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Conyers, Koffie Annon, they could all have offices over there and nothing would change.

The president of the USSR used to be elected also. Same with the Primier of China. What does democratic elections have to do with the way that the President runs the country. There are no checks and balances, the opposition is killed, not killed in the press, people disapear. When I was on active duty in the Navy we had a few visits to Africa. I think I could count on 1 hand the number of people that would ever willingly go back.

from leaks in the pipelines.every once in a while the pipeline explodes killing many who are there "stealing" gasoline. gasoline collection is one of the few ways the poor in nigeria make any money.