Shell Reaches $84 Million Settlement Deal in Niger Delta Oil Spill Case

After a three-year legal battle, Royal Dutch Shell has finally agreed to an $84 million settlement with residents of Bodo community in Niger Delta. They are being compensated for two oil spills that occurred in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

According to BBC, the 15,600 fishermen in the case will be given $3,300 each as compensation for losses they experienced as a result of the oil spills. The remaining $30 million will be given to the community as a whole to aid in eradicating the environmental pollution caused by the incident.

The oil spills had devastating effects on the community. Sources say the price of fish, a staple food in the region, rose tenfold, and most of the fishermen had to find alternative ways of making a living. In addition, local sources of drinking water were contaminated, and people began to develop eyesight problems.

A statement released about the settlement by Leigh Day, the law firm representing the fishermen, reveals that “It is the first time that compensation has been paid following an oil spill in Nigeria to the thousands of individuals who have suffered loss.” The deal is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

In addition to the cash settlement, Shell has pledged to clean up Bodo Creek over the next couple of months.

Photo Credit: Reuters

Should Elections Be Conducted in Northeastern States Plagued by Boko Haram?

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima

Despite the rising insecurity due to the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, the respective governors in these regions insist that elections will still hold next month.

Leadership reports that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and his Yobe counterpart, Ibrahim Gaidam made this declaration after the conclusion of a security meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential Villa in Abuja.

The rationale behind their reasoning is that “if elections could hold in troubled countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, then the Northeast shouldn’t be an exception.”

Reports state that the governors described the meeting as “fruitful” and that they asked the president to deploy more troops to their states to aid in effective counter-insurgency operations.

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BellaNaijarians, what do you think? Should the elections in these regions still go on as planned despite the Boko Haram insurgency?

He’s All Grown Up! Justin Bieber Unveiled as the New Face of Calvin Klein

Justin Bieber is all grown up!

The pop singer is the new face of Calvin Klein underwear and jeans and new pictures have been released of him and model Lara Stone for the brand’s spring ads.

The pictures are definitely hot and when Justin Bieber posted one of the pictures on his Instagram page he got over 1 million likes and over 130,000 comments.

For the shoot he was photographed by Mert Alas.

He posted more black and white pictures this morning and they are just as hot!

Justin Bieber joins celebrities including Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Drake, Kanye West, Harry Styles, Rita Ora, Fergie, Joe and Nick Jonas, Ne-Yo, Iggy Azalea and more as ambassadors of the brand.

Photo Credit: Instagram/JustinBieber

First Look! Tiwa Savage, Banky W, Toolz & Zainab Balogun Cover Blanck Magazine’s ‘Homeland Issue’

For Blanck Digital UK magazine’s 4th and anniversary issue, the magazine has tapped four amazing people to be their cover stars – Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Zainab Balogun and Toolz.

The magazine’s full issue will be available for purchase from the 10th of January.

In the ‘Homeland’ issue, Blanck magazine profiles a number of inspiring individuals who have returned home and are having a whirlwind romance with Africa. Their stories are juxtaposition of joy and chaos smoothly blended which would definitely give readers a bittersweet taste of the continent’s reality.

Tiwa Savage, Banky W, Toolz, Zainab Balogun, Chin Okeke and more are the inspiring individuals and in this edition and they candidly share personal tales of fear, culture shock, tears, disappointment and eventual joy of moving back.

Blanck has also announced that it will be launching this issue with its first digital App available for download on iOS, Android, Kindle and Windows. Get your copies and view the full issue for only £2.99 from the 10th of January 2015.

Photo Credit: Instagram/Blanck

Dayo “D1″ Adeneye to Join Ogun Governor Amosun’s Media & Publicity Committee

Dayo “D1″ Adeneye, is starting the new year on an exciting note!

The veteran broadcaster has been appointed to join Ogun state governor Ibikunle Amosun‘s media and publicity committee, Daily Times NG reports.

You will recall that Adeneye was contesting for a seat in the Ogun state House of Assembly for the Odogbolu Constituency, under APC. However, he lost.

His Twitter followers have expressed their joy at the appointment, and have sent numerous goodwill messages, which he retweeted:

Imo State Gov. Okorocha Reportedly Donates Presidential Campaign Bus to Buhari

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has reportedly donated a campaign bus to APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

The photos of the purported bus and the politicians celebrating the donation, hit the Internet today. Check it out:

The 'Beach' in Enugu state (photos)...:-)

A twitter user said this is the closest thing they have to a beach in Enugu state. Fun seekers trooped to the place during the yuletide to have fun. See another photo after the cut...