News that sounds like a joke

[drwex]

News of the Weird has a section with that title and I'll bet money this one shows up there. I give you the impeccable BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8118721.stm

Russia's energy giant Gazprom has signed a $2.5bn (£1.53bn) deal with Nigeria's state operated NNPC, to invest in a new joint venture.

The new firm, to be called Nigaz, is set to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Nigeria.

Comments

[halleyscomet.livejournal.com]

Oh

My

God.

[purple-terror.livejournal.com]

But will they have attitude?

[eccentrific.livejournal.com]

I am honestly baffled as to why you think this sounds like a joke.

[gentlescholar.livejournal.com]

I think because the name sounds like an insult term for dark-skinned people.
Probably pronounced very differently.

[imvfd.livejournal.com]

In addition to what gentlescholar said, there's also this aspect of it. Perhaps you've seen the following in your inbox:

Dear Sir:

I have been requested by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company to contact you for assistance in resolving a matter. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company has recently concluded a large number of contracts for oil exploration in the sub-Sahara region. The contracts have immediately produced moneys equalling US$40,000,000. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company is desirous of oil exploration in other parts of the world, however, because of certain regulations of the Nigerian Government, it is unable to move these funds to another region.

You assistance is requested as a non-Nigerian citizen to assist the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, and also the Central Bank of Nigeria, in moving these funds out of Nigeria. If the funds can be transferred to your name, in your United States account, then you can forward the funds as directed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. In exchange for your accomodating services, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company would agree to allow you to retain 10%, or US$4 million of this amount.

However, to be a legitimate transferee of these moneys according to Nigerian law, you must presently be a depositor of at least US$100,000 in a Nigerian bank which is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

If it will be possible for you to assist us, we would be most grateful. We suggest that you meet with us in person in Lagos, and that during your visit I introduce you to the representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, as well as with certain officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Please call me at your earliest convenience at [Phone Number]. Time is of the essence in this matter; very quickly the Nigerian Government will realize that the Central Bank is maintaining this amount on deposit, and attempt to levy certain depository taxes on it.

Yours truly, etc.

Ben Ahore

I assume you've read the other comments

[drwex]

but if not, "niggaz" is a pretty common hip-hop spelling of "niggers" - obviously a very loaded racial term.

[bluegargantua]

Yeah, but MEND has promised to blow up everything they put in.

I'm a little worried that Russia will send "security forces" in to protect their investments and we'll have a minor cold war brewing in Nigeria.

later
Tom

[selenite.livejournal.com]

Somewhere a translator is laughing himself sick as his buddies buy him more drinks.

[c1.livejournal.com]

Strange: maybe because of my knowledge of Gazprom, I read that "nye-gas" instead of as a racial epithet-- perhaps it was the lack of a double g.
Either way, I agree with bluegargantua regarding Russia's track record of enforcing its perceived rights to energy sales. It's just a matter of time before they start using energy as a tool to rein in their political adversaries again.