Shell defies court order to halt production in Bayelsa state - officials

Royal Dutch Shell has failed to halt production at the Gbaran Ubie oil and gas facility in southern Nigeria, contravening a court order for the site to be sealed and raising the prospect of legal action, state government officials said on Wednesday.

A Reuters reporter spoke to workers at the plant who also said production had continued.

A Shell (RDSa.L) spokesman declined to comment.

The facility, in the oil-rich southern Niger Delta region, supplies the Bonny liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and also helps generate electricity, which is scarce in Africa's top oil producer and most populous nation.

On Monday, the Bayelsa state government said the premises had been sealed up for operating without a permit and staff had been evicted.

Anglican leader Justin Welby warns of any Negotiation with Islamist terrorists

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby warned Sunday of the difficulties of negotiating with an “utterly merciless” group Boko Haram, but called for active contact with the Nigerian Islamists over their abduction of scores of schoolgirls.

The Nigerian authorities have been attempting to negotiate with Boko Haram for some time but is it feasible? The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has worked in Nigeria and negotiated with armed groups - including a predecessor of Boko Haram in the north. He talks to the BBC's Shaun Ley.