WATCHING THE WORLD: Nigerian oil in jeopardy

Oct. 9, 2006
The news from Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is not encouraging. It’s that recurring problem of militants besieging the place again, but this time they seem to be ganging up on the industry.

The news from Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is not encouraging. It’s that recurring problem of militants besieging the place again, but this time they seem to be ganging up on the industry.

Up to now, Nigeria-a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries-has been Africa’s leading oil producer and the world’s sixth biggest crude exporter with a normal output of 2.6 million b/d. But militants are threatening that production.

Indeed, attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta have cut about a quarter of oil production since the start of this year, and at least five Nigerian oil workers have been killed.

MEND speaks

Last week, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) announced a mobilization of its fighters to counter a new military offensive by the Nigerian government, a siege on ethnic Ijaw communities following the killing of 14 soldiers and kidnapping of 25 oil workers in Rivers State on Oct. 2.

“In response to the buildup of Nigerian military forces...we decided to send a number of our fighters into Rivers State to assist communities which we perceive will shortly be under siege by the Nigerian military,” MEND said.

“These fighters will remain in the vicinity of Rivers State until the perceived threat to Ijaw communities in Rivers State ceases to exist,” it said. That could be a long time, especially given MEND’s declared aim.

“In good time we will redeem our pledge to the people of the Niger Delta to halt altogether the rape of our land by the Nigerian government and conniving oil companies,” it said.

Aimed at destruction

“As long as the injustice persists in the delta, there will be no peace for those who loot the wealth of our oppressed people,” it warned. Leaving little room for guesswork, MEND said: “Our goal remains the destruction of the Nigerian oil industry and all who stand on the pathway to our objective.”

The statement came on the heels of the Oct. 2 attack on a site belonging to Royal Dutch Shell PLC in neighboring Rivers State, and it shows that the militants are linking up.

The Oct. 2 attack was by a group called the Joint Revolutionary Council, which said its attack was aimed at obtaining the release of Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari, the imprisoned leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force.

Hardly had that attack occurred than another one took place on Oct. 4, when five foreigners working for ExxonMobil Corp. were abducted and two Nigerians killed by armed militants operating in the Niger Delta region.

This time, the militants were not immediately identified, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. But the handwriting is on the wall: Militants by whatever name are joining up to threaten the oil industry of a major OPEC producer. That’s worrying for everyone, Nigerian or not.