Militants to strike Nigeria pipelines, Josef Litobarski

Josef Litobarski — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:18:31 +0000

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has announced it intends to attack Nigeria's main oil pipelines sometime in the next 30 days. The threat comes in response to a claim by the head of NNPC, a state-run oil company, that $12 million has been paid to militant groups by the company to prevent pipeline attacks. MEND hopes the attack will prove it has not received any money.

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Global oil prices have been falling recently, amid concerns that a slow-down in the US economy will reduce demand. Nonetheless, oil prices are volatile, especially in the middle of the hurricane season in the U.S., and any disruption to Nigerian oil-production could push up prices. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and the 11^th largest in the world.

Oil pipelines are relatively easy targets for militants to attack, as they stretch across great distances making them difficult to defend. NNPC admitted it had begun paying local militant groups for protection after it lost $81 million in two months because of attacks. Nigerian oil production in general is down by about 25 per cent because of regular attacks on oil pipelines.

MEND claims to represent the many inhabitants of the oil-rich Niger Delta who have not benefited from the government's exploitation of the area. It has responded angrily to the suggestion that it was paid not to attack the pipelines, saying in an e-mail: "MEND will never sell its birthright for a bowl of porridge."

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Militants to strike Nigeria pipelines, Josef Litobarski