Nigerian Militants Threaten Oil Companies
July 4, 2009 by Mark Ellis
Filed under Business
Oil companies that are trying to expand into Nigeria face a significant roadblock in the form of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND. This Nigerian militant group has threatened to destroy a planned trans-Saharan pipeline project, if it is ever built.
MEND has specifically warned Agip, Total, and Exxon Mobil, the three companies still operating in the Niger Delta, that they have three days to leave before new attacks may be launched. Chevron has already cancelled operations in the area because of several attacks on its onshore operations.
Niger and Nigeria have already forged an agreement to allow the $10-billion dollar pipeline deal, but MEND maintains confidence in its ability to demolish the pipeline if it is built. While Nigeria has decided to extend a pardon to the militants, MEND has stated that the pardon would only be the first step in resolving the “crisis.”
Pipeline (Image: Flickr)
