Nigerian oil union threatens fresh strike over diesel cost
LAGOS (AFP) — Nigeria's oil workers' union NUPENG has threatened to resume a suspended strike over the high cost of diesel and kerosene in the oil-rich west African country, its leader said Thursday.
"We will meet again next week Tuesday. But between now and Tuesday, our extension will have lapsed so we are looking at a lot of options," NUPENG president Peter Akpatason told reporters.
"Some people are suggesting that we must start the strike next Monday because we only suspended for two weeks. But another group is saying why don't we do some other protests," he said.
The leader of the blue-collar oil workers union said the majority favoured a "full-blown" strike, but he added that he would personally suggest a definitive strike of one or two weeks to enable the government to put its house in order.
Two weeks ago, petrol tanker drivers under the auspices of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ended their three-day strike after the government promised to bring down the price of diesel that has more than doubled in the past weeks.
A litre of diesel currently sells for up to 200 naira (1.70 dollars, 1.08 euros) against the approved price of 70 naira.
The strike led to long queues of motorists at petrol stations throughout the country.
Akpatason said next week's meeting will also determine if other workers in the oil sector will join the strike.
"For now, only tanker drivers are being prepared for the strike. But if nothing is done about the price of diesel after the meeting, other workers may be persuaded to join," he warned.
"The implication may be too devastating for the government to handle since the country's oil exports will be completely shut down," he added.
Previous strikes have hurt Nigeria's multi-billion-dollar oil and gas industry, already hit by unrest in the country's volatile Niger Delta in the past two years.
The unrest has reduced Nigeria's oil output by a quarter, causing it to lose its position as Africa's biggest oil producer to Angola since April, according to figures from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The violence has also contributed to the soaring price of crude in the world market.
