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Nigeria oil unions begin strike Nigeria oil unions stage strike
(about 4 hours later)
Nigerian oil workers' unions are due to begin a three-day strike to protest against insecurity in the oil producing Niger Delta region. A three-day strike by Nigerian oil workers has had little affect on production, say oil companies but some queues are reported at petrol stations.
The two oil workers' unions have called on the government to improve security after a wave of attacks and abductions by gunmen in the Delta this year. Union officials say thousands of oil workers have obeyed the order to stay away from work protesting at insecurity in the oil-producing Niger Delta.
Industry sources say that on Tuesday a Nigerian oil worker was killed in an attack by gunmen on a supply ship. They want the government to do more to protect workers in the region from attacks and abductions by armed groups.
Oil analysts do not expect the strike to substantially affect oil production. On Tuesday a Nigerian oil worker was killed in an attack on a supply ship.
Reports suggest the unions and government are holding more meetings to try and end the action.
Nigeria is the world's eighth largest producer of crude oil.Nigeria is the world's eighth largest producer of crude oil.
The unions said they called the strike to protest at the lack of security in the oil-producing Niger Delta. "Oil exports are not affected. Loading of crude is going on at the exports terminal," a spokesman for US oil giant ExxonMobil told AFP news agency.
They have told thousands of their workers not to work for three days as a warning to the government to do more to stop attacks on the oil industry by armed groups. Protest
This year there have been a string of raids on oil installations and kidnappings of oil workers. The unions told thousands of their workers not to work for three days as a warning to the government to do more to stop attacks on the oil industry by armed groups.
As if to underline their concern, on Tuesday a Nigerian oil worker was reportedly killed in an attack by pirates on the ship operated by an American oil services company. This year there have been a string of raids on oil installations and kidnappings of oil workers. On Tuesday a Nigerian oil worker was killed in an attack by pirates on a ship operated by an American oil services company. Two others were injured, Chevron announced..
Last month, an employee for Shell who had been held hostage was killed in a shoot-out between troops and militants.
The unions say their strike is targeted against the government rather than the oil companies working in the Delta.The unions say their strike is targeted against the government rather than the oil companies working in the Delta.
There have been talks among the parties about limiting the strike's impact on oil production.There have been talks among the parties about limiting the strike's impact on oil production.
In past stoppages the oil companies have used a few key staff and non-unionised workers to keep the oil flowing but a prolonged strike could have consequences. The BBC's Alex Last in Nigeria says that in past stoppages, the oil companies have used a few key staff and non-unionised workers to keep the oil flowing but a prolonged strike could have consequences.
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer but its output is already down by more than a quarter as a result of militant attacks and pipeline leaks.Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer but its output is already down by more than a quarter as a result of militant attacks and pipeline leaks.
This has contributed to the high global price of crude oil and despite government pledges to take a tough line with the armed groups there are fears of continued insecurity in the oil producing region in the run-up to Nigeria's elections next year. This has contributed to the high global price of crude oil and despite government pledges to take a tough line with the armed groups there are fears of continued insecurity in the oil producing region in the run-up to Nigeria's elections next year, he says.