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SPORT

WEATHER

ON THIS DAY

EDITORS' BLOG

Last Updated: Monday, 1 November,
2004, 17:46 GMT

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Nigeria strike call targets
Shell

The recent rise in fuel costs has caused unrest
in
Nigeria

Nigeria's
main trade union body is planning a second general strike over fuel
price rises, and has warned it will target oil exports.

Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress have branded oil giant
Shell an "enemy of the Nigerian people" and called for action
against the Anglo-Dutch firm.

Shell has tried to bar two unions from striking, blaming internal
issues.

The threat of a industrial action sent crude prices higher as
Shell accounts for about half of Nigerian oil exports.

The firm is not the source of the price rises, which stem from
the Nigerian government's cuts to fuel subsidies.

Tougher tactics

But NLC leaders now seem to see disrupting oil production as the
best way to increase pressure on President Olusegun Obasanjo's
government after a four day national stoppage in October failed to
reverse the price rises.

Shell has decided to side with the
government to oppress our people and to mix themselves into
Nigerian internal politics

Adams Oshiomhole,
NLC leader

NLC president Adams Oshiomhole said that the next strike - due to
start on 16 November - would be indefinite and total, hitting both
the production and export of crude oil.

"Last time there was no disruption of the upstream oil sector.
Now the only way for the government to listen is to interrupt the
oil flow," he said.

The price of US light, sweet crude oil, used by the oil industry
as a benchmark, rose more than 50 cents in Asian trade on Monday,
topping $52.25. It fell back from that high and by early afternoon
in New York was trading below $50 for the first time since October.

Target

"Shell has decided to side with the government to oppress our
people and to mix themselves into Nigerian internal politics," said
Mr Oshiomhole.

He accused Shell of taking legal action to prevent a white-collar
oil union from joining the strike.

A Shell spokesman in London said the firm was seeking a
restraining order to stop two local unions from striking, but that
this was unrelated to the planned NLC action.

Shell said its court case was brought about because two in-house
unions walked out on an earlier occasion, contravening a collective
agreement, the spokesman said.

The judge adjourned the case until 18 November, two days after
the start of the planned general strike, Agence France Presse
reported.

'High tension'

The issue of fuel subsidies has become the major battleground
between the NLC and the government.

The NLC has dismissed government measures to help alleviate the
impact of the increased fuel costs, saying they fell short of its
demand for a drop in petrol prices.

Any block to Nigerian oil exports may inflate already high global
prices.

The NLC's last general strike over the fuel price rises ran from
11 October to 14 October, shutting down banks, businesses, shops and
public services, but did not hit oil exports.

Nigeria is the world's seventh biggest oil producer, and
America's fifth most important supplier, making the country's
ongoing labour unrest a cause for concern in the oil sector.

The government "is showing pointed ingratitude to the men and
women who have... toiled not just to relieve the pains in the land,
but also to reduce the high tension in the country," the NLC said in
a statement.

On Friday the Nigerian government introduced a number of grants
and tax reductions to help offset the recent 23% rise in fuel
prices.

Global oil prices have increased by 60% since the beginning of
2004 due to a combination of rising demand and worries over supply.

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NIGERIA VOTES

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