A band of saboteurs that calls itself the Niger Delta Avengers has been prowling the swamps of Nigeria’s petroleum-rich south for four months, bombing pipelines and diving underwater to destroy equipment. The damage has helped tip Africa’s biggest economy toward recession, and has cost Nigeria its position as the continent’s top oil producer—a distinction inherited by Angola. The...
The 'Niger Delta Avengers' are continuing their attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the area; on Friday they bombed two pipelines, one owned by Facts Global Energy's and the other by Eni Spa. As we previously noted, this constant onslaught of damage is tipping Nigeria into recession and has cost the nation its position as Africa's top oil producer: “It is clearly having a material impact," said Royal Dutch Shell James Davis. Despite the government increasing its military presence in the Niger Delta, the militants continue reasonably unhampered: “They knew exactly where to attack and the time to attack,” commented Ecobank oil analyst Dolapo Oni, adding that there is literally nothing that can be done. These attacks come at a perilous moment for Nigeria; even prior to the arrival of the Avengers, its government was running low on money. The country’s reserves have fallen so drastically that the central bank has rationed access to foreign currency since last year, thereby forcing businesses to shut down since they are unable to get the dollars they need to import spare parts or repay foreign banks.