Nigerian court bans oil strike

The Nigerian high court today banned a planned general strike that would target oil plants in the world’s seventh-largest exporter.

Justice Tanko Moammed Yusuf said in an order to the main Nigeria Labour Congress that “it shall not embark on any strike from 16th of November 2004 or any day thereafter.”

Nigeria, pumping 2.5 million barrels a day, is Africa’s largest oil producer and the fifth-largest source of US oil imports.

The country’s unions had called the strike for next Tuesday, and said this one - unlike other recent strikes – would target oil production and exports.

Unions are unhappy over a 23% increase in domestic fuel prices.