Striking Nigerians threaten to shut down oil industry

Nigeria’s main oil workers union threatened to shut down the country’s oil industry as a nationwide general strike entered its third day today.

The strike, in protest at high local fuel prices, has not so far affected oil exports, but such fears have helped send world oil prices to record levels.

The president of Nigeria’s largest oil workers union, NUPENG, said its members were still working at key positions for the time being but vowed to shut down production if the government used heavy-handed tactics to end the protest.

“If nothing serious happens, we will maintain this position. But if there are arrests, we will change our strategy,” said Peter Akpatason.

“We can move to stop operations 100%,” he said

A nation of over 130 million, Nigeria is the world’s seventh-largest oil exporter.