Nigeria's state oil company has shut down crude oil flows to two of its four refineries after weekend attacks on pipelines, a company spokesman said on Monday, frustrating government hopes to start weaning the country from expensive imports.

The refineries in the northern city of Kaduna and
Warri, in the southern Niger Delta, were affected, said Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation spokesman Ohi Alegbe. "We have shut down flows for now, the military are on top of the matter," he said, without offering details of the attacks.

Despite being Africa's largest crude exporter,
Nigeria imports almost all its gasoline but officials had hoped national refineries would produce up to 30 percent of its gasoline needs in the first quarter of 2016. The country is plagued by violence, corruption and poor infrastructure.

The 125,000 barrel per day (bpd) Warri refinery
and the 110,000 bpd Kaduna refinery had resumed output in December after several
months of maintenance. The Kaduna refinery
receives its feedstock oil via the Warri refinery.
Nigeria also has a third refining complex with two plants in the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt, although only the newer of the two plants is currently functioning.

No group claimed responsibility for the weekend
attacks, which follow last week's arrest warrant
for former militant leader turned businessman
Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, as part of a crackdown on corruption. Several
former top government officials have been
charged with fraud.

A statement issued by the military's operation
Pulo Shield in the oil-rich Niger Delta region
vowed to hold "community leaders responsible
for any act of sabotage". "This warning is coming
as a result of recent, multiple attacks on oil
facilities and platforms by suspected militants in
the Niger Delta region," the statement issued on
Sunday said, without offering further details.

The attacks follow years of relative calm in the
country's oil-producing region after an 2009
amnesty halted frequent attacks on oil
installations and kidnappings of expatriate
workers.

OPEC member Nigeria is facing an economic crisis and dwindling foreign reserves as a result of the sharp drop in global oil prices. President
Muhammadu Buhari, elected last year, wants to
revamp the country's long-neglected refining
system and produce enough fuel, particularly
gasoline, to reduce expensive imports.

www.theafricareport.com/West-Africa/oil-a-gas-nigeria-stops-crude-flows-to-two-refineries-after-attacks.html

Pray for Nigeria

good

One day one problem we are on a long thing. A jjc govt that is already overwhelmed and makes blame game its policy directive is the worst thing that has happen to us since independence. God save my country. If only buhari/apc will bury their pride and call GEj/NOI for help instead of vilifying them. A promise of succour has turned to a delivery of pains as citizens continue to groan under this economic meltdown.

as long as Nigeria's resources remain inordinately controlled by Abuja this will continue

I love this one, mah nigguhs!!!

Diplomacy is what buhari should apply.
using force on those ND region will only make matter worse

We need to deploy security across the entire pipeline network and utilise drone technology if necessary.

Enemies of progress must never be allowed to succeed.

Buhari's strongheadedness will lead him to failure

I am really sorry for Nigeria. The President is too narrow minded

Tompolo may not be behind this attack. Some oil barrons may be sabotaging Buhari for all we know!

Buhari will end up the weakest President in the history of this country. There is weakness in flexing muscle unnecessarily and Buhari will learn this in due course

tuniski:
One day one problem we are on a long thing. A jjc govt that is already overwhelmed and makes blame game its policy directive is the worst thing that has happen to us since independence. God save my country. If only buhari/apc will bury their pride and call GEj/NOI for help instead of vilifying them. A promise of succour has turned to a delivery of pains as citizens continue to groan under this economic meltdown.

Your are a joker.
They will deal seriously with these militants. You are too young or ignorant to understand who we are dealing with. Buhari will take that place apart and won't stop.
Calll Jonathan of all people? What does that guy know?.
How long will you keep deceiving yourselves?.
That man is an ordinary NDDC officer that got lucky.
There are too many ignoramuses in this country.
Don't you know anything. Before Jona was made deputy governor, what was he doing?. What books did he write?, What newspaper articles?.. what lectures did he give?. A local portharcourt A level teacher who got lucky and wasted the greatest opportunity is the man we will call to solve the problem that he caused because of stupidity and cluelessness.
What school did you go?. Do you know this is 2016? smh

krendo:
Buhari's strongheadedness will lead him to failure

I am really sorry for Nigeria. The President is too narrow minded

Tompolo may not be behind this attack. Some oil barrons may be sabotaging Buhari for all we know!

Buhari will end up the weakest President in the history of this country. There is weakness in flexing muscle unnecessarily and Buhari will learn this in due course

All of them are going down. They will militarise the place and disarm or kill the strong headed youths . I am happy that the oil price has gone down. The dark days have descended on the Niger Delta and I am not sorry for the people.

Adminisher:


Your are a joker.
They will deal seriously with these militants. You are too young or ignorant to understand who we are dealing with. Buhari will take that place apart and won't stop.
Calll Jonathan of all people? What does that guy know?.
How long will you keep deceiving yourselves?.
That man is an ordinary NDDC officer that got lucky.
There are too many ignoramuses in this country.
Don't you know anything. Before Jona was made deputy governor, what was he doing?. What books did he write?, What newspaper articles?.. what lectures did he give?. A local portharcourt A level teacher who got lucky and wasted the greatest opportunity is the man we will call to solve the problem that he caused because of stupidity and cluelessness.
What school did you go?. Do you know this is 2016? smh

I guess u are older than buhari cos if he lacks grasp and competence you are higher in that. Pele old man out of touch with reality like buhari