Distress ahead in the Nigerian delta?
Far from hitting a 2.2m b/d output target this year, Nigeria’s entire onshore production is now at risk
VIOLENCE in the Niger delta, including attacks on pipelines and destruction of other infrastructure has cost Nigeria its place as Africa's largest oil producer and pushed output to a 20-year low just as the country needed income. It is losing a prime opportunity to capitalise on its significant resources. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria's oil minister, told Petroleum Economist recently that he would use "consultation and negotiation to handle oil vandalism", rather than force. But the army could intervene, with the potential to make the problem worse. "The long-term solution to the problems in the Niger delta is continuous engagement and detailed participation of individuals, including myself
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
