Oil Money Divides Nigeria
Gas Flaring Continues to Plague Nigeria()
August 25, 2005 Few things are more startling about the Niger River Delta than rounding a curve and encountering an enormous flame ahead. Called "flaring," this is the common practice of burning off unwanted natural gas that comes up when drilling for oil. It's a waste and an environmental hazard.
Corruption Clouds Nigeria's Growing Gas Business()
August 26, 2005 Nigeria's next big product may be something it has been burning off for years: natural gas. But in the rush to build a natural gas infrastructure, Nigeria's well-earned reputation for corruption may have touched some American companies.
Deadly Oil Skirmish Scars Nigerian Town()
August 25, 2005 A dispute over who deserved money from an oil company ended with a government attack on the town of Odioma, Nigeria, that left the community in tatters. Some residents were killed and others made homeless.
Reporter's Notebook
Navigating Nigeria's Muddy Landscape()
August 24, 2005 For two weeks, NPR's Steve Inskeep traveled the across the Niger River Delta to report on the oil industry there. He sums up his encounter with the country and its people in this reporter's notebook.
A Rebel or a Thief? One Man's Niger Delta Claim()
August 24, 2005 Nigeria produces so much oil that just the possibility of trouble there affects world markets. Prices first approached $60 a barrel after this summer's threat to the U.S. consulate. Oil first hit $50 last fall after another news item from Nigeria. A Niger Delta rebel ordered all oil companies out of the country.
Oil Pits Locals Against Companies, Government()
August 23, 2005 The American company Chevron faces disruptions — big and small — in its oil operations on a regular basis. The source of the trouble is a Niger Delta population that says it is not benefitting from the oil industry. Locals say the government and multinationals are colluding to keep the spoils for themselves.
The Race to Share in Nigeria's Oil Bounty()
August 22, 2005 The Energy Department says the United States depends on Africa for 18 percent of its petroleum imports. That percentage is growing rapidly. The biggest African producer is Nigeria. The fight is on in Africa's most populous country to grab a share of the money generated by the energy industry.