Nigerian spat threatens oil

An ongoing public feud between the Nigerian president and vice president is adding to concerns about the long-term reliability of oil exports in a country already embroiled in violence directed at the petroleum industry.

The spat could fuel violence in the Niger Delta, where oil production has diminished by at least 20 percent due to attacks by militant groups on oil installations in the region, Spio-Garbrah noted. Uncertainty and political infighting could affect oil prices globally and ‘Nigeria provides 13 percent of daily crude imports to the United States … [making] the looming prospect of turmoil … especially ominous,’ he said.
Monsters and Critics