Nigerian oil
workers vowed Thursday to start shutting down production in Africa's top
crude exporter this weekend as a national strike headed for a fifth
day, but high-level talks made progress toward a deal.
The strike and mass protests over high fuel prices have paralysed Nigeria this week, while President Goodluck Jonathan's government has also had to deal with a spate of bloody attacks blamed on Islamist militants.
Labour leaders held their first meeting with Jonathan since the strike began, and progress was reported after the talks ended late Thursday night, though not enough for unions to call off the action.
The two sides were due to meet again on Saturday -- with oil workers planning to begin shutting down production hours later, at midnight of that day, if no resolution is reached.
Nigeria produces more than two million barrels per day and is a key supplier of crude to the United States and the European Union.
While the strike this week has paralysed Africa's most populous country and brought tens of thousands onto the streets, oil workers have so far not moved to halt output of crude, the country's economic lifeblood.
Union officials and analysts say this would be a desperate step, given the damage it would cause to a country that derives some two-thirds of government revenue and more than 90 percent of export earnings from the industry.
Babatunde Ogun, president of the PENGASSAN oil workers union, nonetheless warned that "from Sunday, we are shutting down".
He said the union was demanding that the government return petrol prices to 65 naira per litre ($0.40, 0.30 euros) -- the level before January 1, when fuel subsidies were abruptly halted. They are now at 140 or more.
The strike and protests have put the government under mounting pressure as it also seeks to stop spiralling attacks blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, which have raised tensions and led to warnings of civil war.
Huge crowds have gathered across cities for protests against the removal of fuel subsidies that doubled the price of petrol overnight.
More than a dozen labour leaders entered talks with Jonathan and other officials on Thursday.
Progress was reported afterward, with Senate President David Mark saying both sides had shifted their positions. One of the country's main union leaders seemed upbeat after the talks.
"Until we conclude the discussions, we maintain the status quo," said Nigeria Labour Congress president Abdulwahed Omar.
A labour source said the government had offered to reduce petrol prices to 120 naira per litre, but unions have not yet accepted it.
The petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, earlier signaled to journalists that there was room for negotiations while at the same time defending the government's position.
"No government would stand up and put itself through (the) sort of onslaught that we have been put through if they did not believe that what was to come is far better for the country than what has already passed," she added.
Government officials and economists say removing subsidies was essential and will allow much of the $8 billion per year in savings to be plowed into projects to improve the country's woefully inadequate infrastructure.
But protests across Nigeria pressed ahead. In Lagos, the largest city, over 10,000 packed a park which has become the city's main protest site.
Seun Kuti - son of late legendary musician and harsh government critic Fela Kuti -- performed for a raucous crowd that screamed in anger at the government and yelled threats against the president.
In northern Nigeria's largest city of Kano, hundreds of thousands gathered at an open air ground for what organisers labelled a "sit-in" rally.
Violence again hit parts of Nigeria, with two police officers killed on Wednesday when a mob rampaged in the central city of Minna, burning political offices and prompting an all-day curfew.
Gunmen also attacked a police station in the northeastern city of Yola.
In another attack, four Christians were gunned down on the outskirts of the city of Potiskum by suspected Boko Haram members.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warned on Thursday that members of Boko Haram could be guilty of crimes against humanity if their attacks are found to have systematically targeted civilians.
The strike and mass protests over high fuel prices have paralysed Nigeria this week, while President Goodluck Jonathan's government has also had to deal with a spate of bloody attacks blamed on Islamist militants.
Labour leaders held their first meeting with Jonathan since the strike began, and progress was reported after the talks ended late Thursday night, though not enough for unions to call off the action.
The two sides were due to meet again on Saturday -- with oil workers planning to begin shutting down production hours later, at midnight of that day, if no resolution is reached.
Nigeria produces more than two million barrels per day and is a key supplier of crude to the United States and the European Union.
While the strike this week has paralysed Africa's most populous country and brought tens of thousands onto the streets, oil workers have so far not moved to halt output of crude, the country's economic lifeblood.
Union officials and analysts say this would be a desperate step, given the damage it would cause to a country that derives some two-thirds of government revenue and more than 90 percent of export earnings from the industry.
Babatunde Ogun, president of the PENGASSAN oil workers union, nonetheless warned that "from Sunday, we are shutting down".
He said the union was demanding that the government return petrol prices to 65 naira per litre ($0.40, 0.30 euros) -- the level before January 1, when fuel subsidies were abruptly halted. They are now at 140 or more.
The strike and protests have put the government under mounting pressure as it also seeks to stop spiralling attacks blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, which have raised tensions and led to warnings of civil war.
Huge crowds have gathered across cities for protests against the removal of fuel subsidies that doubled the price of petrol overnight.
More than a dozen labour leaders entered talks with Jonathan and other officials on Thursday.
Progress was reported afterward, with Senate President David Mark saying both sides had shifted their positions. One of the country's main union leaders seemed upbeat after the talks.
"Until we conclude the discussions, we maintain the status quo," said Nigeria Labour Congress president Abdulwahed Omar.
A labour source said the government had offered to reduce petrol prices to 120 naira per litre, but unions have not yet accepted it.
The petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, earlier signaled to journalists that there was room for negotiations while at the same time defending the government's position.
"No government would stand up and put itself through (the) sort of onslaught that we have been put through if they did not believe that what was to come is far better for the country than what has already passed," she added.
Government officials and economists say removing subsidies was essential and will allow much of the $8 billion per year in savings to be plowed into projects to improve the country's woefully inadequate infrastructure.
But protests across Nigeria pressed ahead. In Lagos, the largest city, over 10,000 packed a park which has become the city's main protest site.
Seun Kuti - son of late legendary musician and harsh government critic Fela Kuti -- performed for a raucous crowd that screamed in anger at the government and yelled threats against the president.
In northern Nigeria's largest city of Kano, hundreds of thousands gathered at an open air ground for what organisers labelled a "sit-in" rally.
Violence again hit parts of Nigeria, with two police officers killed on Wednesday when a mob rampaged in the central city of Minna, burning political offices and prompting an all-day curfew.
Gunmen also attacked a police station in the northeastern city of Yola.
In another attack, four Christians were gunned down on the outskirts of the city of Potiskum by suspected Boko Haram members.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warned on Thursday that members of Boko Haram could be guilty of crimes against humanity if their attacks are found to have systematically targeted civilians.
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