Lagos (Platts)--21Jun2007

The Nigerian government has deployed troops to secure oil export terminals
while major oil companies have moved senior managers to man production
facilities as a general strike in Africa's top oil producer enters its second
day, union and industry officials said Thursday. 
    "While we were checking round compliance by our members to the strike, we
found out that the government had deployed soldiers to man fuel depots and the
export terminals," president of the blue-collar NUPENG union, Peter Akpatason,
told Platts. "We expected that because that is usually government's style and
we are concerned that the present administration is adopting same," Akpatason
said. 
    The indefinite strike called by a coalition of labor unions and civil
society groups to protest a 15% increase in gsoline prices, paralyzed business
and commercial activities in most cities in Nigeria, with banks, markets and
schools closed since Wednesday. 
    Akpatason earlier Thursday said his union had told workers to comply with
the industrial action and said oil production and exports would be disrupted
if the government refuses to resolve the issues.
    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Baba Gana
Kingibe was quoted as saying Thursday that the government had made enough
concessions, having met three-quarters of the unions' demands. He added that
going further would make it impossible for the administration to recover the
cost of production and supply of gasoline.

    GOVERNMENT RESERVES 10% EQUITY FOR KADUNA, PORT HARCOURT PLANT STAFF
    Local media Thursday said the government has reserved 10% equity for
employees of the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries.
    The Punch newspaper quoted the head of the state privatization agency, the
Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Irene Chigbue, as saying that government
has also set aside another 10% equity for host communities. 
    The unions called for a review of the government's decision to sell
the two refineries last month to local firm Bluestar Oil Services, owned by
close associates of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.