LAGOS, Nigeria, July 13 (UPI) -- State energy officials in Nigeria deny the recent militant attacks on offshore oil facilities near the commercial capital Lagos will impact fuel supplies.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta took responsibility for a weekend attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty near Lagos, saying a fuel depot and tankers were ablaze.
The attack marks the first time MEND has conducted operations outside of the Niger Delta region. MEND has declared "all-out" war on the government in Nigeria, demanding oil revenue go for national investments rather than for political gain.
MEND says it would convene a negotiating team to deliver its demands to Nigerian leaders.
Early attacks in July targeted facilities operated by California-based Chevron and by Royal Dutch Shell in the Niger Delta.
Officials with the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. denied, however, that MEND rebels had attacked the Atlas facility, calling the reports of fires an accident, the Platts news service reports.
"What happened was an operational accident. A diesel tank caused the fire last night and this is being investigated," NNPC spokesman Levi Ajuonuma told Platts. "I can assure you that this will not have any impact on fuel supply in the country."
