The recent increase in violence by militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta forced Royal Dutch Shell to shut down operations.

Nigeria's leading militant group has called for its allies to band together to cripple the country's oil industry through attacks on oil installations.

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The Nigerian government is denying speculation that the large sum of the 2008 budget earmarked for "security" in the Niger Delta will go towards arms for the military in their ongoing battle against militant groups and gangs.

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Nigeria will invest $75 billion over the next five years to improve the oil and gas sectors with the help of foreign investors, the country's Ministry of Petroleum announced.

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- One the streets of Potts Johnson, a Port Harcourt neighborhood where gang violence and gun fire are considered the normal fare, a guarded sense of hope has emerged among some for the future of the impoverished, albeit oil-rich, Niger Delta.

A former senior Nigerian official has called for Nigeria to review all deals with foreign petroleum companies.

India is looking to Nigeria to meet its growing energy needs while increasing trade with the oil-rich nation, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said during his visit to the Nigerian capital.

Nigeria’s vice president has asked the United Nations to assist the government’s efforts to stop the flow of illegal arms to the oil-rich Niger Delta, though he stressed Abuja did not want to internationalize the issue.

Nigeria has decided to break down its state-run oil company into five different entities in an effort to become more efficient and profitable, while curtailing corruption and government graft.