Nigeria: May 10, 2001

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Disorder in the delta oil region finally stopped operations of a shipping terminal. Protesters broke into the Exxon Mobil terminal and halted shipment of 500,000 barrels a day. Shipments resumed after a day, but not before prices went up on world markets. The terminal generates sales of over $4 billion a year. The protesters were seeking jobs, more economic aid for the communities in the region. For decades, oil operations in the region have caused pollution and little economic benefit for the locals. Since the end of the dictatorship, locals have been more demonstrative in obtaining some benefits from all the oil operations. Little of the oil money has reached average Nigerians, most of it being stolen by government officials.