Nigeria holds talks with Benin over raising crude supply: report

Nigeria has started bilateral talks with the Republic of Benin over increasing crude oil supplies to its West African neighbor from 15,000 b/d to 50,000 b/d, the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria reported Friday. President Boni Yayi of Benin visited Abuja on Thursday to hold discussions with his Nigerian counterpart Umaru Yar'Adua about the increase, NAN reported. "There was a request to renew an agreement that expired in 2007. We had a bilateral agreement with the Republic of Benin for the supply of products and crude oil," NAN quoted Nigerian oil minister Odein Ajumogobia as saying after the meeting. Ajumogobia told reporters that Nigeria might not be able to meet the request for 50,000 b/d of crude. "But we will see what we can do," he added. Many African countries, including South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, have looked to... [read full story]