The government says that until this is done, chronic petrol shortages will continue because distributors will always be tempted to sell petrol on the black market or smuggle it abroad. The unions agree with the government on only one point - that the shortages are a disgrace to Nigeria, one of the world's leading oil producers. They insist with strong public support that Nigerians cannot afford to pay more for petrol and accuse the government of doing the IMF's bidding. The unions are powerful - a general strike last year quickly forced the government into a humiliating retreat after an earlier attempt to raise prices. Now the government accuses the unions of resorting to threats in place of dialogue.
Deal follows four year land crisis Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page.