The leadership of Niger has decided to shut down the pipeline that transports the landlocked West African country's oil to the port of Seme in Benin for export to the world market.
The leader's decision was prompted by suspicions that Niger's crude is being stolen in the neighboring country, according to Niger's oil minister, Mahaman Moustapha Barke.
"We cannot sit back and watch our oil being stolen by others because we are not present where it is loaded," the minister said, as quoted by local media.
Barke specified that the closure would remain in effect "until Benin and Wapco reach an agreement so that Niger can be present at the loading and control what is being loaded."