Nigaz is a joint venture between the Russian gas company Gazprom EP International B.V. (100% affiliate of OAO Gazprom) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.[1] Nigaz was established in 2009. It plans to invest US$2.5 billion to build oil and gas refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Nigeria.[2] Launching the company, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev announced his intention to form a major energy partnership with Nigeria at a meeting in Abuja with Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua.[3]

The company's name, a portmanteau of "Nigeria" and "Gazprom", attracted media attention because of its similarity to the potentially offensive word "nigga", a slang derivative and reclaimed word from "nigger", in African American Vernacular English.[2][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Medvedev Discusses OPEC in Angola". The Moscow Times. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  2. 1 2 "Gazprom stirs racism talk with new gig". Upstream Online. NHST Media Group. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  3. ↑ Harding, Luke (2009-06-30). "Branding blunder gives Russia-Nigeria energy linkup a bad name". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  4. ↑ Whitehead, Jennifer (2009-06-29). "Gazprom accused of branding fail over Nigerian joint venture 'Nigaz'". Brand Republic. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
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