Nigaz

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]

Not to be confused with Niggaz (disambiguation).

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] The Economist said the name choice showed "a refreshing ignorance of politically incorrect language".[5]

References
  1. "Medvedev Discusses OPEC in Angola". The Moscow Times. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  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.
  5. "He who pays for the pipelines calls the tune". The Economist. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
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