'The main oil workers' union in Nigeria has pledged to shut down all crude and natural gas production in the country if the government will not restore fuel subsidy.

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in Africa's biggest oil producer for several days in response to the removal of the petrol subsidy, which more than doubled the fuel price to around 150 naira ($0.93) per liter.

“PENGASSAN shall be forced to go ahead and apply the bitter option of ordering the systematic shutting down of oil and gas production with effect from ... 0000 hours of Sunday January 15 (2300 GMT on Saturday January 14), if the federal government of Nigeria fails to yield to the popular agitation of Nigerians on her unacceptable approach to fuel subsidy removal," the oil union said in a statement on Thursday.'

Read more: Nigerian Union to Stop Oil Production