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Nigerian airlines cancel flights as fuel crisis worsens in Africa's biggest oil producer

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Wednesday Jan. 11, 2012, file photo, people line up to buy fuel at a government petrol station on the third day of nation wide strike following the removal of a fuel subsidy in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian airlines grounded flights Saturday, May 23, 2015, as a months-long fuel shortage worsened, aggravated by a strike disrupting fuel deliveries in Africa's biggest oil producer. Vehicles also were grounded. Normally bustling roads in Lagos, a metropolis of 20 million, were half-empty and gas stations closed Saturday. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, file) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 file photo, Dana airline ground staff signal to the pilot during a demonstration Lagos- Abuja flight with celebrities, journalists and the airline executives at the Murtala Muhammed airport in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian airlines grounded flights Saturday, May 23, 2015, as a months-long fuel shortage worsened, aggravated by a strike disrupting fuel deliveries in Africa's biggest oil producer. Vehicles also were grounded. Normally bustling roads in Lagos, a metropolis of 20 million, were half-empty and gas stations closed Saturday. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, file) (The Associated Press)

Nigerian airlines are canceling flights as a months-long fuel shortage is aggravated by a strike disrupting fuel deliveries in Africa's biggest oil producer.

Vehicles also are grounded. Normally bustling roads in Lagos, a metropolis of 20 million, were half-empty and gas stations closed Saturday. One station owner said strikers are threatening to set fire to any stations selling fuel.

Police are arresting black marketeers selling fuel at roadsides at inflated prices.

Chaos reigned at bus stations and Lagos' Murtala Muhammad International Airport as flights were canceled.

The fuel shortage started with oil suppliers demanding that the government pay alleged arrears of nearly $1 billion.

It comes as Nigeria prepares to inaugurate a new president, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday.