There is a real risk that 2006 will be the year in which the essentially irreconcilable differences between Nigeria's Muslim north and mostly Christian south threaten the unity of the country.

Jockeying in the run-up to Nigeria's presidential elections and swelling violence in the unstable Niger Delta threaten the country's unity and could result in the break-up of the ruling party, damage regional stability and roil global oil markets.

Confirmation in Nigeria also raises doubts about the detection and reporting capabilities of northern and western African countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Libya and Egypt.

I'm taking the same risk they're taking.

From that standpoint, there will be no adverse effect on us,

We are looking at billions going out there. It will be certainly hundreds of millions of dollars at risk.