Nigeria: French oil firm promises $20B investment

ABUJA, Nigeria
Nigeria's acting president says the French oil firm Total has promised to invest $20 billion in exploring potential oil and gas plays in the West African nation.
A statement issued Tuesday from Acting President Goodluck Jonathan's office offered few details on the oil deal. The statement came as Nigeria's capital city, Abuja, hosts an annual oil and gas conference.
Nigeria is one of the top crude oil exporters to the U.S. as its crude is easily refined. However, militant attacks on pipelines and oil processing plants in the country's Niger Delta have pushed down production in the past. The statement said an improving business climate in the delta led Total to make the pledge.