Some of the oil companies that have become weary of the persistent crisis and hostage taking in the Nigeria's Niger Delta are planning to relocate their administrative headquarters to neighbouring West African countries of Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic.

This is part of their strategy to guarantee the safety of their expatriate staff and their families.

According to the Nigerian newspaper, Business Day, the companies, also want a situation where their expatriate staff would live in the neighbouring countries and come to their operational bases by helicopters and are then flown back to their places of abode after work.

Already a sizeable number of the companies are said to have written proposals to their headquarters giving security of their families and the need for them to properly appraise their operational activities as reasons why they should not stay in the country even though Nigeria would still be their operational bases.

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), which raised this alarm in Lagos, said the situation would lead to further worsening of unemployment situation in the country.

The association said that many jobs would be lost if the proposals are approved by the head offices of the companies with countries like Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic being major beneficiaries.