UPDATE 1-Chevron lifts force majeure on Nigeria oil output

(Recasts, adds background about saboteurs)

LAGOS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. energy giant Chevron (CVX.N) said on Tuesday it had lifted a force majeure on oil output from its Escravos terminal in Nigeria a month and a half after saboteurs forced it to shut in around 90,000 barrels per day.

The company said it had lifted the measure, declared on Nov. 19 and which frees it from contractual obligations, with effect from Jan. 1.

"Production and lifting operations have resumed," it said in a statement.

Saboteurs attacked a main supply pipeline to the Escravos terminal in November in Delta state, one of three main states in Nigeria's restive Niger Delta region.

The vast network of mangrove creeks is home to Africa's biggest oil industry, which is currently producing around 2 million barrels per day of crude.

Attacks by militants who say they are fighting for a fairer share of the natural wealth and by criminal gangs engaged in a lucrative trade in stolen oil have cut Nigeria's crude production by around a fifth since early 2006.

Chevron operates onshore in Nigeria in a joint venture with state-run oil firm the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC). Chevron holds 40 percent while NNPC holds 60 percent. (Reporting by Nick Tattersall; Editing by David Gregorio)