Gazprom's N-Word

From the BBC this morning, news of a lucrative merger that has yielded the year's most unfortunate name:

Russia's energy giant Gazprom has signed a $2.5bn (£1.53bn) deal with Nigeria's state operated NNPC, to invest in a new joint venture.

The new firm, to be called Nigaz, is set to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Nigeria.

That is correct: Nigaz.

Gazprom probably pronounces it NIGH-gahz. As if sounding pretentious when you're being offensive makes everything cool.

Do I have to repeat myself? Step away from the portmanteaus, people. Nine times out of ten, they'll just embarrass you. At the very least, peel off a few Benjamins from that stack of billions and hire a consultant familiar with Urban Dictionary.

Thanks to PopeHat for the tip. And kudos to CatchThis, the naming blog (right here in O-town), for its apt response:

YO! Gazprom! I don’t mean to be dissin’ ya’ll, but Shizzle! What the hizzle??? Nigaz??? I might just have to shoot the five witcha, or at least sick [sic] the naming po-pos on ya. Again: Nigaz???? Have you NO skrilla to do some of that linguistic or cultural screenin’??

Word.