Timeline
1914
cartoon of british imperialization
Nigeria is imperialized by England under protectorate and colonization; all resources are claimed as property of the British Empire.
1938
Shell logo
Government grants the company 'Shell' control over all exploration for minerals and oil in the country.
1956
Port Harcourt
Oil is discovered by 'Shell' roughly 90 kilometers west of the later oil capital of Port Harcourt at Oloibiri. (Profit was shared 50/50 between the governments and 'Shell' but later 'Shell' gained exclusive rights to the oil they found.)
1958
Nigerian oil feilds
Oil drilling starts in Nigeria
1960
Nigerian school children celebrate independance
Nigeria receives independence from England but the Monarch continued acted as head of state.
1966-1970
Photograph from Nigerian Civil War
A series of coups were staged against the civilian government and the government preceding that afterwards. The ensuing civil war resulted in a long line of military dictators.
1971
NNOC logo
The Nigerian federal government, then under the control of General Yakubu Gowon, nationalised the oil industry by creating the Nigerian National Oil Corporation.
1995
Propoganda art depicting the executions
Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 others are wrongfully accused,tried, and executed for the murder of 4 individules, by the regime of General Sani Abacha. Saro-Wiwa's family filed a law suit against the Shellcompany which they accused of conspiring with the government to stage Saro-Wiwa's arrest and execution.
1998
The Ijaw Youth Movement(IYM) was formed as a civil rights organization and issued the Kaiama Declaration which addressed concerns over their land ownership and health and asked for all oil companies to withdraw from the area. The IYM also spawned 'Operation Climate Change' in which people would march in a campaign of prayer,celebration and protest against the oil companies. The Military responded by sending 10-15,000 troops to attack protesters which resulted in three deaths and 25 arrests.
2009
Posted accusing Shell's guilt in violation of human rights
Shell pays 15.5 million dollars to Ken Saro-Wiwa's family as compensation for the executions stating they 'just want to focus on the future for the Ogoni people.'