By Okalanwa Okechukwu

Scope of Work

Introduction to the Human Environment

Definition of Heritage Sites/Historic Sites

Categories of Historic Sites

Geography and People of the Study Area

Exploration History of Oloibiri

Why Oloibiri Should be Enlisted as a Historic Site

Merits of Enlisting Oloibiri as a Historic Site

Environmental Challenges and Social Vices Facing Oloibiri

Conclusion

Introduction

The human environment consists of two broad components: the social and the physical environments. The social environment encompasses interactions within and between cultural institutions and the relationships among people in society. The physical environment comprises four main spheres: the atmosphere (gaseous envelope around the earth), lithosphere (crustal rocks), hydrosphere (water bodies such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans), and biosphere (the world of living things, primarily plants and animals).

The interplay between these environments has shaped our cultures, politics, religions, beliefs, and economies. These interactions have left us with artifacts, traditions, and customs—elements that form our heritage.

Nigeria is endowed with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, ranging from monuments and landscapes to traditional songs and dances. This work focuses on the unique significance of a small community in the South-South geopolitical zone whose resource—oil—has greatly contributed to Nigeria’s development.

What is a Heritage Site or Historic Site?

A heritage or historic site, often used interchangeably, is an officially recognized location where aspects of political, military, cultural, or social history are preserved due to their heritage value and are protected by law.

Categories of Historic Sites

Documentary Sites: Document specific historic events, people, or groups (e.g., Sukur, Osun Oshogbo Grove).

Representative Sites: Depict historical periods or lifestyles (e.g., Badagry Slave Town).

Aesthetic Sites: Focus on art history and concepts of beauty (e.g., Rock Paintings, Ikom Monoliths).

Geography and People of the Study Area

Oloibiri is a small community in the South-South geopolitical zone, formerly part of Rivers State until Bayelsa State was created on October 1, 1996. Bayelsa comprises eight Local Government Areas: Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa. The state is predominantly inhabited by the Ijaw people, with minority groups including the Itsekiri, Ilaje, Ogoni, Isoko, Urhobo, Ukwuani, and Ibibio communities.

Oloibiri is located in Ogbia LGA, an area deeply significant to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Sitting nearly at sea level and surrounded by creeks and mangrove swamps, Oloibiri’s waterways flow into the Atlantic Ocean through rivers such as the San Bartholomew, Brass, Santabara, Sangana, Fish Town, and Ikebiri Creek. The community’s main occupations include fishing, farming, palm oil milling, lumbering, palm wine tapping, local gin making, trading, carving, and weaving. Christianity and traditional worship are the predominant religions.

Exploration History at Oloibiri

Oil exploration in Nigeria began as early as 1908 with the Nigerian Bitumen Corporation targeting southwestern tar sands. Some argue oil was first identified in southeastern Nigeria in 1923. However, the official pioneer discovery is attributed to Oloibiri, where, after over 50 years of exploration, oil was discovered on January 15, 1956 in the Niger Delta.

Shell-Darcy, a Shell and Royal Dutch consortium, resumed exploration in 1937 and in 1956, after drilling numerous wells, struck oil at Oloibiri. This discovery propelled Nigeria into the group of global oil-producing countries. By 1958, the first oil field began producing roughly 5,000 barrels per day. This set off further discoveries in the Niger Delta, notably at Oloibiri, Afam, and Bomu.

From an initial output of 5,100 barrels per day in 1956, Nigeria rose to become the sixth largest oil producer in OPEC by the mid-1970s. Oloibiri’s production peaked in 1964 and the field produced over 20 million barrels during its 20-year life cycle before production ceased in 1978, with significant reserves left untapped.

Shell laid Nigeria’s first crude oil pipeline from Oloibiri to Port Harcourt, enabling the first oil export in February 1958. By 1979, an agreement left the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) with an 80% share in the joint venture with Shell.

Reasons Why Oloibiri Should be Enlisted as a Historic Site

Oloibiri is the site of the first commercial oil discovery in Nigeria.

The first completed oil well in Nigeria was at Oloibiri (June 1956).

Nigeria’s first crude oil export originated from Oloibiri in February 1958.

The country’s first pipeline (Oloibiri to Port Harcourt) enabled large-scale export.

Oloibiri’s output led to the establishment of NNPC in 1977 and Nigeria joining OPEC in 1971.

Oloibiri’s production made Nigeria the 6th largest oil producer globally, with oil accounting for 90% of national earnings.

The region inspired key concepts such as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), Ecological Fund (EF), Excess Crude Account (ECA), resource control debates, and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF, Act No. 25 of 1973).

Merits of Enlisting Oloibiri Oil Field as a Historic Site

Preservation of History: Safeguarding the legacy of oil and gas exploration for future generations.

Research: Serving as a research center for students and professionals in oil, gas, and related fields.

Tourism: Promoting economic diversification through tourism, as seen in countries like Brazil and Israel.

Employment: Generating jobs through the development of ancillary sectors (banking, hospitality, professional services).

Capital Projects: Attracting social and infrastructural projects, such as the Shell-GE healthcare initiative for Ogbia LGA.

Given Oloibiri’s contributions, the community should enjoy commensurate social and infrastructural amenities. The transformation of Texas, USA, owing to oil, underscores the potential for Oloibiri.

Environmental Crisis and Social Vices Facing Oloibiri

Oloibiri’s historic significance is marred by challenges resulting from oil and gas exploitation, including:

Environmental pollution (air, water, and land contamination)

Soil degradation

Loss of agricultural land and aquatic life

Flooding and global warming effects

Social issues such as militancy, youth restiveness, and kidnapping

Conclusion

Nigeria’s history would be incomplete without acknowledging oil and gas as its major revenue sources, and the story of oil begins with the Oloibiri oil field. Despite its immense role in national development, Oloibiri remains neglected in critical aspects—agriculture, health, power, hospitality, finance, politics, and the environment.

The comparison with Texas emphasizes how oil can reshape entire regions. The same multinational companies that developed Texas’s oil industry have operated at Oloibiri. As custodians of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, it is imperative to recognize Oloibiri as a national heritage site. Such recognition would foster integration between the heritage and oil sectors, supporting national development.

Thank you.

References

American Journal of Environmental Protection (2013)

Charles Uwadiac Oyegun (1997), The Human Environment: Its Form and Process

Chuks Onyems (2014), Nigeria Oilfields Encyclopedia

Daily Independent (April 7, 2013), Most Polluted Place on Earth

Leadership (January 10, 2014), Oloibiri: Where It All Began

Premium Times (February 12, 2014), Oloibiri: Nigeria’s First Oil Well Community Laments Neglect

Prince Chinedu Mmom (2003), The Niger Delta: A Spatial Perspective to Its Development.

*Okalanwa Okechukwu is Assistant Chief Monuments Officer and PRO, National Museum, Lagos.