OLOIBIRI 1956: OIL, COUPS, AND THE BETRAYAL OF THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE By Francis Nwapa In January 1956, oil was discovered in commercial quantity in Oloibiri by Shell D'Arcy, later incorporated into Shell plc. That moment would permanently alter the destiny of Nigeria. BUT THE STORY DID NOT BEGIN IN 1956. Oil exploration in Nigeria dates back to 1908, when the colonial administration granted exploratory rights to the Nigerian Bitumen Corporation. Their activities were halted by the outbreak of the