Original version

BBC World Service News Internet

The Compass v2 Podcast

The Compass

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about society

Surprising stories from unusual places. With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about the environment and politics, culture and society.

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

The Compass: Slick: The Story of Oil, Shell and Nigeria : Slick: 1. The great white hope

Factual

The great white hope

06/04/2022 GMT

Slick: 1. The great white hope

Slick: The Story of Oil, Shell and Nigeria

BBC World Service - The Compass, Slick: The Story of Oil, Shell and Nigeria, Slick: 1. The great white hope

When Shell D’Arcy strikes black gold, there are celebrations on the Niger Delta creeks

When Shell D’Arcy strikes black gold, there are celebrations on the Niger Delta creeks.

When oil company, Shell D’Arcy first struck black gold in Nigeria, there were celebrations on the creeks of the Niger Delta. Many of the locals had no idea what this thick black substance was, but it would go on to shape their lives and those of everyone in the region for decades to come.

BBC West Africa correspondent Mayeni Jones hears about how hope and hospitality turned to resentment in the early days of oil in Nigeria.

Reporter, Mayeni Jones
Producer, Josephine Casserly
Editor, Bridget Harney

(Photo: A man holds a pool of black oil in the palm of his hands, collected from oil pollution caused by a damaged pumping station in Nigeria. Photographer: George Osodi/Bloomberg, courtesy of Getty Images)

The Compass: Slick: The Story of Oil, Shell and Nigeria 

Slick: The Story of Oil, Shell and Nigeria 

The story of fossil fuel giant, Shell, and the people who pay the price for oil.

When oil company, Shell D’Arcy first struck black gold in Nigeria in the 1950’s, there were celebrations in the creeks of the Niger Delta.  Many of the locals had no idea what this thick black substance was, but it would go on to shape their lives and those of everyone in the region for decades to come.

Today, Niger Deltans have been engaged in prolonged court battles against Shell around the world. How did this oil giant go from being welcomed in the region to being sued by its inhabitants? 

In this four part series, BBC West Africa Correspondent Mayeni Jones tells the story of how oil changed the fate of Nigeria.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Compass

Slick: The Story of Oil, Shell and Nigeria

Slick: 1. The great white hope

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC World Service News Internet

About BBC World Service