The Oil Rivers is a name for the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria. The name was given to the region because it was a major producer of palm oil.
The densely populated area became the British Oil Rivers Protectorate from 1885 until 1893, when it was expanded and became the Niger Coast Protectorate.
Coincidentally, Nigeria has become Africa's biggest producer of petroleum, including many oil wells in the Oil Rivers.
Last updated: 05-07-2005 04:22:32
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04