Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer and a key member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has an economy deeply rooted in petroleum production and exports. Since the discovery of oil at Oloibiri in 1956, the sector has driven national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and infrastructural growth, while also contributing to economic volatility, environmental degradation, and regional unrest. This study examines the historical trajectory of oil exploration and productio