Oil exploration began in 1906 under John Simon Bergheim's Nigeria Bitumen Corporation, to which the Colonial Office granted exclusive rights. Other firms applying for licenses were rejected and the NBC had a monopoly. In November 1908, Bergheim reported striking oil; in September 1909, he reported extracting 2,000 barrels per day. However, development of the Nigerian oilfields slowed when Bergheim died in a car crash in September 1912. Lugard, replacing Egerton as Governor, aborted the project in May 1913. However, it’s been many years since 1913 and with a much larger wage labor force than before the current Governor Sir Arthur Richards has announced the NBC will be reinvigorated. Governor Richards has announced an investment of £90,000 in order to boost production and return to the era of Nigerian oil.

The vast majority of workers will be native Nigerians, mainly from the southern regions as oil was discovered in the Western State. Taxes and tariffs on oil will be lowered so that other nations in the British Empire can easily purchase oil without having to go to Persia or other Eastern Nations. Although the southern regions will have their economy boosted and quality of life increased the Northern Regions have been largely forgotten causing more division between the Christian South and the Muslim North. To defend the new and improved oil fields the Nigeria Regiment, which is a part of the Royal West African Frontier Force will be stationed on site.