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Year 8

Oil in Nigeria

I can explain how oil affects Nigeria's economy, environment and society.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 8

Oil in Nigeria

I can explain how oil affects Nigeria's economy, environment and society.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Nigeria is one of the world's largest oil producers.
  2. Oil brings wealth, jobs and economic growth but also corruption and inequality.
  3. Many people in Nigeria don't benefit from oil revenue.
  4. Oil extraction has environmental impacts which harm people and ecosystems.
  5. Different stakeholders often have different perspectives about the future of Nigeria’s oil industry.

Keywords

  • Economy - the economy is the way money in a particular area is made and spent

  • Inequality - inequality is when something is not shared evenly between everyone

  • Development - development is when something changes, usually an improvement

  • Corruption - dishonest behaviour by people in a position of power for personal gain

  • Stakeholder - a stakeholder is a person who has an interest in a given resource

Common misconception

Everyone in Nigeria has similar viewpoints about the future of the country’s oil industry.

People are connected to the oil industry in Nigeria in different ways. Different stakeholders often have different ideas and opinions about what the future of Nigeria’s oil industry should look like.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Oil in Nigeria, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The stakeholder discussion in Task 2 could be developed into a whole-class or group debate. This would help to develop learners’ understanding of the complexity of Nigeria’s oil industry.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is one reason Nigeria is considered an African superpower?
It has the highest mountains in Africa
It exports more bananas than any country
Correct answer: It has a large economy and global influence
It has no connections to other countries
Q2.
What sector is growing rapidly in Nigeria’s economy?
Manufacturing
Correct answer: Technology and services
Farming
Shipbuilding
Q3.
What is one feature of Nigeria’s population?
Mostly elderly
Mostly rural and shrinking
Largely non-African
Correct answer: Youthful and rapidly urbanising
Q4.
How has colonialism affected Nigeria today?
It left no lasting effects
Correct answer: It shaped borders and political systems
It created a strong farming industry
It removed all traditional cultures
Q5.
What is one challenge linked to Nigeria’s rapid population growth?
Correct answer: Pressure on services like education and healthcare
Too much open land
Decline in internet use
Falling birth rates
Q6.
Which of these statements is true about Nigeria’s global connections?
Nigeria avoids international organisations
Correct answer: Nigeria trades and cooperates with many countries
Nigeria only exports to Europe
Nigeria is not involved in global affairs

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords with the definition.
Correct Answer:Economy,The way money in a particular area is made and spent

The way money in a particular area is made and spent

Correct Answer:Inequality,When something is not shared evenly between everyone

When something is not shared evenly between everyone

Correct Answer:Development,When something changes, usually an improvement

When something changes, usually an improvement

Correct Answer:Corruption,Dishonest behaviour by people in power for personal gain

Dishonest behaviour by people in power for personal gain

Correct Answer:Stakeholder,A person who has an interest in a given resource

A person who has an interest in a given resource

Q2.
What is one reason oil is important to Nigeria’s economy?
It’s the only job people can do
It attracts tourists
Correct answer: It brings in export income
It replaces farming
Q3.
What challenge has oil brought to some communities in Nigeria?
Increased rainfall
Access to luxury goods
More farming jobs
Correct answer: Pollution of land and water
Q4.
Why might some people support the oil industry continuing in Nigeria?
It reduces corruption
Correct answer: It provides jobs and money
It cleans the environment
It stops climate change
Q5.
Why is inequality an issue linked to oil in Nigeria?
Oil jobs are only for tourists
Oil makes prices fall
Everyone gets the same money
Correct answer: Some areas benefit more than others
Q6.
What might be a challenge in deciding the future of oil in Nigeria?
Oil reserves are infinite
Everyone agrees on one solution
Correct answer: Balancing different stakeholder needs
Oil only affects cities