International records / OpenAlex research

From Palm Oil to Petroleum: Commodity Dependence in Nigerian Economic History

This study examines the historical evolution of commodity dependence in Nigeria : tracing the transition from a palm oil-driven export economy in the nineteenth century to petroleum dependence from the late twentieth century. Using the historical-analytical method and relying on archival records, government publications, trade statistics, and relevant secondary literature, the study explores how colonial economic policies, global market dynamics, and postcolonial state decisions shaped Nigeria's commodity specialization. It argues that while palm oil integrated Nigeria into the global economy,…