New timeline launched on oil and conflict in Nigeria

Oil watchdog Platform has launched an online timeline which maps out the leaked US embassy cables on oil conflict in the Niger Delta. You can view the timeline here.

Some 4,521 leaked US cables came from Nigeria between 2001 to 2010. The idea behind the timeline is to provide easy access to the wealth of information contained in these cables on the role of oil companies, private security firms and Western governments in the Niger Delta crisis as well as highlight the responsibility of the Nigerian government and other actors. The timeline is a work in progress – it’s not a comprehensive list of even the major events in the Niger Delta but it holds important insights into the roles of key players. Over time we will add other sources of information to it, using Freedom of Information requests.

You can learn more about the US embassy cables in this article on the anatomy of cables, and this piece by a former diplomat.

The timeline was researched and created by Platform’s Ben Amunwa and Pip Brown. Further resources on Platform’s work on Nigeria can be accessed here. If you have any comments or feedback, or would like to collaborate with us, contact [email protected].

Some tips on how to explore the timeline:

– There’s a lot data here, so it’s best viewed in full screen. Click on spanner in top right corner and select full screen. Or click to view it in a new tab here.

– Once the viewer loads up, click on the padlock symbol on the left of the slide ruler to make the timeline draggable in any direction.

– Zoom in or out using the scale tab on the right.

– Events are broadly categorised by type and each has its own symbol. Use the “Legend” on the top and bottom timelines to switch different types of event on or off.

– To search key terms, click on the name of the timeline in the top or bottom left and select “List” and search for whatever interests you.

– Share with others using the share button.