'A fascinating insight into Africa's wild west.' - Giles Foden; ' - a compelling journey through the oil-filled chaos of present-day Nigeria.' - Louis Theroux; 'A compelling and well-written account. In this long awaited book, Peel has told the history of Nigeria and oil in a way that makes this important subject accessible to all. In doing so, he has done a service to everyone who is interested in development and in Africa' - Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate, Economics, 2001

Table of Contents

Maps Prologue: Trigger Point PART ONE - THE HUNDRED YEARS OIL WAR Stark Illiterates and Junkies Where Duty and Glory Lead More Popular than Churchill PART TWO - LIVING AT THE OIL FRONTLINE The Boys from the Bookshop Fuel the Bike, Fuel the Rider The Discerning Gentlemen PART THREE - THE NEW GULF CONFLICT Fish, but not Fishing Things Are Looking Up Not Hostages but Journalists Epilogue: The Hope of the World Notes and Select Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

Promotional Information

Nigeria is a country where petroleum prices and polio are both booming. Through a host of characters, from the prostitutes of Nigeria's Port Harcourt to the Area Boys of Lagos, from the militants in their swamp forest hideouts to the oil company executives in London, this title tells the story of this extraordinary country.

About the Author

Michael Peel is the legal correspondent for the Financial Times, having previously been its West Africa correspondent. He has contributed articles on Africa to the London Review of Books and Prospect magazine.

Reviews

'A fascinating insight into Africa's wild west.' - Giles Foden; ' - a compelling journey through the oil-filled chaos of present-day Nigeria.' - Louis Theroux; 'A compelling and well-written account. In this long awaited book, Peel has told the history of Nigeria and oil in a way that makes this important subject accessible to all. In doing so, he has done a service to everyone who is interested in development and in Africa' - Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate, Economics, 2001