Economy of Nigeria imports a significant amount of food to sustain itself. However, efforts are being made towards making the country food sufficient again. Nigeria's proven oil reserves are estimated to be ; natural gas reserves are well over . Nigeria is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The types of crude oil exported by Nigeria are Bonny light oil, Forcados crude oil, Qua Ibo crude oil and Brass River crude oil. Poor corporate relations with indigenous communities, vandalism of oil infrastructure, severe ecological damage, and personal security problems throughout the Niger Delta oil-producing region continue to plague Nigeria's
Brass River river's slave trade. James Holman visited the Guinea coast during his 1827−32 voyage round the world. Holman observed that all the rivers between the Bonny and Cape Formosa communicate with each other in the interior, and all were navigable by canoes. He wrote, In June 1830 the explorer Richard Lemon Lander and this brother John reached Bussa on the Niger, the place where Mungo Park had died. After exploring the region, they started down the Niger on 20 September 1830, and reached Brass Town on 14 November 1830. Brass Town at this time was built on a large creek, which