BRITISH COLONIZATION OF NIGERIA TERRITORIES

WHAT IS COLONIZATION?

Colonization is the process by which a powerful nation extends her authority over territories and people outside her boundary.In the process of colonization, the colonizer imposes  her economical, religious and cultural policies over the local or indigenous people of the colonized territory.

 The British came to Nigeria essentially for trade,other objectives began to come up when they noticed the richness in culture and geographical structure of Nigeria as an entity. These objectives include:

1.To exploit natural resources  and raw materials which was mainly used in their production companies.

2. To introduce their cultures and language 

3.To abolish harmful and inhumane traditional practices

4.For expansion of  colonies / territories .

5. To gain and retain dominace as world power

6.To introduce western education and christianity 

7.To protect their already established companies.

For them to have full control over Nigerian territories, they had to make use of agents of colonizaton such as explorers ( the likes of Mungo Park, Hugh Clapperton, The Landers brothers, Dixon Durham, Walter Oudney, so s to know the geographical scope of Nigeria), Traders( when a route was discovered, trade began from smaller quantities to larger ones. Importation and exportation of goods were carried out with ease.  Companies were established. People like MacGregor Laird , John Holt and Sir Goldie Taubman played key roles with regards to this. 

Also, they sent mssionaries to evangelise and introduce christianity and to put a stop to abominable practices  in Nigeria. Mary Slessor, Thomas Birch Freeman, Henry Town send , Samuel Ajayi Crowther were involved in this.

OTHER WAYS USED IN THE COLONIZATION OR CONQUEST OF NIGERIA.

The British used other systematic ways which included:

1.Signing of treaties with Nigerian Traditional rulers: A treaty is a written agreement signed by two  or more nations which is formal and must be strictly adhered to. The british signed treaties with traditional rulers so as to gain their cooperation and to have free access to Nigerian assets.Two important treaties signed were; trade treaties and slave dealing treaties.

The slave dealing treaties was signed so as to block the endless supply of slaves at the lagos ports. It was signed between the British and Oba Akitoye in 1852 after the bombardment of lagos in 1851 and the removal  Oba Kosoko( a lover of slave trade) .The treaty of 1852 was to stop the trade of slaves at lagos ports after which Lagos became a colony of the British in 1861, thanks to the treaty of cession.

Also,Sir Taubman signed trade treaties with local chiefs where his company, Royal Niger Company was situated so as to allow him have full control, access,  and administration over those areas in terms of trade. Most of these treaties were deceitful, were imposed through the use of military force and have lasting consequences. Since they were writtien in English, the native leaders were unable to read and comprehend the contents of the treaties . In return for signing these treaties, the British government offered protection and monetary compensation known as COMEY.

2.Waging of  Wars: The second strategy used by the British in acquring more territories was waging of wars. For example : the bombardment of Lagos in 1851, the Benin massacre / expediton of 1897,  and the ijebu war in 1892. Here, military forces were employed to suppress/ conquer these terrtiories and their uncooperative leaders  under the mercy of the British.

The British were able to conquer because they had the upper hand in terms of  strategies, superior weapons and unity with regards to the mission they had.