Northern And Southern Protectorates JSS3 Nigerian History Lesson Note

After establishing control over Lagos in 1861, Britain continued its expansion into Nigerian territories. By the early 20th century, Britain had created two large administrative regions called protectorates: the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate. These protectorates were territories where the British claimed to offer “protection” while actually taking control of the land and its people. Understanding how these protectorates were formed and administered helps us learn about an important period in Nigerian history that shaped the country we know today.

The Southern Protectorate

Formation of the Southern Protectorate

The Southern Protectorate was formed in stages through a series of British acquisitions:

1. Oil Rivers Protectorate (1885): Britain first declared a protectorate over the “Oil Rivers” area, which covered the Niger Delta region where palm oil trade was flourishing. This was Britain’s first formal claim to territory beyond Lagos.
2. Niger Coast Protectorate (1893): The Oil Rivers Protectorate was expanded and renamed the Niger Coast Protectorate, covering more coastal areas in southern Nigeria.
3. Merger with Lagos (1906): In 1906, the Colony of Lagos was combined with the Niger Coast Protectorate to create the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria.

The Southern Protectorate included territories inhabited by various ethnic groups such as the Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, and many others. These were mostly societies without centralized kingdoms (except for the Yoruba kingdoms and Benin), which presented different challenges for British administration.

Administration of the Southern Protectorate

To control these diverse territories, the British implemented a system of governance with several key features:

1. High Commissioner: The protectorate was headed by a High Commissioner appointed by the British government. The High Commissioner had extensive powers and reported directly to the Colonial Office in London.
2. Provincial Administration: The Southern Protectorate was divided into provinces, each headed by a British Provincial Commissioner. These provinces were further divided into divisions and districts.
3. Native Courts: The British established Native Courts where local disputes could be settled according to local customs, but under British supervision.
4. Indirect Rule Attempts: The British tried to implement Indirect Rule (governing through local chiefs), but this was less successful than in the North because many southern societies had more decentralized political systems.
5. Missionary Activity: Christian missionaries were very active in the South, establishing schools and churches that significantly influenced local cultures and education.

Economic Activities in the Southern Protectorate

The British had strong economic interests in the Southern Protectorate:

1. Palm Oil Trade: Palm oil and palm kernels were major export commodities, used in Europe for making soap, candles, and as industrial lubricants.
2. Agricultural Exports: Other crops like cocoa, rubber, and later, groundnuts became important export crops.
3. Royal Niger Company: Before direct British government control, the Royal Niger Company had established trading monopolies in the region.
4. Infrastructure Development: The British built roads, railways, and ports primarily to facilitate the export of raw materials to Britain and the import of British manufactured goods.
5. Currency Changes: Traditional currencies were gradually replaced with British currency, bringing local economies into the British financial system.

The Northern Protectorate

Formation of the Northern Protectorate

The Northern Protectorate was established later than its southern counterpart:

1. Royal Niger Company Activities: The Royal Niger Company, a British commercial company, had signed treaties with many northern rulers in the late 19th century, claiming rights over their territories.
2. Formal Protectorate (1900): In 1900, the British government took over the territories claimed by the Royal Niger Company and declared the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria.
3. Conquest of the Sokoto Caliphate (1903): The powerful Sokoto Caliphate, which controlled much of northern Nigeria, was conquered by British forces led by Frederick Lugard in 1903, solidifying British control over the Northern Protectorate.

The Northern Protectorate included the Fulani emirates of the Sokoto Caliphate, the Bornu Empire, and various other ethnic groups in the Middle Belt region, including the Tiv, Idoma, Nupe, and many others.

Administration of the Northern Protectorate

The Northern Protectorate was administered differently from the South:

1. High Commissioner: Like the South, the North was headed by a High Commissioner. Sir Frederick Lugard served as the first High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria.
2. Indirect Rule: Lugard developed and implemented the system of Indirect Rule, governing through existing traditional rulers (emirs and chiefs). This system worked well in the hierarchical societies of northern Nigeria, particularly in the emirate system of the former Sokoto Caliphate.
3. Native Authority System: Traditional rulers were organized into Native Authorities, with powers to collect taxes, maintain law and order, and administer local justice through Native Courts.
4. Preservation of Islamic Institutions: The British largely preserved Islamic legal and educational systems in Muslim areas, although under British supervision.
5. Limited Missionary Activity: Unlike in the South, Christian missionary activities were restricted in the Muslim areas of the North to avoid religious conflicts.

Economic Activities in the Northern Protectorate

The economy of the Northern Protectorate had different characteristics:

1. Groundnut Production: Groundnuts (peanuts) became a major export crop from the North, leading to the famous “groundnut pyramids” in Kano.
2. Cotton Cultivation: Cotton was grown for export to textile factories in Britain.
3. Taxation: The British introduced a formal taxation system, including poll taxes that required cash payments, forcing many people to grow cash crops or work for wages.
4. Trans-Saharan Trade: Traditional trans-Saharan trade routes were gradually redirected southward to the coast, changing ancient trading patterns.
5. Railway Development: Railways were built to connect northern production areas to southern ports, particularly the Lagos-Kano railway completed in 1911.

Differences Between the Protectorates

Several important differences existed between the two protectorates:

1. Administrative Systems: The North relied heavily on Indirect Rule through traditional authorities, while the South had more direct British involvement due to more decentralized traditional political systems.
2. Religious Influence: The North was predominantly Muslim with limited Christian missionary activity, while the South saw extensive Christian missionary work and conversion.
3. Education: Western education spread more quickly in the South due to missionary schools, while the North maintained Islamic education and had fewer Western-style schools.
4. Economic Focus: The South focused on forest products like palm oil and cocoa, while the North specialized in savanna crops like groundnuts and cotton.
5. Cultural Impact: Southern societies experienced more rapid cultural changes due to greater exposure to Western influences, while Northern societies maintained more traditional cultural practices.

The Amalgamation of 1914

The separate administration of the two protectorates ended in 1914:

1. Unification: On January 1, 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates were amalgamated (combined) to form a single entity called the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
2. Lord Lugard’s Role: Frederick Lugard, who had previously served as High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria, became the first Governor-General of the unified Nigeria.
3. Administrative Challenges: Despite amalgamation, the North and South continued to be administered differently in many ways, and the differences between the regions persisted.
4. Economic Motivations: The amalgamation was partly motivated by economic considerations, as the more financially successful Southern Protectorate could help support the administration of the North.

Legacy of the Protectorates

The division of Nigeria into Northern and Southern Protectorates, followed by their amalgamation, had lasting impacts:

1. Regional Identities: The North-South division created regional identities that continue to influence Nigerian politics today.
2. Religious Distribution: The pattern of Islam’s dominance in the North and Christianity’s prevalence in the South largely reflects the different colonial policies in the two protectorates.
3. Educational Disparities: Differences in access to Western education between North and South began during this period and have had long-term effects on development.
4. Political Structure: Nigeria’s federal system partly evolved from the recognition of regional differences established during the protectorate period.
5. Artificial Boundaries: The borders of modern Nigeria, cutting across ethnic and cultural lines, were defined during this period without regard for pre-existing African political organizations.

Conclusion

The Northern and Southern Protectorates represent a crucial period in Nigeria’s formation as a country. Through these administrative units, Britain established control over the diverse peoples and territories that would eventually become Nigeria. The differences between the two protectorates and the way they were administered created patterns that continue to influence Nigerian society, politics, and interregional relations to this day. Understanding this history helps explain many of the complex issues in modern Nigeria and provides context for the challenges and opportunities the country faces as it continues to develop its own national identity beyond these colonial structures.