Colonial Administration (British Colonial Administration) – SS2 Government Lesson Note (Second Term)

Colonialism is the forceful ruling of one country by another. A powerful nation extends its political control over a weaker nation, which is then politically dominated and economically exploited. Colonialism is sometimes called imperialism. In Nigeria, Britain was the colonial power, and it ruled through a central administration and a system of native administration.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define colonialism;
• explain the reasons why European countries colonised Africa;
• describe how Nigeria was formed between 1900 and 1914;
• state the features of British colonial administration;
• distinguish between a crown colony, a protectorate and a trust territory.

What is colonialism?

Colonialism may be defined as an imposition of a more developed culture over a less developed one, backed up by expansionist and economic adventure.

It may also be defined as the forceful ruling of one country by another. It is the extension of political control of one powerful nation over a weaker nation. This means the weaker nation is politically dominated and economically exploited by the stronger one. Colonialism is sometimes called imperialism.

What is the historical background of British colonial rule in Nigeria?

Before the 1880s, Europe had what is known as the Industrial Revolution. This brought the desire to source for raw materials.

Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal were involved in the colonies in Africa. So, the competition led to the scramble and partition of Africa. At the Berlin West Africa Conference of 1884-1885, African lands were shared with European countries as colonies.

The first attempt made by Britain to set up a formal government in Nigeria was in 1900. By 1900, what is known as Nigeria today was made up of three separate administrative areas or units, namely:

1. Colony of Lagos
2. Protectorate of Northern Nigeria
3. Protectorate of Southern Nigeria

In May 1906, Lagos colony and the Southern Protectorate were joined together and renamed the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. In 1914, Lord Frederick Lugard amalgamated Lagos and the Southern Protectorate with the Northern Protectorate to form a single colony called Nigeria.

What were the reasons for colonialism?

1. Economic reasons:
   • Raw materials for industries: Following the Industrial Revolution in Europe between the 18th and 19th centuries, European industrialists needed a large quantity of raw materials to feed their industries. This brought them to Africa (Nigeria).
   • Market: The Europeans were also looking for markets outside Europe to sell their excess products. Africa was seen as a new market.
2. Social reasons: The colonies were seen as a place to settle their surplus population.
3. Cultural reasons: Colonialism was also seen as a means of civilising Africans, who were wrongly believed to be primitive.
4. Humanitarian reasons: The colonisers also explained that it was a means of stopping the slave trade and inter-ethnic wars in West Africa.
5. Religious reasons: The Europeans’ adventures to the West African coast had the motive to win souls for God and convert Africans to Christianity.
6. Prestige motive: Colonialism was seen as a means of enhancing the prestige of metropolitan centres like Britain and France.
7. Political reasons: The Europeans wanted to extend their spheres of influence and rule the territories in Africa.
8. Exploratory motive: Many European explorers came to Africa to visit its various parts and find out about its human and natural resources.

What were the features of colonial administration?

1. Central administration: This was headed by the Governor. He was appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Governor was the president of both the Legislative Council and the Executive Council.
2. Native administration: The colonial administration instituted a system of native administration in the protectorates, provinces and districts through the indirect rule system.

How were British colonies in West Africa classified?

1. Crown colony: This was established by military conquest. The geographical territory was owned by the British crown as property, e.g. Lagos colony.
2. Protectorate: This refers to a territory under the protection of the British government. It was protected against conquest by other European countries, e.g. the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria.
3. Trust territory: These were the colonies under the control of Germany before it was defeated by the allied powers, e.g. Cameroon, Togo and Tanzania.

Evaluation

1. Define colonialism.
2. Name the three administrative units that made up Nigeria in 1900.
3. State four reasons why European countries colonised Africa.
4. Who headed the central administration, and who appointed him?
5. Explain the difference between a crown colony and a protectorate.

Assignment

1. Nigeria was colonised by
   (a) Britain (b) France (c) Germany.
2. The Northern and Southern Protectorates were amalgamated by
   (a) Lord Lugard (b) Sir Clifford (c) Sir Richards.
3. The following were reasons for colonialism except
   (a) prestige (b) religion (c) slave trade.
4. African lands were shared with European countries in the year
   (a) 1885-1886 (b) 1883-1884 (c) 1884-1885.
5. The name Nigeria was formed by
   (a) Flora Shaw (b) Lord Lugard (c) Queen Elizabeth.