Imperial Treaties and the Origins of British Colonial Rule in Southern Nigeria, 1860-1890

Anietie A Inyang,Manasseh Edidem Bassey

doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1946

Abstract

How did treaties, entered into with the aid of Britain, the effective penetration of the Nigeria’s geo-political space? British control and spread into the hinterland from Lagos and from the lower reaches of the Niger was achieved through the effective employment of the instrument of treaties. The eventual British colonial acquisitions in Nigeria were preceded by a treaty-making phase during which the powers signed agreements with the local authorities to formalise their interests. These were the same documents (i.e treaties) that were conceived to establish political claims thereafter and defined Nigeria’s geo-political boundaries. The paper argues that colonialism presented the effective manipulation of British designed treaties for the furtherance of British trade and commerce. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1946

Highlights

Britain gained control of Nigeria through both diplomatic and military means
Treaties defined the character of the British penetration in such a way that when in 1900 political control was formally established over the Nigerian area, it took the tripartite form of three autonomous administrations – The Colony and protectorate of Lagos; the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria; and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria
The need to ensure that clauses of the various treaties were upheld led to the increased involvement of Britain with the political and social life of the hinterland states (Starting with the coastal state of Lagos) which evolved into the Nigerian state

Summary

Introduction

Britain gained control of Nigeria through both diplomatic (treaties) and military (gun-boat) means. Treaties defined the character of the British penetration in such a way that when in 1900 political control was formally established over the Nigerian area, it took the tripartite form of three autonomous administrations – The Colony and protectorate of Lagos; the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria; and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria. These three region-like protectorates became subsequently amalgamated in 1914 to form the Nigerian state. The need to ensure that clauses of the various treaties were upheld led to the increased involvement of Britain with the political and social life of the hinterland states (Starting with the coastal state of Lagos) which evolved into the Nigerian state

Treaties and the Colonial Penetration of Nigeria

The British Courts of Equity and the Defence of Commercial Treaties

The Royal Niger Company Treaties and the Delta Hinterland

Conclusion