NIGERIA- THE JOURNEY TO AMALGAMATION

©ED EMEKA KEAZOR- 2014

Amalgamation Day, Tinubu Square, Lagos. January 1 1914 Image: UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Amalgamation ceremony Zungeru- January 3 1914

WHERE DID IT ALL START?

The Country and people:

The territory now known as Nigeria in pre-colonial times consisted of several ethnic nationalities,

Empires, Kingdoms and Republican societies.

The earliest known habitation in this territory is dated to the Lower Palaeolithic (early Stone Age period

c1-2 Million BC) as evidenced by the Archaeological excavation of Acheulean tools at a site at

Ugwuele-Uturu, Okigwe (now in Imo State). Other significant sites being Iwo-Eleru, (Ogun State) dated

to c.11,000 BC, where ceramic works were excavated. Early civilisation in the territory is equally

evidenced by the 8000 year old Dufuna Canoe, discovered on the banks of the River Yobe and

displaying a design that is said to have been the most advanced for its time. Equally, the Nok

civilisation, dating back to 500 BC, with its iconic terra-cotta works and language which survives till

date.

The Igbo-Ukwu finds, spear-headed by Archaeologist-Thurston Shaw, uncovered a civilisation in

Eastern Nigeria, dating back to at least 1000 AD, with evidence of some form of trade/interaction with

the Asian continent. Also the Sungbo’s Eredo wall formation (surrounding Ijebu-land), showed

evidence of a civilisation with immense organisational and technological capabilities for its time. A

civilisation also existed amongst the Ekoi people of the South-East, who had a form of writing, known

as Nsibidi which exists till date.

A succession of great Empires emerged in this territory over time, the most notable being the Jukun in

the Middle-Belt (c.600 AD) Kanem-Bornu Empire in the North-East (c.800 AD). The Benin Empire

-reputed to have been founded between 40 BC-600 AD by the Ogiso dynasty. The Nri Kingdom (c.1000

AD), the Oyo Empire (c.1300), Katsina etc

External Contact and Occupation:

The Northern Kingdoms had contact with the Middle-East as far back as the 10th century, with

sustained commerce via the Trans-Saharan trade and Islamic evangelism, carrying on for many years. In

the South, there is evidence that the Nri Kingdom had external contact with Asia at least in the 10th

century. The first contact with Europeans being c.1470, with Portuguese sailors, who visited the Niger

Delta, starting a trading and diplomatic relationship with the Benin and Warri Kingdoms.

The first Englishman to visit Nigeria being the explorer Thomas Windham, in 1553, who was taken by

the Portuguese Sailor- Francisco Pinteador to visit the Oba of Benin- Orhogbua, who impressed him

with his ability to speak, read and write Portuguese (he had been educated in a Catholic Mission

school) and the advanced administrative/municipal systems evident in the city of Benin at the time.

Progressively, other European explorers and adventurers, notably the Dutch, French and German

found their way to Nigeria, seeking trade and more, establishing trading outposts- mainly in the Coastal

cities of the Delta- such as Old Calabar, Warri, Benin etc The African Association was founded in 1787,

to promote exploration of Africa. Sadly, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade started in the 15th century and

increased exponentially in the 18th century, till the abolition in 1807, which was enforced progressively

from 1833, till the last slave ship left from Brass (now Bayelsa State) in 1854.

British presence in Nigeria, largely consisted of trading companies, however a British High Consulate

was established in 1849, for the Bights of Benin and Biafra, occupied by John Beecroft. Also, a

Consulate was established in Lagos in 1851, also occupied by Beecroft, after King Kosoko was deposed,

for the stated reason of enforcing the abolition of Slavery. In 1861, after a treaty of cession was signed

by Oba Dosunmu, Lagos became the first Colony in the territory that became Nigeria, effectively a

possession of the Crown.

A succession of treaties was to follow with indigenous communities, with the British Crown, which

effectively placed them under the protection of the Crown, the one exception being Egba-land, which

by a unique treaty, signed in 1893, became an autonomous territory with an independent Government

from the British Crown (this was however to change in 1914).

Fundamentally Instrumental in spreading British interest in the territories was the Royal Niger

Company, which was founded in 1879 as the United African Company (receiving Royal Charter in 1886)

by the Briton- George Taubman Goldie, to create a united front of British commercial interests against

other European presence in the area. This company received Royal Charter to represent and promote

British Commercial interests in the territory- essentially to open doors of commerce.

The Royal Niger Company was extremely effective carrying out its brief, with a combination of

negotiation and sometimes with the use of force, it entered into several treaties with indigenous

communities, putting them under its control. It was not however without its critics- both in the

indigenous population, within Colonial circles in Nigeria and in Whitehall. There were allegations of

failure to file proper accounts to the Crown, oppressive conduct against indigenous communities and

unfair trade practices generally. In fact, when there was discussion of the RNC spreading its

administrative influence to Lagos in 1887, Governor Alfred Moloney of Lagos Colony protested

vehemently. The cumulative was that the RNC lost its Charter in 1900, when it was compelled to sell its

assets to the Crown, for the value of 865,000 Pounds.

By January 1st 1900, there thus came to be three territories created, known as the Southern and

Northern Nigeria Protectorates, each administered by a Governor, as well as the Colony of Lagos.

Before this administrative structures had progressively been installed by the Colonial Government (and

indeed the Royal Niger Company). The first Court in Nigeria- the Court of Equity was established in

Bonny in 1853, by traders and receiving Governmental recognition in 1872. The Glover Hausa’s or the

Hausa Constabulary was established in Lagos in 1863, by Captain John Glover and later metamorphosed

into the Nigerian and Ghanaian Armies, with the establishment of the Royal West African Frontier Force

in 1897, headed by one Frederick John Dealtry Lugard. A Railway line was established in 1897, firstly

between Lagos and Abeokuta. A Customs and Treasury service was established in Lagos in 1862, likewise

Prisons, Postal and Town Planning services. Hospitals were built at Abeokuta, Lagos and Calabar amongst

other cities.

It is important to mention that one of the greatest agents of growth and development in the early

Colonial era were the Church groups- especially the Church Missionary Society (CMS Church). The CMS

Church aside from its obvious evangelical objective, was instrumental in the spread of Western

education, with the establishment of the first secondary school (The CMS Grammar School) in 1859, the

first Medical School, the Abeokuta Institution- in 1861, the first primary school in Northern Nigeria,

amongst many others. The CMS Church was also instrumental in funding the training of many of the

earliest professionals. The Baptist Church established the first primary school in Nigeria, the Baptist

Academy in 1855.

It is however important to say a few words at this stage, about the name Nigeria. Whilst the accepted

view for many years was that the name was first suggested by Dame Flora Shaw, in a Times of London

article in 1897, there is however evidence that the descriptions “Nigeria” and “Nigerian”, were certainly

used by traders and explorers as far back as the late 18th century to describe the places and peoples in

the surrounding area of the River Niger, from the Niger Delta, all the way up to Guinea. Clear evidence of

this being in three publications: “An inquiry into the subject of Suicide”- Charles Moore, published in

1790; “A New Universal History of the Religious Rites, Ceremonies and Customs, of the world” by

William Hurd, published in 1814. The 1862 publication- “Life in the Niger”, culled from the 1859 memoirs

of William Cole, an English Trader. If one thus considers that Flora Shaw was born in 1852, it is extremely

unlikely that she formulated the term Nigeria/Nigerian’s, since she would have been seven years old,

when Cole first wrote his memoirs, and she certainly was not born when Moore and Hurd’s works were

published. What is however important is that the name was adopted for the territories that. Later

became Nigeria.

1790 Publication- “A full inquiry into the subject of Suicide” by Charles Moore- Inside Front page

1790 Publication- “A full inquiry into the subject of Suicide” by Charles Moore- showing use of the

description- Nigeria p.128

Publication- “A new Universal History of the religions, rites , ceremonies and customs of the whole

world by Wiliam Hurd- 1814. The description Nigeria or Nigritia is used.

Publication- “A new Universal History of the religions, rites , ceremonies and customs of the whole

world by Wiliam Hurd- 1814. The description Nigeria or Nigritia is used. P.425

1862 Publication – “Life in the Niger” by William Cole, showing the use of the term “Nigerian”

Gazette copy of Royal Charter granted to the Royal Niger Company in 1886

Original copy of Warrant signed by Queen Victoria, revoking the Royal Niger Company ’s Charter – December 1899.

Letter from the Royal Niger Company, further to withdrawal of Royal Charter in Niger Territories

1900-1914 – Home-stretch to Amalgamation

The Northern and Southern Protectorates as said were administered as separate political and

geographical entities with clear borders and distinct administrative structures. There were

however clear linkages between both territories, in that there strong commercial ties between

both territories, with traders from both sides travelling frequently to and fro, buying and selling

goods. Further, even in recruitment there was a lot of cross-border migration between both

territories, especially with Southern indigenes occupying positions in the Northern Protectorate

civil service. These movements being further facilitated by the construction of a Railway network

between Lagos progressively linking Lagos and Northern towns between 1910 and 1912.

A major development which took place in the aftermath of the acquisition of the RNC territories

was the unification of the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria with the Colony of Lagos in 1906

The idea of unification of both the Northern and Southern Protectorates territories had first been

promoted by William Macgregor, Governor of the Lagos Colony in or around 1902, this being

further supported by Frederick Lugard, Governor of Northern Nigeria and Sir Ralph Moor, High

Commissioner for Southern Nigeria. The stated reason was that with the construction of a Railway,

it was necessary to establish a single Railway policy. However there was evidence of the following:

a. A desire by the British Government to establish a large monolithic entity (330,00 Square

Miles) to establish its presence in the region, in the pre-existing rivalry with France and

Germany;

b. The Northern Protectorate in spite of its productive output still required financial

assistance from the Colonial Treasury, hence it was felt that with amalgamation with the

South, which had surplus revenue from the Palm-Oil trade, both territories would work

from one common financial purse, divesting the Treasury of this responsibility. It is

important to mention that with the amalgamation, the North increased its productive

output by almost 250%, with the exponential growth of the Cotton, Hides and Skin and

Groundnut trade- ironically within the war years immediately preceding amalgamation

(1914-1918).

Frederick Lugard who had established his reputation before this- as Commandant of the Royal

West African Frontier Force, also as Commander of the troops that led the Invasion of the

Northern Kingdom’s between 1901-1906 and consequently as Governor of the Protectorate of

Northern Nigeria, was selected for the task of operational management of the amalgamation

process, putting forward a proposal to the Secretary for the Colonies- Lewis Harcourt, which was

accepted. To this end, Lugard was appointed Governor of both the Northern and Southern

Protectorates during the transition, to enable him carry out the task effectively.

Lugard, whilst with his critics, was nonetheless responsible for managing an extremely complex,

delicate process, not restricted to the mammoth political and socio-economic issues inherent, but

equally having to contend with the ever-present logistical and administrative burden and

bureaucratic politics.

Intense correspondence and negotiations took place between Lugard and Harcourt on almost

every question from boundary adjustments, to Taxation policy, and even down to individual

appointments to various positions in the new unified civil service. He was however decisive and

tenacious, though not all his decisions were necessarily correct- such as the decision to locate the

new capital at Zungeru, a location so remote that he almost never worked from there and

eventually relocated to the Government House brick by brick to Lokoja (a more central and

accessible location).

The processes leading up to amalgamation were formalised by a series of formal documents,

known as Letters Patent, enacted between 1912 and 1913, by which the following decisions

-amongst others- were formalised:

a. The formal unification of the geographical entities into one;

b. The formal unification of the administrative structures and institutions such as the Civil

service, Army, Police, Railways etc

c. The appointment instrument of Lugard as Governor-General of the unified territories;

d. Enactment of legal instruments for the territory;

e. Appointment of key political officers, such as L.C Temple as Lieutenant-Governor of

Northern Nigeria and A.G.Boyle as Lieutenant Governor of Southern Nigeria.

f. The appointment of Sir Edwin Speed, as the first Chief Justice of Nigeria

g. Other ancillary provisions;

By November 1913, all the formal processes leading up to the amalgamation had been concluded

and all that was left was the formal ceremony, celebrating the event.

It was decided that there be two ceremonies- the first being on January 1st 1914, at the Supreme

Court building, at Tinubu Square, Lagos Island. This being an impressive, modern building

constructed in 1905, to replace the old Court House built in 1865. This was equally a

common-sense decision, since the Governor-General Frederick Lugard, was operating at this time

from the Government House at the Marina, in Lagos.

The second ceremony was to hold at Zungeru, which had been designated Nigeria’s capital (after

some negotiation between Lugard and Harcourt, with the town of Baro, being on the alternative

list). The ceremony there, was fixed to hold on the 3rd of January 1914. This would require the

Governor-General and his entourage to attend the ceremony in Lagos and immediately afterwards

head to Iddo, to board a train to Zungeru to perform the second ceremony.

The actual ceremony itself proceeded without hitch and a substantial and largely supportive

crowd, lined the streets of Lagos Island to cheer the Governors entourage on its route, which

moved from the Government House on the Marina, down the Marina itself and through Customs

street to the Supreme Court Building, where a tumultuous crowd had gathered around the Tinubu

Square.

At the Supreme Court building, 200 ticketed guests were seated awaiting the Governor-General’s

entry. These guests largely comprising Executive and Legislative Council members, senior civil

servants and a few representatives of the private sector. Upon his arrival, Lugard delivered a

speech out-lining the basis of the amalgamation and steps to be taken in furtherance. He equally

announced the relevant appointment of the key political and Judicial officers described above. He

went on to announce the creation of a Legislative Council (known as the Nigerian Council) as well

as the announcement of the extension of the Railway network to the Niger Delta, i.e the creation

of the Port Harcourt –Jos, Railway line. A partial text of the speech is detailed below.

In Conclusion

The Amalgamation was a momentous step in all its ramifications, this singular act had the effect of

unifying a huge expanse of territory and people. There have been many opinions voiced about the

efficacy of the unit created, however what is undeniable is that it created one of the most

populous and economically gifted nations in Africa. Whilst, the social complexities of compressing

several hundred ethnic nationalities into one country was always going to have its questions, the

benefits of the Commonwealth, in the view of many outweigh the deficiencies….if they can be

managed effectively

The Amalgamation regardless of all questions, was a fact and that entity created (less the Southern

Cameroons) still exists today, a hundred years after. That very fact in itself is worth

commemorating.

Ed Emeka Keazor- 2014

Proclamation creating Nigeria’s first Parliament, the Nigerian Council, in 1914.

Comission appointing Frederick Lugard -Governor-General of Nigeria

The Old Supreme Court Building, Tinubu Square. Venue of the amalgamation ceremony, January 1

1914.

Flag of the Royal Niger Company

Flag of the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria

Flag of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria

Flag of the Colony of Lagos- 1861

Flag of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria- 1914