The Union That Wasn’t A Choice: Inside Nigeria’s 1914 Amalgamation
THE AMALGAMATION AS A COLONIAL ECONOMIC PROJECT
A Union Proclaimed from Afar
ON 1st January 1914, a single administrative decision taken in Britain altered the political trajectory of West Africa. Through a formal colonial proclamation, the British government merged the Northern Nigeria Protectorate, the Southern Nigeria Protectorate, and the Colony of Lagos into one entity—the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. The decision, now known as the Amalgamation of Nigeria, imposed a unified political structure over a vast and diverse region for the first time in history.
The proclamation was not the result of negotiations among indigenous peoples, nor did it reflect a shared political identity. Rather, it was an imperial strategy designed to consolidate control, reduce administrative costs, and strengthen Britain’s economic grip on its West African possessions.
A Tale of Two Administrations
Before 1914, British colonial rule in the region operated through separate administrative systems. Southern Nigeria and the Colony of Lagos were economically vibrant, benefiting from coastal access, long-standing trade relationships, and customs revenues derived from palm oil, cocoa, and other exports. These territories generated enough income to sustain colonial administration without significant financial assistance from London.
By contrast, Northern Nigeria—though territorially expansive and historically sophisticated—was less integrated into the colonial cash economy. British administrators relied heavily on annual subventions from the British Treasury to maintain governance structures. This fiscal imbalance increasingly troubled imperial officials at a time when Britain was seeking to streamline the costs of empire.
Lugard and the Logic of Indirect Rule
Sir Frederick Lugard, appointed Governor General in 1912, became the chief architect of amalgamation. Lugard was a strong advocate of indirect rule, a system that governed through existing traditional authorities while subordinating them to colonial oversight. He believed this approach preserved order while minimizing resistance and administrative expenditure.
For Lugard, amalgamation offered a practical solution: revenues from the south could subsidize administration in the north, while a unified authority would simplify governance. His proposal found favour in London, where economic efficiency outweighed concerns about social cohesion or political representation.
Unity Without Integration
On 1st January 1914, legal instruments issued by the British Crown formalised the merger. Lagos remained the capital, and Lugard assumed office as Governor General. Despite the symbolic language of unity, the new colony remained administratively fragmented.
Separate legal systems persisted. Educational policies differed sharply, with missionary-led schooling expanding rapidly in the south while the north maintained limited Western education to avoid disrupting Islamic institutions. Even civil service structures were divided, reinforcing regional disparities rather than resolving them.
Indigenous Peoples and the Absence of Consent
For the indigenous populations—comprising more than 250 ethnic groups—the amalgamation was neither debated nor explained. Communities with distinct political systems, religions, and languages found themselves enclosed within artificial boundaries drawn for imperial convenience.
While infrastructure such as railways and telegraph lines expanded after 1914, these developments primarily facilitated the extraction and transportation of raw materials. Economic integration served imperial interests, not national unity.
An Unintended Political Legacy
Despite its origins, the amalgamation created a territorial framework that could not be undone. Over time, nationalist movements emerged within the colonial structure, forcing disparate groups to negotiate shared political futures. By the mid-20th century, the imposed unity became the stage upon which demands for self-rule were articulated.
Nigeria’s independence in 1960 did not erase the structural imbalances embedded in 1914. Instead, debates over federalism, regional autonomy, and national identity echoed the unresolved tensions of amalgamation.
Understanding 1914 Today
The amalgamation did not create a nation in the cultural sense, but it created the political space in which a nation would struggle to define itself. Understanding January 1, 1914 is essential to understanding Nigeria’s enduring challenges—and its continued search for cohesion within inherited borders.
