Abstract:
The amalgamation of 1914 marked the beginning of Nigeria experiment. However, efforts at building Nigeria predate Lugard and his amalgamation. Prior to 1914, the land around River Niger was peopled by leaders whose love for mega political entity was unparallel. This leaders were nearing successes when the British imperialists appeared in the coast, unleashed a war of conquest on the people living around the River Niger and Benue, introduced western culture and civilization and eventually brought the areas under her majesty. The British efforts eventually paved way for 1914 amalgamation. The 1914 amalgamation and the emergence of a mega structure called Nigeria did not emerged out of the blue. Apart from British imperialism, some other factors that predate British imperialism were equally at work. This paper, by using the historical method of enquiry attempts to examine the pre colonial antecedents that favoured large political entities and therefore paved the way for the amalgamation of 1914.
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