This thread reall should not be necessary if our youth are properly educated. We continue to hear to this day how Calabar was once the capital of Nigeria or how Nnamdi Azikiwe moved the capital etc.This is simply false and without foundation.

The history of Nigeria i.e from a Colonial perspective is NOT complex. Nigeria as we know it was formed by the Amalgamation in 1914 of The Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate.
The capital of the Southern Protectorate was Lagos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Nigeria

and that of the Northern protectorate was Zungeru and Kaduna

The Southern Protectorate was formed in 1906 with Lagos as its capital by joining the Niger Coast Protectorate/Oil Rivers protectorate with the Colony of Lagos.

So what was this "Colony of LAGOS" ??

What's up with all the clownish threads you have been opening of late?

Are you trying to take the title "of you know what" from Sir Musiwa, or what?

U are crying rubbish. Come to Calabar and see facts for urself.

Lagos was a crown colony before 1906, calabar was the capital of southern protectorate.

BigBelleControl: Lagos was a crown colony before 1906, calabar was the capital of southern protectorate.

Evidence please NOT TALK. Wat is a "crown colony" . lol

Bigcake: U are crying rubbish. Come to Calabar and see facts for urself.

We are not in a beer parlour. If you have anything of value to say back it up with evidence

Grabs popcorn

With the internet the way it is today.It should NOT be difficult to provide some REAL EVIDENCE that once upon a time Calabar was capital of NIgeria. We know that Nigeria was formed in 1914 so that is a good starting point. My proposition is a simple one
CALABAR MAY HAVE BEEN CAPITAL OF SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING BUT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT NIGERIA

0monnak0da: With the internet the way it is today.It should NOT be difficult to provide some REAL EVIDENCE that once upon a time Calabar was capital of NIgeria. We know that Nigeria was formed in 1914 so that is a good starting point. My proposition is a simple one
CALABAR MAY HAVE BEEN CAPITAL OF SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING BUT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT NIGERIA

Ignorance is a show of shame especially when such a one displays it arrogantly

mumu even if u no do history back drn in skul u suppose see 20naira by current affairs now! is beta u grap it now dat calabar was d first nigeria fct b4 lokoja,lagos n abuja.

0monnak0da: With the internet the way it is today.It should NOT be difficult to provide some REAL EVIDENCE that once upon a time Calabar was capital of NIgeria. We know that Nigeria was formed in 1914 so that is a good starting point. My proposition is a simple one
CALABAR MAY HAVE BEEN CAPITAL OF SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING BUT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT NIGERIA

Who named Nigeria? and in what year was Nigeria named?

Alexbond: mumu even if u no do history back drn in skul u suppose see 20naira by current affairs now! is beta u grap it now dat calabar was d first nigeria fct b4 lokoja,lagos n abuja.

No mind am, make we educate am small....

Calabar once served as the seat of Government of the Niger Coast protectorate, Southern protectorate and the oil River Protectorate from 1882- 1906 (effectively the Capital of modern day Nigeria) before the capital was moved to Lagos in 1914

I have actually thought about this a few times. oil rivers protectorate and other protectorates are 'not effectively' modern Nigeria

escobar07: I have actually thought about this a few times. oil rivers protectorate and other protectorates are 'not effectively' modern Nigeria

We know its not "MODERN" Nigeria, but its was still Nigeria, as the very same Protectorates are what made the Modern day Nigeria, the same government seating in Calabar were the same that moved to Lagos (The Brits)

Mind you between when the seat of government was moved from Calabar to Lagos (Calabar-1906 to Lagos-1914) took barely 8 years

OP, though I hate you so much, am with you on this one. Calabar has never at any time been the capital of Nigeria.

erinolu:


We know its not "MODERN" Nigeria, but its was still Nigeria, as the very same Protectorates are what made the Modern day Nigeria, the same government seating in Calabar were the same that moved to Lagos (The Brits)

In other words, you are talking about components, not Nigeria. I would prefer it reads: Calabar was the first capital in Nigeria (i.e what is now known as Nigeria).

CALABAR WAS THE CAPITAL OF NIGERIA EAST OF THE NIGER AND SOUTH OF THE BENUE. In Short the EASTERN REGION.

Question is when regional politics returned why was Calabar not returned as capital of the Eastern Region ? Why Enugun?

Mr Azikiwe might be able to tell us

AT NO TIME WAS CALABAR CAPITAL OF A SPACE INCLUDING LAGOS,ABEOKUTA,IBADAN or even BENIN !!!

Very simple question.

When did Calabar become the capital and when did it cease

0monnak0da: Very simple question.

When did Calabar become the capital and when did it cease

Provide the answers to my first questions and stop beating around the bush.

polokor60: Provide the answers to my first questions and stop beating around the bush.

Go and play this is an adult forum

0monnak0da: Go and play this is an adult forum

A very typical reply from a confused author.Instead of providing the answers to convince everyone about your comments,you are insulting people in order to distract their attention from the questions.



Back to the questions,who named the country Nigeria and in what year was the country named?

polokor60: A very typical reply from a confused author.Instead of providing the answers to convince everyone about your comments,you are insulting people in order to distract their attention from the questions.



Back to the questions,who named the country Nigeria and in what year was the country named?

I have nothing to say to you just as you have nothing to say to me so feel free to make your contributions if you have any without quoting me.

After reading this article, please ask yourself if creating a country is meant to be for economic, administrative or financial gains of a different entity? or to achieve a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure to better the general standard of living of its citizens.

THE FORMATION OF SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN PROTECTORATE OF NIGERIA:
SOUTHERN PROTECTORATE - In 1862, Lagos Island annex became a colony of Britain and Mr. H.S freeman became the governor. 31 years after then, (1893), Oil river protectorate that was renamed to be the Niger Coast protectorate with Calabar as the capital. In 1890, British reporter (Flora Shaw) who later married Lord Lugard suggested that the country be named Nigeria, after the Niger River. Then in 1897, British overthrew Oba Oronkanwen of Benin, one of the last independent West African kings. All the events stated above occurred in the late 19th century, then in the 20th century, 1900, Southern Nigeria was a British protectorate in the coastal areas of modern-day Nigeria, formed in 1900 from union of the Niger Coast Protectorate with territories chartered by the Royal Niger Company below Lokoja on the Niger River.

The Lagos colony was added in 1906, and the territory was officially renamed the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. Niger Coast, formerly Oil river protectorate was merged with the colony of Lagos and the protectorate of Lagos was named the protectorate of southern Nigeria. (Colonies were merged but not the people).

The Yoruba's and Igbo's and close to 200 other ethnic groups were of different ethnic groups, having different culture, norms, and values, but they were merged into the southern protectorate by the British in their own understanding and discretion to form the southern protectorate. It was very clear that the ethnics and values were different, yet what we hear much noise on is about the amalgamation of northern and southern protectorates.

The merging of Niger Coast and Lagos Colony was a clear merger of different culture and value, but because of the African spirit which is love and unity, it is easy for us to live and live harmoniously. This gesture of our inheritance as Africans does not stop with the Niger Coast and Lagos Colony alone, but extended to southern and northern protectorate of Nigeria. It even extend beyond that,it extend of every part of Africa as a whole.

NORTHERN PROTECTORATE - In 1885, Niger district protectorate was under African company and Niger Delta protectorate was under Royal Niger Company which was formed in 1886. In 1900, both protectorates were added to some part of Niger territory to form the northern protectorate. Northern Nigeria was a British protectorate which lasted from 1900 until 1914 in the present country of Nigeria. The protectorate spanned 255,000 miles (410,000 km) including the pre-colonial states of the Sokoto Caliphate, the Bornu Empire, and the Kano Emirate. The first High Commissioner of the protectorate was Frederick Lugard who actively suppressed revolutions and created a system of administration built around native authorities.

On 1 January 1890, the Royal Niger Company's charter was revoked and the British took control. The Royal Niger Company was paid £865,000 and was given the rights to half of all mining revenue in a large part of the areas for 99 years in exchange for ceding the territory to the British government. Lugard was appointed the High Commissioner of the newly created Northern Nigeria Protectorate.
In 1900, British officially took over what it named the Northern protectorate from the Royal Niger company, they originally divided the area into eleven province, which were, Bauchi, Bida, Bornu, Kabba, Kotangora, Lower Benue, Ilorin, Muri, Sokoto, Upper Berma, and Zaria. But it was later reduced 13 provinces after merging some together. Zungeru became the headquarters for the protectorate in 1902 because it was the most northerly city accessible by river transport. In 1903, 6 more province that were captured were added to make it 17 province.

Northern Nigeria Protectorate had a budget deficit; and the colonial administration sought to use the budget surpluses in Southern Nigeria to offset this deficit. They also faced unhealthy climatic conditions and lacked transportation and communication. The British needed the Railway from the North to the Coast in the interest of British business. So they had to actualize the amalgamation, not long after in 1911 the railway to Kano was completed which would enable him to ship produce without passing through Southern Nigerian territory since since under the terms of the Berlin Convention of 1885 the Niger was an international waterway.

The Order - in - Council was drawn up in November 1913 signed and came into force in January 1914. In those dispatches, Lugard said a number of things, which are at the root causes of yesterday and today's problems.

Finally In 1914, Southern Nigeria was joined with Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the single colony of Nigeria. The unification was done for economic reasons rather than political operating in the interest of the Crown.THE ALMAGAMATION OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Frederick Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard, a mercenary, soldier, explorer and colonial administrator, Lord Lugard came here about 1894. Major Lugard was not originally employed by the British Government. He was employed by companies. He was first employed by East Indian Company, by the Royal East African Company and then by the Royal Niger Company. It was from the Royal Niger Company that he transferred to the British government.

In 1897, as an imperialist Frederick Lugard formed the West African Frontier Force in the interest of the Company initially with 2,000 soldiers, about 90 percent of them were from the North mainly from the Middle belt. That was the beginning of our problems. Between 1898 and 1912, he sent a number of dispatches to London which led to the Amalgamation of 1914.

Towards the end of his term as Governor of Hong Kong in 1911, he indicated that he would be willing to undertake the task of amalgamating the two Nigerias, he seemed the ideal choice. In 1912, Frederick Lugard returned to Nigeria as Governor of the two protectorates. His main mission was to complete the amalgamation into one colony. Although controversial in Lagos, where it was opposed by a large section of the political class and the media, the amalgamation did not arouse passion in the rest of the country. From 1914 to 1919, Frederick Lugard was made Governor General of the now combined Colonies of Nigeria.

When the amalgamation took effect, the British government sealed off the South from the North. Between 1914 and l960, for a period of 46 years, the British allowed minimum contact between the North and South because it was not in the British interest that the North be allowed to be polluted by the educated South.

In June 1949, the North formed a political party, the northern leaders called it Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) and not Nigeria Peoples Congress. That was in accordance with the dictum and policies of Frederick Lugard. However, in 1950 when Aminu Kano formed his own party, it was called Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) not Nigerian Progressive Union.

''All these were the basis on which we got our independence in 1960. That was what Frederick Lugard created in Nigeria, a permanent majority for the North.

The population figure of the North was false. Infact, a British Colonial Civil Servant who was involved in falsifying the figures tried to expose it but he was never allowed to publish it. The analysis is as follows: If you look at the map of West Africa, starting from Mauritania to Cameroun and take a population of each country as you move from the coast to the Savannah, the population decreases. Or conversely, as you come from the Desert to the Coast, right from Mauritania to the Cameroun, the population increases. The only exception throughout that zone is Nigeria. Nigeria is the only zone whereby you go from coast to the North, the population increases and you come from the North to the Coast, the population decreases. Well, geographers, anthropologists and population experts, draw your conclusions. The last population census was done by computer, a computer is as good as its programmer. A computer will produce what you ask it to produce.

The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorate in 1914 by the British colonial masters was a landmark event in the evolution of Nigeria as a sovereign entity.

Importantly, the amalgamation of 1914 was accomplished in three phases beginning from 1900. First was the uniting of the Northern states into the Northern Protectorate in 1900. The second phase was the declaration of a Southern Protectorate from the old Niger Coast Protectorate and finally the formal merger of the Protectorates into Nigeria.

A colony is not a sovereign state. The great Historian Michael Crowder in his article Lugard and Colonial Nigeria – Towards an Identity, posited that “By definition colonies were not sovereign states and where relations with other countries were concerned, these were conducted for them by their imperial governments. Likewise, the colonial official did not ‘represent’ his country in his colony, even when he bore a diplomatic title like that of ‘Resident’ in Northern Nigeria, but rather exercised power on its behalf over people who had lost their sovereignty.”

Opposition to the amalgamation policy started beyond the formal pronouncement in 1914. At the forefront of this opposition was mostly emerging elites from the Southern Protectorates who had been exposed to Western education and the works of African-American nationalist like Booker Washington, Marcus Garvey among many others. These new elites used various means including local newspapers to express their opposition to perceived obnoxious colonial policies. They also formed political unions like the National Congress of British West Africa and the West African Students Association formed between 1913 and 1925 respectively. The amalgamation engendered fervent debate on its relevance and practicability to the States. Moses Ebe Ochonu in his article 1914 and Nigeria’s Existential Crisis: A Historical Perspective (2), pointed out that the elites ‘made it clear in their protest that the peoples of the North and those of the South were starkly different, had different worldviews and that any nation created out of an arbitrary union of the two territories would not function.’

The amalgamation was also opposed because it was perceived as an arbitrary decision taken by the authorities without the consent of the natives. The elites argued that British showed contempt by not consulting with the natives to decide whether they were interested in the merger of their territories considering the vast differences that exist between them.
However the opposition mounted by the Southern elites suffered because of their perceived distrust and contempt for the north. It has been pointed out that the position of the elites may have garnered desired attention had they allied with some northern elements who also opposed the amalgamation. In an editorial by the Times of Nigeria, the elites were unsparing in their resentment of not only the union but also people from the north:

“Unification was synonymous with a sellout of the South. The subjugation of Southern Nigeria by Northern Nigerian laws, Northern Nigerian land laws, Northern Nigerian Administration must be made to supersede every system in Southern Nigeria.”

The resentment was mutual though. The Northerners also felt they were being short-changed in the union arrangement. This was fiercely resisted in Lagos by some educated Africans while the other parts of the country remained lackadaisical due to the fact that many lack proper education and never knew the scope in which the amalgamation will operate and it benefits. Moses Ebe Ochonu suggested it may have been this mutual distrust that informed the British separate educational policies for both regions- while the south were exposed to the Missionaries, the North were left alone to continue with Quranic institutions.

The amalgamation was also opposed because it was perceived as an arbitrary decision taken by the authorities without the consent of the natives of the lands. The elites argued that British showed contempt by not consulting with the natives to decide whether they were interested in the merger of their territories considering the vast differences that exist between them.

The amalgamation of southern and northern Protectorate by the British was for economic and administrative purpose, but having derived economic benefit from both protectorates in agricultural products and others cash crops like groundnut, palm oil , wheat, cocoa etc. The British authority relent on stating the expiration of this decision. The advent of coal and crude oil became dilemma for the colonialists. They schemed up hurriedly contrived document called constitution which was at best a legitimacy for further economic enslavement.

Under United Nation Charter, ''all forms of amalgamation and forceful take over of indigenous land was to expires after a hundred years''. This new slavery charter permitted colonialists to under-develop Africa through economic enslavement as the colonialists were not willing to let go of Africans state. In view of this charter which has been seen as an experiment, the duration was pecked at 100 YEARS for it workability. Therefor the Amalgamation of Nigeria contract would be void by the 1st of January 2014.

The British amalgamation of Nigeria was nothing but the culmination of years of conquest of independent kingdoms, empires and states that were then forcibly yoked together for greater exploitation. No people in the world celebrate their defeat and subsequent subjugation by a conquering colonial power. Nigeria should not be the exception as the people of the Niger Delta are tired of been slaves in a 21st century.

A World Bank unit has continued, for seven years, to list Nigeria as one of the world’s fragile states with its economy falling off the cliff. Thirteen years into the Fourth Republic, tribalism, ethnic and sectarian violence and the desperate contest for presidential power, among others, have killed over 5,000 persons, making analysts to recall the famous quip by the late premier of the defunct Northern Region, Ahmadu Bello, on the need to correct “the mistake of 1914″ and the reference to Nigeria as “a mere geographical expression” by the late premier of the defunct Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo. Nigeria, almost 100 years on, remains both a mistake and a geographical expression.

We must accept the dreadful truth that Nigeria is composed of different peoples with diverse histories, cultures, religions, worldviews and values.

''The British amalgamated the Administration of the North and South and not the people of the North and the South, that is one of the root causes of the problems of Nigeria and the Nigerians''.

The consequences for Nigeria’s long-term political development of the formula Frederick Lugard chose need not concern us here except in two respects. The first is that not surprisingly Frederick Lugard’s amalgamation largely involved imposing on Southern Nigeria the administrative and judicial systems of the North. The second was that the amalgamation was only a partial one. Whereas the Colonial Office has overruled Egerton’s scheme for partial amalgamation of the two southern territories in 1906, they allowed Frederick Lugard’s scheme to go ahead. The consequences of this partial amalgamation were to haunt Nigeria for the next fifty years and many would argue that the Nigerian civil war had its roots in the form of amalgamation Frederick Lugard imposed on the country.

Lord Lugard the first Governor General who set up Nigerian nation and the founding fathers of Nigeria that fought for her independence in 1960 with the major universities, streets, public buildings, national currencies and postage stamps named in their memories did not believe in one Nigeria from the various comments made below about Nigeria:

Lord Lugard: “The North and the South are like oil and water, they will never mix.” Yet he went ahead and amalgamated them.

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: “The Southern people who are swamping into this region daily in such large numbers are really intruders; we don’t want them and they are not welcome here in the North. Since 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country. But the people are different in every way, including religion, custom, language and aspirations… we in the North take it that Nigeria unity is only a British intention for the country they created. IT IS NOT FOR US”.

Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo: “Nigeria is only a geographical expression to which life was given by the diabolical amalgamation of 1914, that amalgamation will EVER remain the most painful injury a British Government inflicted on Southern Nigeria”.

Al-Hajji Sir Ahmadu Bello: “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate from our great grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools, and the south as conquered territories and never allow them to have control of their future.”

Retired General Yakubu Gowon: “Suffice it to say that putting all considerations to the test, political, economic as well as social, the basis of unity is not there.”

Nigeria is a camouflage of deceit.

Long Live Niger Delta Republic.

^^^^Google is just a click away.Get your facts right before making any publication.

Back to the Subject It is clear to me that Calabar was NEVER the capital or our dear Naija which came into existence in 1914 with Lagos as its capital. In fact the first time I heard the Calabar thing I was in primary school and heard if from a teacher.Naturally I believed it.But I have never found evidence for it.Thankfully we have the internet these days and there is no secret with such things. If there is any evidence to show Calabar once was capital please share it here. I would be glad to learn and change my opinion if necessary. So far my research shows Calabar was the "capital" of a part of Nigeria. Even that needs to be put in its proper perspective. The reality is the Royal Niger Company which is still around today as Unilever went around Nigeria in those days conquering places and claiming those lands as territory for their company having been given a "charter" to do so by The British Government. The fact is most of the territories they were "claiming" were either unaware or had not been subdued e.g Aro was subdued in 1902 wars and many other wars took place around this time. So talk of a capital ANY capital whether Calabar or otherwise simply means where the white people,and Royal Niger company people were in control and whence they prosecuted their campaign to subdue what we now know to be Nigeria. These claims of control and capital were more relevant in Europe in the context of fending of interest from competing powers from the territories they claimed. Another example Benin was sacked in 1897 but the British had already included Benin in their territories/maps more than 10 years earlier.

0monnak0da: This thread reall should not be necessary if our youth are properly educated. We continue to hear to this day how Calabar was once the capital of Nigeria or how Nnamdi Azikiwe moved the capital etc.This is simply false and without foundation.

The history of Nigeria i.e from a Colonial perspective is NOT complex. Nigeria as we know it was formed by the Amalgamation in 1914 of The Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate.
The capital of the Southern Protectorate was Lagos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Nigeria

and that of the Northern protectorate was Zungeru and Kaduna

The Southern Protectorate was formed in 1906 with Lagos as its capital by joining the Niger Coast Protectorate/Oil Rivers protectorate with the Colony of Lagos.

So what was this "Colony of LAGOS" ??

Dayolodo


You are a hell of scintillating embarrassment. What a dead wood. Modern day Nigeria has two capital cities, Lagos and Abuja. So what is the deal with your moronic search for cheap and self-aggrandizing knowledge?

There were administrative and military headquarters of the colonialists during the periods of colony and protectorates before being amalgamated and later granted independence. Lagos, Calabar, Asaba, Zungeru and Lokoja acted as administrative or military headquarter to the British colonialist during 1800 to 1900s.

Old dende is dead and gone to his grave
Hm Ha gone to his grave
They planted ewedu tree over his head
Hm Ha over his head
Amala is ready and waiting for soup
Hm ha waiting for soup

First Nigerian capital city.
The city once served as the seat of Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate. It is thus effectively the first Nigerian capital city.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar

ebixy: First Nigerian capital city.
The city once served as the seat of Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate. It is thus effectively the first Nigerian capital city.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar

you need to learn and improve your English. If a statement reads Athens was the first European Capital city does that mean it was the capital of Europe

The Bristish were still fighting Arochukwu in 1902 and had failed to subdue all of Iboaland at that time how one can talk of a capital under those circumstances is funny. Calabar was where the Royal Niger Company had their office and mercenary soldiers!!

THE FORMATION OF SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN PROTECTORATE OF NIGERIA:SOUTHERN PROTECTORATE - In 1862, Lagos Island annex became a colony of Britain and Mr. H.S freeman became the governor. 31 years after then, (1893), Oil river protectorate that was renamed to be the Niger Coast protectorate with Calabar as the capital.

Pls read above and reason for yourself

I have also been told that Calabar was once the capital of Nigeria. Most Nigerians dont know this fact.

Grab popcorn