The Nigeria That Existed Before 1914

Before Nigeria became Nigeria, it was not one country. It was not one government. It was not one people under one flag. It was a vast land of kingdoms, empires, city-states, trading communities, river settlements, Islamic emirates, forest kingdoms, coastal ports, and British-controlled territories. There was no single Nigeria. There was Lagos. There was the Northern Protectorate. There was the Southern Protectorate. There were ancient powers like Benin, Oyo, Sokoto, Kanem-Borno, Nupe, Jukun, Igbo communities, Ijaw trading states, Efik merchants, and many more. Then, on January 1, 1914, the British joined the Northern and Southern Protectorates together to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria under one governor-general in Lagos