Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba - The Political Economy of Colonialism and Nation-Building in Nigeria

Nigeria as a political entity is a colonial creation, which emerged out of many nationalities that had previously existed for thousands of years. Starting with the British conquest of Lagos in 1861, the formal process of colonialization began. In 1914, the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated (Coleman, ). In non-centralized or acephalous political systems such as the Eastern part of the country, the colonialists introduced the Eze systems of Warrant Chiefs titleholders that served as intermediaries between the colonialists and the colonized people. As in other British colonies such as India , while respecting the cultures of the various nationalities in Nigeria, the colonialists entrenched an administrative system that mirrored their interests and goals. Political participation of local people was limited until the nationalist movements began to campaign for elective rights.

The political economy of the colonialists was a more reflection of the motive and philosophy of colonialism As Ake (). Series of events both locally and internationally such as the Second World War , the Railway workers Strike of 1945, the dwindling fortunes of the economies in the metropole and the agitation for independence by the nationalists led to series of negotiation that brought about the political Independence of Nigeria on 1 October 1960.