“The administrative systems used by the British in Nigeria were a success.” Discuss.

Candidates are expected to focus on the system of indirect rule that was generally implemented in Nigeria, while recognizing the differing circumstances in some parts of the colony that meant that this system sometimes had to be modified. Their responses may reflect the way in which the success of administration varied according to the area. As well as this, there should be an overall assessment of the degree to which British rule was successful in Nigeria as a whole.

Indicative content

• Candidates should distinguish between the relatively successful implementation of a system of indirect rule in Northern Nigeria and the less successful administration of other parts of the country. In the north, the existence of an established Fulani aristocracy in the Sokoto Caliphate meant that the British could control the army and taxation while other aspects of governance could be left to the pre-colonial rulers.
• The system of indirect rule had mixed success in the southwest of the country, where centralized Yoruba kingdoms had held sway before the arrival of colonialism. However, in some areas the selection of certain chiefs over others upset traditional balances of power and this had the effect of politically destabilizing the region.
• In the Niger Delta and Igboland the imposition of a system of indirect rule was altogether less successful. This was because power was decentralized in these communities, and the warrant chiefs appointed by the British had no real authority. The result was that the British were obliged to rule Southeastern Nigeria in a more direct fashion. Because of this, strong opposition to colonialism emerged in the south east.
• One of the purposes of introducing the system of indirect rule was to defray the expenditure and reduce the administrative burden of ruling a colony directly, and candidates may judge that the British administration of Nigeria was at least partially successful in this regard.
• It can be argued that the system of indirect rule—whereby people identified with their local rulers rather than the colony as a whole—inhibited the development of a true national identity in Nigeria. This was to prove a burden for Nigeria in the post-colonial period.
• Regional tensions were exacerbated by the system of colonial administration, which effectively split Nigeria in three: northern, southern and western.
• Despite these factors, a nationalist movement emerged that demanded full independence for the colony. Candidates may argue that since a key ambition of indirect rule was to keep opposition to colonialism to a minimum the system was ultimately unsuccessful.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

[20 marks]