EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM AND AFRICA'S NATURAL RESOURCES: THE BRITISH ON THE JOS-PLATEAU, NIGERIA TIN FIELDS, 1902-1960

Abstract

The African continent is blessed with an array of assorted natural mineral resources. Although, these have not been properly utilised and transformed to positively impact nor improve upon the lives and wellbeing of the people in particular and the continent in general. The European countries discovered these rich and abundant natural resource-base of the continent and spared no efforts in coercively courting her, thereby making her a'bride to behold' against all odds. One of the objectives of this papers that it has critically reviewed a wide range of literature and divulged the views put forward by the proponents and opponents of European imperialism in Africa who have written in favour and against its merits and demerits, respectively. It also studied and disclosed that the huge deposits of cassiterite (tin ore), columbite and sundry minerals were the major attraction and essence for the British's conquest and subjugation of the Jos-Plateau people. The finding reveals that the British colonial government and their concerns got unfettered access to these natural mineral resources which they successfully explored and extracted for about sixty years without any reasonable challenge and resistance from the people. This led to the total exploration and exploitation of the labour-force of the Jos-Plateau people and their natural resources. These have left behind a devastated environment with the preponderance of abandoned tin mining ponds and sand dumps. The major sources of data are books and reputably published journals. The qualitative approach to the study and interpretation of data is used in this article.