BRITISH COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN NIGERIA (1926-1959)

Abstract

This study examines the role of British colonial administration in shaping infrastructural development in Eastern Nigeria between 1926 and 1959. During these periods, the British colonial government implemented various infrastructural projects aimed at consolidating colonial control, facilitating resource extraction, and integrating the region into the global economy. The research focuses on key infrastructure sectors, including transportation (roads and railways), communication (telecommunications), and utilities (water supply and electricity), assessing their impact on the socio-economic landscape of Eastern Nigeria. Utilizing archival records, government reports, and secondary literature, the study analyzes the strategic motivations behind infrastructural investments and their implications for the indigenous population. It explores how infrastructure development was primarily designed to serve colonial interests, often at the expense of local needs and development. The study also investigates the long-term effects of these infrastructural changes on the economic and social structures of Eastern Nigeria, highlighting both the benefits and drawbacks experienced by the local communities. The findings reveal that while infrastructural development facilitated economic activities such as agriculture and mining, it also led to the displacement of communities, disruption of traditional lifestyles, and the creation of economic dependencies. The study concludes that the infrastructural legacy of the colonial period has had a lasting influence on the development trajectory of Eastern Nigeria, with implications that continue to resonate in the post-independence era. This research contributes to the broader understanding of colonial infrastructural policies and their enduring impact on post-colonial development in Nigeria. It underscores the need for a critical assessment of colonial legacies in contemporary infrastructural planning and development strategies.