BRITISH COLONIAL CONQUEST AND THE ORIGINS OF KADUNA AS NORTHERN NIGERIA’S CAPITAL CITY

Abstract

This work explores the ramifications of the British imperial incursion into Nigeria at the close of the nineteenth century and their declaration of a Protectorate over Northern Nigeria in 1900. The British in their quest for the effective administration of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, under the leadership of Sir Frederick Lugard as High Commissioner from the initial headquarters of Lokoja at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers, explored for a more permanent site to serve as the capital of the protectorate. At first, Zungeru was chosen, however, when Lugard, found it to be unsuitable, he yet again initiated further explorations that led to the emergence of Kaduna as the colonial capital of the Protectorate and later Northern Region of Nigeria. This paper, using primary and secondary sources provides insight into the processes beginning from the work of British merchant traders and the era of the Royal Niger Company that finally evolved into the conquest and colonial administration of Northern Nigeria and hence the designation of Kaduna in 1913 as the capital city and the eventual realization of that goal in 1917.