Nigerias Ties To Uk

Keeping Friendships Alive
Background:
The British and Nigerians have had a long history of ties dating back to the 1600’s and the slave trade. “The slave trade was one of the major causes of thedevastating internecine strife in southern Nigeria during the three centuries to the mid-1800s, when actually abolition occurred” (Nigeria-Early British Imperialism). The British involvement in Nigeriadid not stop there. During and after World War II the British had their eyes set on making Nigeria one of their colonies. The British were interested in Nigeria because of valuable resources such asgold, silver, rubber, and oil and it would also provide them a good trading outpost. The end of WWII and the Berlin conference gave them the perfect opportunity to take Nigeria in their grasp.Taking Nigeria would not be an easy task for two reasons, one, many European nations were competing for territory in Africa, “This scramble was so intense that there were fears that it could lead tointer-imperialist conflicts and even wars” (Iweriebor, The Colonization of Africa). And second, the people of Nigeria would not be taken over by a foreign power without a fight. “There were many riots andconflicts between the Nigerians and the British, although most of the uprisings were eventually subdued by the military power of the British” (Ihuegbu, Colonialism and Independence). There was reallythe only way the British could take Nigeria as their colony, and that was by force. The Nigerians and Africans in general did not like being controlled by these European powers. Just like whenany nation is being oppressed by a ruling power the Nigerians decided to stand up and fight their oppressor. They took up arms so they could gain their sovereignty once again. “African militaryresistance took two main forms: guerrilla warfare and direct military engagement” (Iweriebor, The Colonization of Africa). Smaller countries usually use guerrilla warfare because they do not have the man...