After the annexation in 1861, Lagos became a

After the annexation in 1861, Lagos became a crown colony. This means that it was a British colony directly controlled by the British government through a governor appointed by the Crown. The colony was not under the control of a chartered company or a private individual. The crown colony system was often used by the British government to govern territories that were considered too important or too dangerous to be left to a chartered company. As a crown colony, Lagos was governed by British laws and regulations, and the local population had little to no say in the governance of their own affairs. The system continued until Nigeria gained independence in 1960.