The principle objective of British colonial policy in Nigeria was to

The principle objective of British colonial policy in Nigeria was to exploit and expropriate Nigerian resources for British interests. The British colonialists established control over Nigeria's natural resources such as oil, cocoa, and groundnuts, and used them to develop industries in Britain. The colonialists also imposed taxes and forced labor on Nigerians to maximize their profits. Although some efforts were made towards developing the Nigerian economy and infrastructure, these were mainly aimed at furthering British interests rather than benefiting Nigerians.