The Colony and Protectorate of Lagos and the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria were merged in ... to form

The Colony and Protectorate of Lagos and the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria were merged in 1906 to form the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. In the late 19th century, the British established a number of colonies and protectorates in what is now Nigeria, with the aim of controlling trade and exploiting natural resources. The Colony and Protectorate of Lagos, which had been established in 1861, was one of these territories, while the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria was formed in 1900. In 1906, the British government decided to merge these two territories to form the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. The merger was part of a broader effort to streamline British administration in Nigeria and create a more efficient colonial system. The new colony and protectorate was a vast territory that included a diverse array of ethnic and linguistic groups. It was governed by a governor, who was appointed by the British government, and had a legislative council that included both appointed and elected members. The Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria continued to exist until 1914, when it was merged with the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, which was administered as a single entity until Nigeria gained independence in 1960.