The first British consul in Nigeria was

The first British consul in Nigeria was John Beecroft. He was appointed as the British consul in what was then known as the Bights of Benin and Biafra in 1849. Beecroft was tasked with promoting British trade in the region, as well as suppressing the slave trade, which was still prevalent at the time. He established good relations with the local rulers and was able to negotiate treaties with them that enabled the British to establish trading posts and factories. Beecroft's work paved the way for the later British colonial administration in Nigeria, which ultimately led to Nigeria's independence in 1960.