The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate of Nigeria took place on

The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate of Nigeria took place on 1 January, 1914. This was when the British colonial government merged the two separate territories of Northern and Southern Nigeria into one administrative unit. The aim of the amalgamation was to create a more efficient and centralized administration, and to better exploit the economic and natural resources of Nigeria. The merger was largely an administrative one, and did not immediately lead to a unified sense of national identity among Nigerians. However, it was a significant event in Nigeria's history, as it paved the way for the country's eventual independence in 1960.