Southern Nigeria was divided into Eastern and Western Provinces for administrative purposes in

Southern Nigeria was divided into Eastern and Western Provinces for administrative purposes in 1939. This means that the British colonial government at the time decided to create two separate administrative regions in southern Nigeria - one in the east and one in the west - in order to better govern the area. This division was based on a number of factors, including cultural and linguistic differences, as well as geographic considerations. Ultimately, the creation of these two provinces helped to shape the political and economic landscape of Nigeria in the years leading up to its independence in 1960.