7 Reasons Why Indirect Rule Succeeded in Northern Nigeria

The reasons why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria were the existing centralized system of government, a working traditional judicial system, and an efficient Islamic system of taxation. Others were limited interference in the local administration and religion headed by the Emir, the autocratic leadership style of the Islamic rulers, and the muted opposition to colonial rule due to the relatively small number of the western-style educated intelligentsia as well as the relative accommodating attitude of the indigenous people.

This post has only one goal. I want to give you a brief, easy-to-remember outline of points on the reasons why the British colonial policy of Indirect Rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria.

You can use this outline to answer the following WASSCE Government and History questions.

Account for the relative success of Indirect Rule in Northern Nigeria

OR: Enumerate six reasons why Indirect Rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria.

Introduction

Indirect Rule was introduced into Northern Nigeria by Lord Frederick Lugard between 1900 and 1906. It was a system of administration adopted by the British to rule their West African territories by using the traditional rulers and institutions as intermediaries.

In the Indirect Rule system, the British recognized the cultural differences between Europeans and Africans and, therefore, relied on the already existing native political institutions to implement their policies.

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Reasons for the success of Indirect Rule in Northern Nigeria

Here, then, are the major reasons why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria. This is unlike the open show of hostility towards the same policy in parts of Southern and South-Eastern Nigeria.

1. Centralized System of Traditional Government

In Northern Nigeria, there was already in existence an efficient centralized system of traditional administration headed by the Emir.

The Emir had wide-ranging administrative authority. His subjects obeyed his orders without question.

Lord Lugard, therefore, capitalized on the administrative skills and powers of the Emirs. They allowed them a free hand to continue to govern their subjects.

The British, however, introduced slight modifications where necessary.

2. Effective Traditional Judicial System

Another factor responsible for the success of indirect rule in Northern Nigeria is the existence of a native judicial system. The Emir and his administration applied Islamic law in the administration of justice.

These courts were allowed to operate as traditional courts. The British complemented the traditional judicial system by establishing provincial courts.

The provincial courts tried cases that were beyond the ability or powers of the traditional courts. So this was one more reason why the indirect Rule system was relatively successful in Northern Nigeria.

3. An Efficient Islamic System of Taxation

Third among the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria was the existence of an efficient tax system. This system of taxation was there long before the introduction of Indirect Rule.

The people had already cultivated the habit of paying taxes. Hence, Lord Lugard found it easy to modify the system to generate revenue to pay the colonial staff and other administrators.

4. Limited Interference in Local Political Administration

Furthermore, the Indirect Rule system succeeded in Northern Nigeria because it did not threaten, interfere with or erode the traditional authority of the emirs. Instead, it boosted their prestige and made them become more influential.

5. Little Interference in the Workings of Islam

Here is yet one more of the reasons why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria. Lord Lugard also did not interfere with the Islamic religion. This made it possible for the natives to support or at least tolerate the British colonial administrators.

6. Muted Opposition to Indirect Rule

Again, indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria because there was little opposition to Indirect Rule from the people of Northern Nigeria. In fact, in other places where the people violently opposed the system, indirect rule had limited success, if at all.

There were, at least, three reasons that explained why, unlike the other parts of Nigeria, there was almost no opposition to Indirect Rule in the north

  • One explanation for this state of affairs at the time was the accommodating attitude of the indigenous people. This was unlike what happened in other parts of Nigeria.
  • Coupled with the above was the autocratic leadership style of the Emir. This left no room for the people to engage in any form of agitation against Indirect Rule.
  • Secondly, there were too few western-style educated elite in Northern Nigeria willing to take on the colonial government and oppose the system of Indirect Rule.

For example in Eastern Nigeria, the actions and inactions of the so-called Warrant Chiefs provoked the Aba Women’s Riots. This made it difficult for Indirect Rule to be successful in South-Eastern Nigeria the way it did in Northern Nigeria.

7. Indirect Rule Was Less Expensive to Implement

The last among the reasons why Indirect Rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria was economic in nature. Due to the already existing political institutions, the British found it quite easy to make the system work without having to spend too much on it. The cost of maintaining an administrative staff, for example, was minimal.

A major reason for this was that the system used very few expatriate officials.

Conclusion

It is clear, therefore, that the cultural, political, and social environment in Northern Nigeria at the time played a major role in the successful implementation of the policy of Indirect Rule in that part of British West Africa.

Do you know of any other factor accounting for the relative success of Indirect Rule in Northern Nigeria? Please share it in a comment below.

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