Sir Frederick Lugard
In our First instalment on the Amalgamation of Nigeria, we provided evidence that it was done in London and the constitution presented in Lagos and Zungeru see:
(https://atqnews.com/news-original-documents-show-that-amalgamation-of-nigeria-was-not-done-in-ikot-abasilagos-or-lokoja-but-in-london-in-1913-part-1/)
Lewis Vernon Harcourt
In this edition we provide extra documents of the Ceremony and subsequent implementation of the order of the King of England.
INAUGURATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY AND PROTECTORATE OF NIGERIA (ON AMALGAMATION OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NIGERIA)
The ceremony of reading the new instruments of Government and of the Administration of the oaths was held in the court room of the law courts at Lagos in the colony on January 1st and at Zungeru in the protectorate on January 3rd 1914.
At Lagos on 1st January His Excellency the Governor, with his Aide-de-camp (Captain Segrave) and his private secretary (Captain Simson), drove from Government house to the law courts accompanied by an escort of three mounted police officers. The streets en-route was lined by soldiers of the 4th Battalion of the Nigeria Regiment and by Police.
A guard of honour from the Nigeria Regiment was drawn up in Tinubu Square facing the courts building, the approaches to which were flanked by a detachment of blue jackets and marines from H.MS. “Dwarf’’ and a party of sailors from the Nigerian Marine.
On his arrival at 9am, the guard of honour gave the royal salute and the band of the regiment played the National Anthem. His Excellency was conducted by the Sheriff (Mr C.E Johnstone) to the court House, where he was received by Mr. Boyle, C.M.G., Mr Temple, C.M.G, Mr James, C.M.G and Sir Edwin Speed, Kt. Followed by these officers and by his personal staff he proceeded to the court room, where over 200 officials and others were present by tickets of admission. Large crowds had assembled around the square.
The Governor took his seat upon the dais with Mr. Boyle on his right and Mr. Temple on his left, and Mr. James and Sir E. Speed on either side. The executive council and legislative council of the colony occupied seats to the right and left of the dais.
This is the Speech given by Lord Lugard on the 1st of January 1914.
A SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR – GENERAL (SIR F. LUGARD) ON THE OCCASION OF THE DECLARATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COLONY AND PROTECTORATE OF NIGERIA, JANUARY 1ST 1914
“You are all aware that His majesty’s government, after long and mature consideration, arrived some time ago at the conclusion that it would be to the great advantage of the countries known as Southern and Northern Nigeria that they should be amalgamated into one government, conforming to one policy and mutually co-operating for the moral and material advancement of Nigeria as a whole.
This policy had been strongly advocated by Sir William Macgregor as Governor of Lagos, by Sir Ralph Moore as High Commissioner of Southern Nigeria, and by myself as High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria about ten years ago. It has continued to be advocated by Sir Walter Egerton and my successors in Northern Nigeria.
The construction of rival railways in Northern and Southern Nigeria accentuated the necessity of having a single railway policy, with a single administration, and over a year ago the Secretary of State decided that the time had come to give effect to the scheme of constituting a single government for Nigeria.
Mr. Harcourt was pleased to select me to carry out this difficult task, and he appointed me in the first instance as Governor separately of the two distinct Governments of Northern and Southern Nigeria, with a view to informing myself of local conditions and submitting to him my proposals for amalgamation.
I had the honour to submit those proposals for his consideration on May 9th last. They were accepted in all essentials and to-day they are to take effect. I desire therefore as briefly as possible to describe to you, and through you to the official and unofficial community of Nigeria the basis on which this Amalgamation is to be carried out, and the principal changes which will results.
That portion which has hitherto been Northern Nigeria will be known in future as the Northern provinces, while the protectorate of Southern Nigeria will be known as the Southern provinces of Nigeria; each will be under the immediate control of a Lieutenant-Governor responsible to the Governor-General.
The colony in view of its separate status and traditions will preserve separate identity, under an administration of its own dealing direct with the Governor-General. For the present, the Central Headquarters will remain.”
