The Role of Rail and Other Transport Systems in the Colonial Consolidationand Exploitation in Central and Eastern Nigeria: 1897 – 1929 Introduction Transport systems have proven to be effective means of control as well as great civilizingagents and the means to bring progress anywhere. These transport systems, notably rail,road and water systems, have also been used to move people and goods in differentdirections. They have therefore contributed to the enhancement of contacts, trade, growthof production, exchange of ideas and transfer of know how among communities andstates. For the purpose of control, trade and social interactions, states have always takensteps to improve inter-community and inter-state movements. As means to ensure this,the states have used waterways as natural means, used men and animals as carriers alongfootpaths and have gradually improved and widened paths and tracks. With advances intechnology, states have used machines on roads, rail and waterways for these purposes. InEastern and Central Nigeria, these means have been used at various times for the same purposes and as trade routes. For the specific purpose of this paper, Eastern Nigeriacomprises all areas east of the Niger River southward, including the eastern Delta area,while Central Nigeria refers to the eastern side of the Niger northward, including theBenue and Plateau regions up to the borders of the Gongola valley The development of the rail, road and water transport systems in these regions between1897 and 1929, cannot be discussed in isolation of British imperialism and theestablishment of colonial rule. This is because the period under study here was the periodof the institution and consolidation of the colonial system. It was as well the period during which the British perfected the strategies to maximize the exploitation of theabundant agricultural and non agricultural natural resources available in the vast territorycalled Nigeria. The development of these systems in order to ensure colonialconsolidation and maximize the exploitation of these resources in the case of Eastern andCentral Nigeria, is the focus of this paper.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 13:00:03 +0000