International records / Internet Archive

Nigeria, From Berlin To Boko Haram

This study examines Nigeria as the most consequential artificial state created by the Berlin Conference framework, analyzing how British colonial policy amalgamated three incompatible civilizations—the Sokoto Caliphate, Yoruba kingdoms, and Igbo communities—into a single administrative territory in 1914. It traces the direct causal chain from Lord Lugard's amalgamation and dual system of indirect rule through the Biafran War (1-3 million dead), decades of military dictatorship, the oil curse ($600+ billion extracted with minimal development), and contemporary crises including Boko Haram insurg…