Question 6
(a) Identify any three reasons for the opposition by the Niger Delta people to European penetration of the interior.
(b) Highlight any two reasons for the merging of the British trading companies into the United African Company (UAC) in 1879.
Observation
This was a fairly popular question and was attempted by many candidates. Many of them failed to answer it well as they could not differentiate between the effects of the British conquest and missionary activities. In order to get good grade, candidates were expected to mention the following points:
(i) Nigeria Delta feared that the European companies would outwit them in business and edge them out of the trade.
(ii) The traditional rulers did not want to lose their sovereignty.
(iii) The people feared that allowing the Europeans into the interior would make them liberate their domestic slaves and reduce their social status.
(iv) Their role as middlemen would also be challenged and it would not only affect their social status but also their source of revenue.