NIGERIAN ENTERPRISE 
Nigeria. Then in 1906 Lagos and two protectorates were 
organized into the Colony and Protectorate of Southern 
Nigeria.! The Oil River and Niger Coast Protectorates 
were first ruled by commissioners or consuls, Lagos by a 
Colonial Governor, and northern Nigeria by the chartered 
company. Thus we have in Nigeria an excellent example 
of the three ways in which Britain governed her possessions 
— consular jurisdiction, chartered companies, and the Co- 
lonial Office. “The raw material is worked into shape by 
the Foreign Office until the time arrives when the finer 
processes of the Colonial Office are applicable,” once re- 
marked a noted British statesman, in explaining this process. 
“CRartered companies in Africa,” writes The Scotsman, 
“as elsewhere, have been the best pioneers of British com- 
merce and authority.” The Royal Niger Company was no 
exception. It was given political as well as commercial 
powers, and held responsible for the control of the river 
traffic which England at the Berlin Conference of 18835 
promised to administer equitably. In addition, the com- 
pany was granted full jurisdiction over all British and 
foreigners in the country, and authorized to make treaties 
with the chieftains, protect natives, abolish the slave trade, 
and promote British interests. It was, however, permitted 
no trade monopoly; and, although allowed to collect customs 
dues on imports and exports amounting to about two per 
cent and taxes which in time reached £90,000 a year, it had 
to pay its share of the governmental expenses. “Ours is the 
only chartered company of our time,” exclaimed the chair- 
man at the annual meeting of 1897, “which is forbidden to 
earn profits on its capital out of customs duties or other 
taxation; the entire revenues so raised having to be ex- 
pended for public purposes.” 
An Agent-General with an executive staff and a Chief 
! Brit. and For. St. Papers, vol. 99, pp. 398-402.