INTEGRATION AND DISINTEGRATION IN BRITISH COLONIAL WEST AFRICA: THE CASE OF THE GOLD COAST AND LAGOS 1874-1886

Abstract

In 1874 the British West African colonies of Lagos and the Gold Coast. which were separated by considerable territory. were atnalgamatecl to torm one administration with the headquarters at Accra in the latter territory. I lowever, as a result of increasing activity by other colonial powers in the adjoining territories and agitation by the Lagos comnnunities and trading concerns in Britain for a separate and distinct government, the union was dissolved in 1886 to enable the administrator of each territory to tackle the urgent problems of territorial expansion and commercial control then emerging.