How did British divide-and-rule policies contribute to later political tensions in Nigeria?

To prevent united opposition to their authority, the British implemented a divide-and-rule policy in Nigeria that intentionally kept various ethnic and regional groups separate. This strategy contributed significantly to later political tensions in several ways:21

• Educational and Developmental Disparity: The British co-opted traditional authorities in the north, where Muslim leaders resisted the spread of Christianity and Western education. Conversely, these influences spread rapidly in the south. This created a lasting developmental gap between the north and south, which fueled political friction as the country moved toward independence.21
• Regional Segmentation: By ruling through different administrative structures—such as utilizing traditional chiefs under indirect rule in the north while creating new political hierarchies in the south—the British reinforced regional identities over a unified national identity.21
• Ethnic Competition: The colonial administration’s focus on regional governance eventually led to a federal system where the three major regions were dominated by specific ethnic groups: the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the east. This structure institutionalized ethnic competitiveness and fears of domination, which persisted long after independence.3