The British Government revoked the charter of the Royal Niger Company and took over the direct administration of Nigeria in _________

Analyze the question: The question asks for the year the British Government revoked the Royal Niger Company's charter and took over direct administration of the territory.

Concept: The Royal Niger Company, led by Sir George Taubman Goldie, received a royal charter in 1886 to administer and trade in the Niger area. Over time, the Company's monopoly caused conflicts with African middlemen, other European traders, and the British government. Eventually the British government decided to end the Company's rule.

Step-by-step solution:

1. 1861: Lagos was annexed as a colony. This had nothing to do with the Royal Niger Company, so A is wrong.
2. 1886: The Company received its charter (not an option here).
3. 1900: The charter was revoked, and the Company's territories were bought for £865,000. The British government took over. The territory north of the Niger was formed into the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria (under Sir Frederick Lugard as High Commissioner), and the southern parts were merged with the Niger Coast Protectorate to form the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. It took effect on 1 January 1900.
4. 1906: Lagos Colony and the Southern Nigeria Protectorate were merged. This is not the revocation of the charter, so C is wrong.
5. 1914: Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated by Lugard, so D is wrong.

Answer: The charter was revoked in 1900, which is option B.

Tip: Remember the sequence 1861 → 1886 → 1900 → 1906 → 1914:

• 1861: Lagos annexed
• 1886: Royal Niger Company chartered
• 1900: Charter revoked, British government takes over
• 1906: Lagos and Southern Protectorate merged
• 1914: Amalgamation

A simple hook: the charter was born in 1886 and ended as the century ended, in 1900.