The amalgamation of the colony of Lagos and the southern protectorate took place in

Analyze the question: It asks for the year the Colony of Lagos and the Southern Protectorate were amalgamated. Be careful here: this is not the same as the 1914 amalgamation of North and South.

Concept: the sequence of events

• 1861: Lagos became a British colony.
• 1900: The Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria were created.
• 1906: The Colony of Lagos and the Southern Protectorate were merged to form the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria.
• 1914: Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern Protectorate with the Southern Colony and Protectorate, creating the single country called Nigeria.

Solution: The merger of Lagos Colony with the Southern Protectorate happened in 1906. That means:

• A (1899) is wrong, because nothing of this kind happened then.
• B (1903) is wrong.
• D (1912) is wrong. Lugard returned as Governor of both protectorates in 1912 to prepare for the later amalgamation.
• E (1914) is the amalgamation of North and South, not the one asked about.

Correct answer: C, 1906.

Exam tip: Remember the pattern 1906 = Lagos + Southern, and 1914 = North + South. Examiners love to use 1914 as the tempting wrong option, so read carefully which two regions are being joined.