One reason for the adoption of Indirect Rule in British West Africa was?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for one reason Britain adopted Indirect Rule in British West Africa. Indirect Rule was the system of governing through traditional rulers and existing institutions, and it was made famous by Lord Lugard in Northern Nigeria.

Step 2: Recall the concept The main reasons for Indirect Rule were:

• Shortage of funds: Britain did not want to pay for a large administration in the colonies. The colonies were expected to pay for themselves.
• Shortage of British personnel: There were too few British officials, and the climate and tropical diseases discouraged many from serving.
• Large territory: It was hard to govern wide areas with few officers.
• Language and cultural barriers: Local rulers already understood the people.
• Existing structures: Emirates and similar systems were already functioning, as in the North.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Availability of British officials: Wrong. The problem was the scarcity of British officials, not their availability.
• B. To ensure justice: Not a main reason. Justice was not the motive for Indirect Rule.
• C. Inadequate finance: Correct. Britain lacked the money to run a full colonial administration, so it used cheap local rulers.
• D. To assimilate the indigenes: This describes the French policy of Assimilation, not British Indirect Rule.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C. inadequate finance.

Exam tip: Remember "3 Ms" for Indirect Rule: Money (little of it), Men (few British officials), and Machinery (existing local institutions). Also, whenever you see "assimilate", think France, not Britain.