Great Britain, Germany and wartime economy in Nigeria 1914-1918

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Periodical article

Title:	Great Britain, Germany and wartime economy in Nigeria 1914-1918
Author:	Osuntokun, Jide
Year:	1973
Periodical:	Ikenga: Journal of African Studies
Volume:	2
Issue:	2
Pages:	49-59
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Nigeria Germany
Subjects:	trade World War I
Abstract:	The First World war upset the gradual economic development of Nigeria which had begun as a result of the progressive modernisation of the country's infrastructure from the beginning of the 20th century. Up to the outbreak of hostilities in Europe in 1914, Nigeria had come to be heavily dependent on German capital and enterprise because of the presence of very powerful German firms in the country. The War caused a great deal of dislocation in the internal as well as the external flow of trade of the country. It was necessary to re-channel the country's trade to avoid aiding the enemy and with the execution and prosecution of this policy the economic well-being of Nigeria had to be sacrificed on the alter of Imperial survival. The government was faced with the problem of not only finding markets for Nigeria's main staple, palm kernels, but also with the problem of finding alternative sources of revenue to the duties levied on trade spirit. It also had to find alternatives to German imports. Notes.