The Colonial Incursion and its impact on Nigeria: A Re-Assessment

Abstract

This paper is a critical assessment of the colonial incursion and its impact on Nigeria. Secondary sources of data were used for this essay. With the force theory of the state as its compass, and drawing from the insights of the “decolonial epistemic perspective”, the paper contends that colonialism was a violent phenomenon, and colonial rule was imposed on Nigeria against the will of its people. The essay argues that as a crime against humanity, colonialism’s primary goal was the exploitation of Nigeria’s resources, and all the actions or inactions of the colonialists were aimed at the realization of that goal. It is concluded that irrespective of what its supporters regard as its “benefits”, the impact of colonialism on Nigeria and its people was generally destructive.