A Visit to Zungeru; Nigerias birth place

The centenary of Nigeria celebrations line up of programs  kicked off with a Dinner at Aso Rock Abuja Nigeria yesterday, with all the past living presidents in attendance gearing up to celebrate the 100th year Anniversary of Nigeria's existence, though Nigeria just celebrated our 52 years of Independence, our Nation has been in existence for double the period as the entity was born on the day of Amalgamation in 1914 where the North and Southern Protectorate agreed to come together

In 1914, Southern Nigeria was joined with Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the single colony of Nigeria. The Governor-General Frederick Lugard who took office in 1914 was responsible for overseeing the unification. It was on January 1st 1914, that the then High Commissioner to Northern Nigeria, Sir Lord Frederick Lugard in a national speech announced that his Imperial Majesty – the King in England who was driving the British empire via colonialism – had conferred on him the rare title of “Governor – General” of the two British Nigerias: the Northern administration, later Northern Nigeria after being “Northern Protectorate” and the southern protectorate hence southern Nigeria, respectively. The “South”, in the patent rights granted to Lugard included Lagos as a “crowned colony”. Zungeru which is located in mid Niger state – which is also in mid Nigeria – is 45km ride to Minna the State Capital; about 200km to Abuja –Nigeria’s current Federal Capital Territory (1976); and about 200km to Kaduna – the defunct headquarters of Nigerian Federation (1914) and of the former Northern Nigeria regional administration (1954 – 1966) ; while it is about 60km to Bida – the most organized senior Emirate close by which continued to be distrustful of Lugard’s Zungeru base from 1900  until Lugard vacated to Kaduna. Sacking of a Federal CapitalSurprisingly, two weeks after Lugard’s announcement, he abandoned Dungurum (off the river Niger terrain) and moved to Kaduna (river side) in the interior of the North. Zungeru which was his abode for 14years – from 1900-was later described on relocation as inhabitable because of “swarms of mosquitoes”, and that it is too hot climatically. Lugard had by this action sacked from Dungurum the headquarters of the West-African. Frontier Force [WAFF], the railway Managers’ Quarters, Prison yard, District courts, administrators’ houses, Generators’ rooms, Lawns and buildings hosting the native police etc – which he managed to put up all in ten years, between 1903 and 1914.  1903 was when Britain had completely taken over Northern Nigeria following the capture of Sokoto in March. Sokoto was both the spiritual and political headquarters of the caliphate that symbolizes Northern Nigeria by geography and hegemony through the Islamic ideology of its Emirates between 1804 and 1903. Between 1898 and 1903 various minor and major Emirates such as Bida, Keffi, Zaria, Kontagora, Ilorin, Yola, Bauchi, Gwandu, Kano, Gombe etc had been rooted by the colonial forces. While Zungeru lost the glory of hosting Nigeria’s capital to Kaduna which is another water side in the North and of similar terrain with Lagos and the Port (of) Mr. Harcourt in the south of Nigeria – whose joint role in the political project called Nigeria was innermost; Kaduna had remained, for strategic factors the home of political and military strategists in defining what tempo Nigeria adopts at anytime since 1914.

Though the details stated above were obviously missing from the Centenary website for reasons i do not understand, without proper explanation, the information above are facts and part of our Nations history which should be protected and preserved along with the Amalgamation site which held all the Governors and leaders from both the South and southern Protectorate and made the entity Nigeria, our lovely Nation possible. A visit to Zungeru one will see only ruins of what Nigeria's had to offer, with no form of preservation which shows a sign of disregard for our history as a Nation.

What you will see when you visit Zungeru:

Road into the Amalgamation ground where the treaty binding the North and Southern Protectorate was signed in 1914 in Zungeru ( Wushishi LGA) Niger State

Remains of the Amalgamation Hall at the Amalgamation Ground where Governor Lord Lugard saw to the formation of the entity known today as Nigeria in 1914 in Zuneru ( Wushishi LGA) Niger State

Remains of Sir Fredrick Lord Lugards Swimming Pool Zungeru behind the Rest House in Zungeru (Wushishi LGA) Niger State.

the railway Managers’ Quarters Zungeru, (Wushishi LGA) Niger State, where the railway workers resided and moved goods via rail to Baro port for further transportation 

Thatch huts for relaxation in front of the Colonial Military Cemetery  Zungeru (wushishi LGA) where many of the the West-African. Frontier Force (WAFF) dead soldiers were buried, built for relaxation  

Graves of some the the West-African. Frontier Force (WAFF) colonial soldiers at Zungeru (Wushishi LGA) Niger State not too far from the Amalgamation ground

Mohammad T. Jibril (Historian & Zungeru tour Guide) Stansing by the remains of the foundation of Lord Lugards residence at Zungeru (Wushishi LGA). The Governors house stood on pillars such as these, the buildings are gone with only pillars like these remaining.

Zungeru Military Cemetery

Remains of the the West-African. Frontier Force (WAFF) quarters Zungeru, (Wushishi LGA)

the West-African. Frontier Force (WAFF) Calvary building, where Lord Lugards soldiers operated from at the time of the Amalgamation in 1914

 

the West-African. Frontier Force (WAFF) Rest house for blacks and whites in Zungeru during the time of Amalgamation in 1914, the soldiers relaxed here.

Mohammad T. Jibril (Zungeru Historian and Tour Guide) standing at Lord Lugards Rest place, where a concrete table and Umbrella was placed and Lord Lugard used to relax every evening around the period of the Amalgamation in 1914

the West-African. Frontier Force [WAFF) Colonial Rest house, for white soldiers only. meant for relaxation of the soldiers after work and all around the period of the Amalgamation in 1914 in Zungeru (Wushishi LGA)

Mrs. Deborah Dzumah Salawu (Permanent Secretary Niger State Ministry of Tourism & Culture) who has fought to see the Colonial ruins revived and put back in order for tourism purposes for the state.

Hon. Muhammed Kabir Wushishi (Commissioner of Niger State Ministry of Tourism and Culture who has worked hard to see that the former Capital and Amalgamation ground is revived in order to make it accessible for Tourism

 While Zungeru lost the glory of hosting Nigeria’s capital to Kaduna which is another water side in the North and of similar terrain with Lagos and the Port (of) Mr. Harcourt in the south of Nigeria – whose joint role in the political project called Nigeria was innermost; Kaduna had remained, for strategic factors the home of political and military strategists in defining what tempo Nigeria adopts at anytime since 1914. Zungeru lost to Kaduna (1914) as Lokoja did in 1898 to Baro (1899), while Baro lost to Jebba about 1900  before the choice of a central northern capital favoured the fringes of river Kaduna instead of the major coasts of river Niger as an international route.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Centre yet under construction in Zungeru (Wushishi LGA) Niger State, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Odimegwu Ojukwu were born in Zungeru around the Amalgamation of North and Southern Protectorate in 1914

 In line with the centenary celebrations a visit to the Amalgamation ground would help revive and drive understanding of what went on at the the time Lord Lugard brought the North and the South Protectorate together, walk where the colonial masters walked and picture how life was then, Tours to the Colonial ruins are organised by the Niger State Tourism Corporation, National museums Minna,  with private tours arranged by Misan Pinnick Consult in association with the Niger State Ministry of Tourism and Culture Minna, for more  details on how to book a tour Call Misan: +234 8169625590 or Email: Misanpinnick@gmail.com. Book Now as its an experience worth taking, outside the Amalgamation ground, other sites such as the first Electric dam in Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe Centre and the Zungeru Beach amongst others are included in the tour. 
We also believe that in line with celebrating  the 100th Anniversary of Nigeria's existence some of the funds generated from the private sector will do a lot of good if used in reviving and developing this heritage site and preserve our National History.