Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Historians have long debated the significance of indirect rule policy in the Niger Delta, though interpretations of its long-term consequences continue to evolve.

Within the period 1900-1960, indirect rule policy took on particular significance in the Niger Delta, reflecting the wider political and economic pressures of the time.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite considerable historical scholarship, the precise role of indirect rule policy in the Niger Delta during 1900-1960 remains a subject of ongoing debate, with existing accounts often relying on incomplete or contested source material. This study re-examines the available historical record to offer a clearer account.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To trace the role of indirect rule policy in the Niger Delta during 1900-1960.
2. To examine the factors that shaped indirect rule policy during this period.
3. To assess the consequences of indirect rule policy for the Niger Delta.
4. To situate these findings within the broader historiography of the period.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What role did indirect rule policy play in the Niger Delta during 1900-1960?
2. What factors shaped indirect rule policy during this period?
3. What were the consequences of indirect rule policy for the Niger Delta?
4. How do these findings relate to the broader historiography of the period?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to historians and students of history and international studies, contributing a focused account of indirect rule policy in the Niger Delta to the existing historiography, and offering a reference point for future comparative or regional studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited chronologically to 1900-1960 and geographically to the Niger Delta, reflecting a clearly defined scope; developments outside this period and region fall outside its remit.