Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Indirect Rule Policy occupies an important place in the historiography of the Niger Delta, shaping the region's political and social trajectory in ways still felt today.

Within the period 1960-1999, 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 1960-1999 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 1960-1999.
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 1960-1999?
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 1960-1999 and geographically to the Niger Delta, reflecting a MSc-level scope; developments outside this period and region fall outside its remit.