A Critical Analysis of the effects of Colonial Legacy and Economic Dependency on Nigeria's Post-Independence Development

Abstract

This study critically examines the impact of British colonial economic policies on Nigeria's development from the late 19th century to independence. Utilizing a documentary research approach and adopting the World-System Theory, the study investigates how colonial strategies reshaped Nigeria's economic landscape. It explores themes such as agricultural exploitation, the promotion of cash crops over food crops, and the extraction of natural resources for British industrial needs. The findings reveal a legacy of economic distortion, dependency, and underdevelopment worsened by colonial policies that prioritized British economic interests. The study concludes that Nigeria's current developmental challenges trace their origins to these colonial economic policies. It recommends a shift towards internally oriented economic policies to mitigate ongoing challenges rooted in Nigeria's colonial past.