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Trade
Richard and John Lander discovered the direction River Niger flowed. Both men explored the river for the purpose of enabling European traders reach out to Nigerians residing in remote parts of Nigeria.
Before the Lander brothers' discovery, Europeans restricted trading to those residing near the coast. At this period, local Chiefs played a prominent role in trading activities. The Chiefs exchanged their goods, slaves inclusive, for those the Europeans had, after which they sold these goods to their own people at exorbitant prices.
Then Europeans were unable to get to the remote parts of Nigeria, as a result of the personal interests of the Chiefs, which place them at the centre of economic activities.
Although Britain passed a law in 1807, against slave trade, Portugal continued this practice, with the support of some fraudulent Chiefs.
Both countries competed for Nigerian produce, resulting in rivalry and conflict, with the Chiefs pitching their tents with the country that best served their personal interests.
