Perched at the confluence of the River Niger and River Benue, Lokoja in Kogi State holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first administrative capital under British rule. Scattered across its hills and valleys are well-preserved colonial-era buildings, once occupied by British officials and missionaries during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
These relics of governance, religion, and commerce today serve as silent witnesses to the political and administrative beginnings of modern Nigeria.
Historical Background
- Seat of British Governance: In the 1860s, Lord Frederick Lugard, the British High Commissioner, made Lokoja the capital of the Northern Protectorate and later the first administrative capital of the amalgamated Nigeria in 1914.
- Key Colonial Structures:
- Lord Lugard’s Residence – built with stone, wood, and iron, this house sits on Mount Patti and overlooks the two rivers.
- European Cemeteries – burial sites of early missionaries and explorers.
- Old Government House – an official building used by colonial administrators.
- Missionary Schools and Churches – including early CMS and Catholic missions.
- Mount Patti: This plateau above Lokoja is not only home to historic buildings but also believed to be where the name “Nigeria” was coined by Flora Shaw, Lugard’s wife.
