Why is that European has to build a railway from northern Nigeria to Lagos?

The European colonial powers, primarily the British, built railways from northern Nigeria to Lagos for several key reasons:

1. Economic Exploitation: The main goal was to efficiently transport raw materials like groundnuts, cotton, and tin from the resource-rich northern regions to the port of Lagos for export to Britain. This also facilitated the distribution of British manufactured goods into the interior.
2. Administrative Control: Railways were crucial for consolidating British colonial rule over the vast and diverse territories of Nigeria, especially after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates. They allowed for quicker movement of troops and administrative personnel, helping to maintain law and order and enforce colonial policies.
3. Cost and Time Efficiency: Traditional methods of transport, such as head porterage or river navigation, were slow and expensive. Railways drastically reduced the time and cost of moving goods and people, making colonial administration and economic activities more profitable and manageable.