The organizational and administrative factor in the implementation of indirect rule in Nigeria: the role of British residents

The article discusses the role of the organizational and administrative factor in the implementation of indirect rule in Nigeria in the first quarter of the 20th century. The administrative governance of Nigerian territories which were artificially integrated into British Empire area was based on the idea of strict subordination of colonial practice to the structured administrative theory, i.e. the system of indirect rule. This system involved the implementation of traditional government institutions as the low levels of colonial administration. The success of interaction between British and native colonial administration depended on the qualified activity of the governmental residents and their understanding of indirect rule principles. However, human organizational and administrative factor was the main weakness of the system. Despite the measures undertaken by the center, administrative separatism and violations became locally widespread. As a result of the unqualified activity of its chief executives, the system has never been accomplished.