THE IMPACT OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL RULE ON ALAGOLAND 1903-1960

The study examines the impact of the British colonial ride on Lafia Division with particular emphasis on the Alago. Colonial rule brought many changes. The problems it caused were: first all wherever colonialism was experienced a relationship of inequality was entered into between the colonizer and the colonized. In this relationship, the colonizer determined the direction and extent to which the life of the colonized (political, economic, social and cultural) should be disorganized for the benefit of the later. It also divided Alago community into Awe, Keana, Lafia and Doma Districts, and super imposed on them the Lcifia ruling class who were hitherto not the rulers, and the legacy continuous. This study aims to understand the British strategies of successfully ruling of Alago people. The objective is to academically analyze the nature and legacy of colonial rule in Lafici Division and the response of the people were: interviews, reference to written records, and observation, it was found that the colonial rule had both negative and positive impacts. Negatively the Alago earlier single community came to be divided and subordinated to Lafia and its people exploited through farming of cash crops, taxes and faired labour. Positively there was boosting of economy and had the area linked with roads and railway, and later telegrams, post offices, schools and dispensaries. It is recommended that the present LGAs should maintain and expand the infrastructures, and the Alago should have fair representations.