Colonial relics in Lokoja

The Iron of LibertyThe Iron of Liberty which is situated within the premises of the Crowther Holy Trinity School, Lokoja, is seen as the spot where slaves were set free after the slave trade that was in vogue during the 18th and 19th centuries. This spot is marked with two iron poles which are today […]

The Iron of Liberty
The Iron of Liberty which is situated within the premises of the Crowther Holy Trinity School, Lokoja, is seen as the spot where slaves were set free after the slave trade that was in vogue during the 18th and 19th centuries. This spot is marked with two iron poles which are today called, “Iron of Liberty.”

The spot where the Royal Niger Company flag was lowered in 1900
According to the Director of the Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Olowolayemo Josheph, after the British government had closed down its Consulate in Lokoja in 1866, it granted a Charter to the Royal Niger Company to administer Lokoja. This charter was revoked in 1900 and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria was declared with Lord Lugard as the High Commissioner. The spot where the formal handing over of the administration of the Northern protectorate took place was marked with a concrete pillar measuring about 2.5 metres in height. It was here that the Royal Niger Company flag was lowered for the last time on the soil of Nigeria and that of the British Government hoisted on January 1, 1900. First primary school in Northern Nigeria: Regarded as the oldest primary school in Northern Nigeria, the Holy Trinity Bishop Crowther Primary School which was built in 1865 by early Christians like late Samuel Ajayi Crowther, is located within the premises of the Church Missionary Society, Lokoja.
The cenotaph situated along the Murtala Muhammed Way in Lokoja, the cenotaph stands for a war memorial erected in remembrance of the British and Nigerian heroes who participated in the first and second world wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 respectively. Name of Nigerian soldiers who fought the two world wars are written on a plague. The cenotaph today is where the Nigerian soldiers celebrate the annual remembrance day.

Lord Lugard’s Senior Staff Quarters
These are five sets of prefabricated houses whose materials were said to have been brought to Lokoja from England in 1900. Many still wonder that no single nail was used to construct any of these buildings. These buildings are found in different places in Lokoja. One is located at the National Museum. Another one is located within the premises of the Kogi State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Another one is currently being used as the office of the Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board. Along the state police command headquarters is also one of the buildings which is now being used as an Upper Area court. It is named Lord Lugard Area Court. All the buildings stand on stilts and they can be dismantled.
The first prison yard in Northern Nigeria, the Assistant Director of the Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Idoko Ameh, explained that Lord Lugard built the prison to control the people he was administering. The yard is located inside the Kogi State Hotels and Tourism compound.
The authorities of the state tourism board say the prison has been there since 1945 but now transferred to Benin Prison. The Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism is currently using the prison for a mini arts gallery. Inside it are statutes of former military administrators and civilian governors of Kogi State.
Lord Lugard Rest House at Mount Pati, the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also described as Lord Lugards Rest House. The house is located on the popular Mount Pati in Lokoja. Lugard’s intention for this house was just to go there and rest after the day’s job. He would go there to watch the activities on the River Niger.  He was said never to receive visitors there. The place is today a shadow of its past. It has been overtaken by grasses. Many think it would have been a great monument if it had not been neglected