36m Nigerians Are Independent Today

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29324, 1 October 1960, Page 13

36m Nigerians Are Independent Today

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) \ LAGOS, September 30. At midnight tonight (11 p.m. G.M.T.) Nigeria will emerge as Africa’s numerically largest independent State in the biggest transfer of power by Britain since she granted independence to the 400 million people of the Indian sub-continent in 1947. The 36 million people of Nigeria, on the west coast of Africa, comprise nearly one-sixth of the population of the entire African Continent. It is Britain’s biggest colony. >

Nigeria’s population is considerably greater than the combined populations of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and is increasing by about 1,000,000 every year.

Until the middle of last century, Nigeria was known mainly as a major source of slaves for West Indian and American plantations From tomorrow, the voice of Nigeria will increasingly be heard in world counsels.

She has applied for membership of the United Nations, and it has already been announced that the Federal Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, will head the Nigerian delegation which will leave for New York on October 4.

“'At midnight tonight the Union Jack will be hauled down from a specially-erected flagstaff on the racecourse, and the new green-and-white Nigerian national flag will be hoisted In its place. Thousands of fireworks will cascade into the night sky, and in the brightly-illuminated and gaily-decorated Federal capital. Nigerians are expected to celebrate all night in the humid tropical heat.

At a ceremony on the racecourse tomorrow. Princess Alexandra. representing her cousin, the Queen, will, formally hand over the documents establishing independence to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

The ceremony will be witnessed by representatives from more than 50 nations, including envoys from Britain and Commonwealth countries, France, Russia and other major Powers Nigeria remains a member of the Commonwealth and recognises the Queen as Sovereign.

With the granting of full independence to Nigeria, fewer than 40 million people remain under British colonial control—mostly in Africa. Asia, the Mediterranean (Malta) and the Caribbean.

Thus the British Empire has shrunk from c total of nearly 500 million people at the end of World War 11. And the process of withdrawal in Africa—which the British Prime Minister, Mr Macmillan, has described as “the wind of change”—continues. In West Africa, Nigeria follows the pa h to full independence mapped by Ghana in 1957. with its population of nearly seven mil-

lion. Sierra Leone, another British West African colony, with a population of 2,200.000. is due for independence in April next year

Also in Africa, earlier thi- year, British Somaliland achieved independence and Tanganyika (East Africa) gained responsible Government. In the Mediterranean. Cyprus, with 500,000 people, became an independent republic on August 16

In Kenya, Uganda and Nyasalacd the “wind of change" policy has encouraged the aspirations of African nationalist leaders, who are seeking ultimate indepedence. Only 60 years ago the name Nigeria, which covers 373,000 square miles, could not be found on any map. The people thought of themselves as Hausas, Yorubas, Ibohs or any one of a vast number of people living within the borders of the present Nigeria. Nigeria’s population is three times that of the Union of South Africa (about 12 million) and nearly three times that of the Congo Republic (the former Belgian Congo), which achieved independence in June. But in contrast to the Congo, torn oy strife, political dissension and tribal unrest. Nigeria's road to independence has on the whole been smooth, well-ordered and peaceful. • Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. auiet and scholarly-looking, has a deep insight Into the practical problems of an emergent Nigeria. The opposition leader is Chief Obafemi Awolowo. leader of the Action Group, the dominant political party in Western Nigeria. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa has officially announced a foreign policy id "non-alignment." Nevertheless moat Nigerian political leaders have stressed their desire for a continuing close relationship with Britain and the West, and there is general agreement that there Is no danger of communism in Nigeria.