Lagos Treaty of Cession facts for kids

The Treaty of Cession, 6 August 1861 (also called the Lagos Treaty of Cession) was an important agreement between the British Empire and Oba Dosunmu of Lagos. In this treaty, Oba Dosunmu gave Lagos Island to Britain. He did this because Britain threatened to attack Lagos with its warships. Even though Lagos became British land, Oba Dosunmu was allowed to keep his title and some of his powers, but he had to follow British laws.

Why the Treaty Happened

In the early 1800s, Britain was working hard to stop the Atlantic slave trade. The British Navy had a special group called the West Africa Squadron. This group chased down slave ships from different countries. They also made agreements with West African leaders to stop slavery. Because of this, Britain became very powerful along the West African coast. This area stretched from Sierra Leone all the way to the Niger Delta (which is now part of Nigeria).

In 1849, Britain sent John Beecroft to be their Consul for the Bights of Benin and Biafra. This was a big job, and he stayed in it until 1854. At this time, the Kingdom of Lagos was a major port for trading slaves.

In 1851, Britain stepped in to change things in Lagos. This event is known as the Reduction of Lagos. With help from former slaves who had become important, Britain removed Oba Kosoko from power. They then put Oba Akitoye in charge. Oba Akitoye signed a treaty with Britain in 1852. This treaty meant that Britain would protect Lagos with its military. This period became known as the Consular Period in Lagos.

Signing the Treaty of Cession

After Oba Akitoye, Oba Dosunmu became the ruler of Lagos. There were new threats from Oba Kosoko (who wanted his power back) and from the French, who were also interested in the region. Because of these threats, the British Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, decided it was important for Britain to officially take control of Lagos.

On July 30, 1861, a British official named William McCoskry and Commander Bedingfield met with Oba Dosunmu. Their meeting took place on a British warship called HMS Prometheus. They told Oba Dosunmu that Britain wanted to take over Lagos. They demanded an answer by August 1861.

Oba Dosunmu did not want to agree to the treaty. But Commander Bedingfield threatened to bomb Lagos if he refused. Under this strong threat, Oba Dosunmu finally gave in and signed the treaty.

What the Treaty Said

The Treaty of Cession was signed on August 6, 1861. Here are the main points of what it said:

• Article I: Oba Dosunmu gave the port and Island of Lagos completely to the Queen of Great Britain. This was so Britain could help protect the people of Lagos and stop the slave trade. The people of Lagos would become subjects of the Queen but could still live on the island.
• Article II: Oba Dosunmu was allowed to keep his title as King (Oba) in the local African way. He could also continue to settle arguments between local people, but his decisions could be changed by British laws.
• Article III: If land was transferred, Oba Dosunmu's stamp on the document would prove that no other local person had a claim on that land. In return for giving up Lagos, Oba Dosunmu would receive a yearly payment from the British Queen. This payment would be equal to the money he used to earn from Lagos.

The treaty was signed by:

• DOCEMO (Oba Dosunmu)
• TELAKE
• OBALEKOW
• NORMAN B. BEDINGFIELD (Commander of Her Majesty’s ship Prometheus)
• W. McCOSKRY (Acting Consul)