When did contact first occur with the british and nigerians?

The earliest recorded contact between the British and Nigerians dates back to the 16th century when English explorer John Lok visited the Benin Kingdom in 1554. The British established a trading post in Calabar in 1663, and in 1750, they founded the African Association to promote exploration and trade in Africa. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, British explorers such as Mungo Park and Hugh Clapperton explored the Niger River and the interior of Nigeria. In 1849, the British annexed Lagos and established the Colony of Lagos. British influence gradually expanded inland, and in 1914, the British protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria were merged to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960.