The Lugard Foot Bridge

Nigeria used to be known as Southern and Northern protectorates, which existed differently under the supervision of the British colonialists. As the years went by, the need to merge these protectorates to form one colony was imminent due to factors such as railway construction and harmonised administration for effective governance.Zungeru was the former Capital of the Northern protectorate as well as the first national political capital of Nigeria between 1902 and 1916. It was at Zungeru that the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates took place in 1914, under the High Commissioner and later first Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Frederick Lugard. During his era as Governor of the protectorate, apart from being instrumental to the successful amalgamation of Nigeria, his other achievements remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria history and development. In 1904 Lugard constructed a foot bridge, which was named after him (Lugard FootBridge). The bridge served as a link between his residence and other quarters of colonial Zungeru over river Kaduna. Shortly after amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates Kaduna was made Northern Headquarters in preference over Jebba or Lokoja in 1920 by Lord Lugard. The Zungeru Foot bridge was moved to Gamji Gate Kaduna in 1954 and declared Historic Monument On 16th February, 1956 by Federal Department of Antiquities now National Commission For Museums and Monument under Antiquity Ordinance of 1953