Niger Co Ltd
Other Business Names:
- National African Co Ltd
- United African Co Ltd
- Royal Niger Co Chartered & Ltd
- African Association Ltd
- Lever Brothers Ltd
- United Africa Co Ltd
- Lever Brothers Ltd
- African & Eastern Trade Corp Ltd
- United Africa Co Ltd
- Unilever Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Nigeria
Sectors:
-
Merchanting & trade, international & inland
General trading co & agency house activities
-
Merchanting & trade, international & inland
International trading inc chartered companies activities
-
Merchanting & trade, international & inland
Ivory, horn, etc, trading & trade
-
Merchanting & trade, international & inland
Palm oil trading & trade
-
Agriculture & fishing
Plantation management, palm oil
Notes:
Traced origins to the National African Co Ltd, formed in 1882 to acquire the United African Co Ltd and other companies trading in the Niger region. Negotiated concessions with local chiefs giving rights to trade and mine as well as to administer territory. Received royal charter 1886 which, inter alia, authorised its right to govern when renamed Royal Niger Co Chartered & Ltd. 1893 local business of the African Association Ltd acquired. 1900 charter revoked by British government which compensated company for giving up administration rights. Then continued as a commercial entity and renamed Niger Co Ltd. By 1900 had 40 trading stations and very important palm oil plantations. Sold manufactures, salt, tobacco, etc, and purchased palm oil, ivory, etc. 1920 acquired by Lever Brothers Ltd. 1929 merged with African & Eastern Trade Corp Ltd to form United Africa Co Ltd, fully owned by Levers, later Unilever Ltd [2023]
Publications:
- British Enterprise in Nigeria by Cook, Arthur N
- Expatriate firms and the colonial economy of Nigeria in the First World War by Yearwood, Peter J
- History of Unilever. A study in economic growth and social change by Wilson, Charles H
- Sir George Goldie and the Making of Nigeria by Flint, John E
- Trade and technology in West Africa. The case of the Niger Co, 1900-1920 by Newbury, Colin W
- Trade Winds in the Niger. The saga of the Royal Niger Company, 1830-1971 by Baker, Geoffrey L
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- National African Co Ltd
- United African Co Ltd
- Royal Niger Co Chartered & Ltd
- African Association Ltd
- Lever Brothers Ltd
- United Africa Co Ltd
- Lever Brothers Ltd
- African & Eastern Trade Corp Ltd
- United Africa Co Ltd
- Unilever Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Nigeria
Sectors:
- Merchanting & trade, international & inland General trading co & agency house activities
- Merchanting & trade, international & inland International trading inc chartered companies activities
- Merchanting & trade, international & inland Ivory, horn, etc, trading & trade
- Merchanting & trade, international & inland Palm oil trading & trade
- Agriculture & fishing Plantation management, palm oil
Notes:
Traced origins to the National African Co Ltd, formed in 1882 to acquire the United African Co Ltd and other companies trading in the Niger region. Negotiated concessions with local chiefs giving rights to trade and mine as well as to administer territory. Received royal charter 1886 which, inter alia, authorised its right to govern when renamed Royal Niger Co Chartered & Ltd. 1893 local business of the African Association Ltd acquired. 1900 charter revoked by British government which compensated company for giving up administration rights. Then continued as a commercial entity and renamed Niger Co Ltd. By 1900 had 40 trading stations and very important palm oil plantations. Sold manufactures, salt, tobacco, etc, and purchased palm oil, ivory, etc. 1920 acquired by Lever Brothers Ltd. 1929 merged with African & Eastern Trade Corp Ltd to form United Africa Co Ltd, fully owned by Levers, later Unilever Ltd [2023]Publications:
- British Enterprise in Nigeria by Cook, Arthur N
- Expatriate firms and the colonial economy of Nigeria in the First World War by Yearwood, Peter J
- History of Unilever. A study in economic growth and social change by Wilson, Charles H
- Sir George Goldie and the Making of Nigeria by Flint, John E
- Trade and technology in West Africa. The case of the Niger Co, 1900-1920 by Newbury, Colin W
- Trade Winds in the Niger. The saga of the Royal Niger Company, 1830-1971 by Baker, Geoffrey L