Chapter 904 Four Major Constructions

"I feel embarrassed to have you by my side all the time." Before leaving the apartment, Alan Wilson felt quite emotional and thanked Hedy Lamarr for once again ensuring the logistics work. "Britain is in a troubled time, and everything requires money. After all, Come back, you raised $25 million during the war, can you do it again?"

"Okay, I can consider auctioning my kiss once, as long as you can bear it." Hedy Lamarr said angrily, "Afraid that you will have no one to take care of you when you come to Africa, so you will humiliate me like this?"

"Inadvertent mistake." Alan Wilson stepped forward and kissed Hedy Lamarr on the forehead, then raised his wrist and said, "Let's go, it's only been a few months since the last meeting. The economic crisis has disrupted our lives. If If we meet each other all the time, we lose a bit of mystery.”

The meeting was held in Aden in the middle of last year, and it was held in Lagos at the beginning of this year. It's a little too frequent and it seems undignified, but when the economic crisis comes, this is the only way to do it.

The annual meeting of the colonial commissioners, which ran from the end of each year to the middle of each year, was now the beginning of the year meeting.

Lagos is already the largest city in Africa at this time. There is no place in Africa with such a large population. The reason why Nigeria became a British colony was based on this. The name of colonizing Nigeria was Abolitionist movement.

In the name of Lagos being the center of the African slave trade, the British occupied Lagos and then colonized Nigeria under the banner of liberating black slaves.

The reason why Lagos has such a population is because after the British occupied Lagos, they declared it a free colony. All black people here are free people and will not be trafficked. As a result, blacks from all over the country flocked to Lagos, making it the most populous place in Africa.

The huge population is not a problem, because Alan Wilson lives in the white area of ​​Lagos. Because Nigeria has not yet officially become independent, there are still people living in the white areas, but once Nigeria is officially independent, the white people will soon immigrate and leave. The now tidy white areas will be taken over by black dignitaries.

Arriving at the former Nigerian Governor's Mansion, Alan Wilson, who was belatedly arrived, was led into the Governor's Mansion by the guards and met with his colleagues who had already arrived. Without saying much, he said directly, "Colleagues have met again, and the frequency of our meetings has changed." Improvement. But there is no way. The economic crisis is sweeping the world, and Whitehall is looking to us to come up with solutions."

"Governor Azikiwe has arrived, please let him in?" Roberts, the Niger's Commissioner for Interests, asked.

"Let him wait for a while, there are some things he is not suitable to know yet." Alan Wilson took out a stack of documents, placed them heavily on the table, made a muffled sound, and then said, "This economic crisis has spread to all countries, including the United Kingdom. The empire is no exception. Using conventional methods to deal with it has little effect. This time we use a different approach. Not only must we survive the crisis safely, but we must also grow against the trend. This is the purpose of my coming."

"Increase development efforts? However, gold mining on the Gold Coast has reached its limit." Ingram frowned and said, "There are not many other ways. The colonial mining industry I manage is the backbone."

"If you have gold, you can place orders with local companies, but this time the solution is mainly in Nigeria. The population of the Gold Coast has little demand. Transporting the gold back to the country and replacing it with power grid orders and supporting electrification construction will stop here. We want to inspire Nigeria The needs of this dominion with the largest population in Africa." Alan Wilson said this and refocused attention on Roberts, "Nigeria has a large agricultural population, which is also the general norm in the colonies. Find a way from this aspect."

"The specific measure is to bulldoze the tropical rainforest in the Niger Delta. Is there any data?"

When asked by Alan Wilson, Roberts said with familiarity, "The Niger River Delta is the gathering area of ​​the Igbo people. The delta covers an area of ​​40,000 square kilometers, but with the surrounding developable land, it covers more than 100,000 square kilometers."

"The development area is sufficient, which is good." Alan Wilson pondered for a moment and said, "Acquisition at one-fifth of the original price in the European timber market.

Put it on the European market. This price will definitely not fail to sell. After the forest is destroyed, the land will be distributed to the local people. If I remember correctly, the Igbo people have a good relationship with us. "

"This is especially true when facing the pagans in the north." Roberts joked. "The living environment in the north of Nigeria is not as good as the south, but the Igbo population is not as dominant as the north. But it still has a good impression of the British."

"Developing land for distribution is only the first step. We have previously established three central cities in three major districts. The current plan is to connect them with railways and roads." Alan Wilson proposed a plan to establish a road network in Nigeria. "As long as Nigerians can provide enough raw materials, and our power grid can be considered. As long as Nigeria needs it, hydropower stations can also be built."

"There are plans to connect railways and roads to the three major districts, to renovate the black areas of Lagos, to develop the Niger Delta, and to conduct resource exploration in the Niger Delta. All projects will be launched immediately."

"Alan, there are not so many funds in Nigeria's books?" Roberts said in surprise, "Where can we find money?"

Of course, money cannot be created out of thin air. Nigeria’s oil resources have not yet been discovered, so the first tranche of funds, in addition to Nigeria’s own dominion reserves, can only be exchanged for agricultural products.

In this era, Nigeria's main export was agricultural products, unlike later generations, which were built on the oil industry.

"Empty all the grain depots in Nigeria and transport the stored grain to the mainland. This is the tropics, and you can start farming anytime you want. Don't worry, storage in tropical climates is also troublesome. We are also thinking about the citizens of the Dominion."

With one stroke of his pen, Alan Wilson wanted to clear out the agricultural products from all of Nigeria and ship them back to the British mainland to stabilize prices.

Tropical rainforests are of little value in Alan Wilson's eyes. Generally, tropical rainforests are barren.

Even if it is turned into cultivated land, it will not take long for the soil to degrade. If the soil quality in the Niger River Delta is good, it can still be used for decades. If it is no different from ordinary tropical rainforests, the cost of planting will be reduced in five to ten years. Greatly improve.

But Nigeria had already become independent at that time, and he did not worry about Nigeria after independence, only about the present.

The plans in the documents brought were clearly explained, and four plans involving energy, hydropower, transportation and agriculture were identified.

"Then starting from this year, Nigeria's four major constructions will officially start. Roberts, call Azikwe to come in." After Alan Wilson completed the part that belonged to the colonial commissioner, he could inform Azikwe of the final results.

At this moment, Azikwe is still in the dark, but this is also a good thing. Sometimes not knowing is also a kind of happiness, such as Czechoslovakia during the Munich Conference.

Azikwe is currently the Governor-General of the Dominion of Nigeria. If nothing else, once Nigeria becomes independent, he will be the first president of this country.

But this is not necessarily true? Accidents always happen in this world. After Azikiwe entered the conference room, Alan Wilson questioned Azikiwe's reliability on behalf of the United Kingdom, "Dear Mr. Governor, out of concern about the development of Nigeria after independence, the cabinet has formulated We have drawn up a grand blueprint, hoping that after Nigeria becomes independent, it can uphold its traditional friendly relations with the United Kingdom and lead the development of the entire Africa."

Faced with Azikwe's modesty, Alan Wilson smiled coldly and said, "Don't be humble, Governor Azikwe. Considering the population of Nigeria, he has the ability to lead Africa. Of course, under the protection of the United Kingdom. I believe it." You won’t deny that either.”

"Secretary-General Wilson. The British Empire has been very good to Nigeria." Azikwe is an Igbo ethnic group and belongs to an ethnic group that is relatively close to the British. "I don't know where we can help the British."

"Help? Nigeria doesn't have the strength yet. London is worried that after Nigeria becomes independent, dangerous Soviet ideas will take advantage of it. So it plans to support Nigeria, but the result is hard to say now. We also supported British India at the beginning, but British India India is divided, and it is obvious that Indians are not yet able to withstand the baptism of modern civilization. This is completely different from Malaya."

First he belittled Nigeria’s conditions, and then Alan Wilson changed the subject, “The British hope that Governor Azikwe will play a leadership role. The Niger Delta is officially the residential area of ​​the Igbo people. If the locals can be mobilized, it can be regarded as Governor Azikiwe is a capable person and can lead the country after independence, so we can rest assured.”

It means that he is not relieved yet. Azikiwe was shocked. The British want to replace him?

Just as he was about to say something, a stack of documents had been piled up in front of Azikwe. Alan Wilson raised his wrist and looked at the time. "Mr. Governor has one day to understand the four major construction projects of urban construction, hydropower, transportation and agriculture." .The time has come to prove your ability.”

“This is the final test set by the British Empire in order to avoid the consequences of British India’s independence from humiliating Britain. If Governor Azikwe proves his ability, an independent Nigeria will prosper under your leadership in the future. If you can't do it, even if you may receive some criticism, it's not impossible to be replaced."

Alan Wilson repeated his old tricks, bluffing and frightening the future President of Nigeria, who was about to reach the peak of his life. Whether he wants to reach the pinnacle of his life or fall in the middle, it all depends on what Azikiwe thinks.

Azikiwe left in a daze, and Alan Wilson informed Roberts, "First reveal the news about the four major construction projects and see how Nigerians react."