in june 1895, chamberlain became colonial secretary of the government, controlling what happened in british colonies. because many european countries, especially germany and france were growing stronger, chamberlain wanted all countries in the british empire to work together. he also wanted britain to take more land in africa. he built a railway along a part of the river niger to help the british royal niger company to grow. this land, together with the area sokoto, became modern nigeria in 1901.