The subject matter of this thesis is the role of Native Authorities in the Colonial economy. It covers the period 1903-1960. The occupation of our area of study and Northern Nigeria generally was followed by the transformation of the Emirates aristocracy into the Native Authority system. This was geared towards making them play some roles in the colonial economy. These roles were related to the execution of colonial policies on labour, land, agriculture and trade as well as taxation. The Native Authorities carried out these roles and benefitted from the exercise. These policies and the brutal ways in which they were executed led to the decline of indigenous economic activities, indebtedness, famines, migrations and technological dependence of the area and the whole country on the imperialist countries of Western Europe.