The primary economic activity that drew Europeans to Nigeria in the early period was

The slave trade brought Europeans to Nigeria’s coast starting in the 1400s. They captured or bought millions of Africans to work in American plantations. This horrific trade made enormous profits for European merchants.

Oil wasn’t discovered until the 1900s. Agricultural exports like palm oil became important after the slave trade ended. Europeans didn’t manufacture textiles in Nigeria during early contact.

The slave trade devastated African communities for over 300 years. It was the main reason Europeans came to Nigeria’s shores initially.