Concept:The end of the slave trade made European merchants focus on gaining raw materials and new markets in Africa.
Explanation:When the slave trade was abolished, British and other European merchants lost a major source of profit.
They turned to industrial production, which demanded raw materials like palm oil, groundnuts, and cotton.
Nigeria was rich in these natural resources, so European merchants wanted to control its trade and territory.
Imperialism provided the political and military support needed for smooth economic penetration into Nigeria.
Therefore, the combination of the abolition of the slave trade and the search for raw materials became the main reason for the European merchant agenda.
This makes the correct option the one that mentions both abolition and raw materials.
Answer:B. Abolition of slave trade and the need for raw materials.