20th century
Year Date Event
1901
Anglo-Aro war : The war began. The Aro Confederacy began to decline. (to 1902)
1902 Anglo-Aro war : The war ended.
1903 January Capture of Kano
The British conquered most of Northern Nigeria , including the Sokoto Caliphate .
1905 The British conquest of Southern Nigeria ended.
1906 1 May
Colonial Office amalgamates Lagos Colony with Southern Nigeria Protectorate .
1908 German-owned Nigerian Bitumen Company began searching for petroleum off coast. [4]
Protests against water fees in Lagos, encouraged by nationalistic journalism of Herbert Macaulay. [1]
1912
Lord Frederick Lugard , Governor of Northern Nigeria , established a system of indirect rule . Creation of Southern Nigeria Civil Service Union; later, Nigerian Civil Servants' Union. [1]
1914
January
Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated into Nigeria. British Crown gained monopoly rights over mineral extraction.
Nigerian soldiers fight under British command in
World War I .[1]
1918 The Adubi War is fought in
Egba Land.
1920
National Congress of British West Africa founded in Accra.
1923 Clifford Constitution.
1925 West African Students' Union.
1928 April British begin direct taxation.
1929 14 October
New governor implements plans to expand taxation.
November
" Women's War ": Widespread revolt against taxation.
1931 Founding of Nigeria Union of Teachers. [1]
1936 Founding of Nigeria Youth Movement. [1]
1937
Shell D'Arcy Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (later Shell-BP) granted petroleum exploration rights. [4]
1944
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons founded by Nnamdi "Zik" Azikiwe . [1]
1945 Countrywide general strike .
[1]
Adoption of first Ten Year Plan for economic development. [1]
1946
Nigeria entered a period of decolonization and growing Nigerian nationalism.
1950
A conference of northern and southern delegates was held in Ibadan .
1951 MacPherson Constitution.
Yoruba-aligned Action Group founded; headed by
Obafemi Awolowo .[1]
1953 1 May
Northern vs. Southern violence breaks out in the Northern city of Kano .
1956
Shell-BP expedition makes first discoveries of major petroleum deposits, at Olobiri and Afam. [4]
1957 Nigeria held a Constitutional conference.
1959 Nigeria holds its first national election to set up an independent government. Northern politicians won a majority of seats in the Parliament.
1959 Petroleum Profits Tax Ordinance establishes 50–50 split of oil revenues between corporation and government. Socony Mobil receives offshore oil license. [4]
1960 The period of nationalism and decolonization ended.
Tiv uprising.
1 October
Nigeria gained independence from Britain under Prime Minister
Tafawa Balewa and
President Nnamdi Azikiwe .
1962 Tennessee Nigeria receives offshore oil license.
1963
1 October
Nigeria severed its remaining ties to Britain , marking the birth of the Nigerian First Republic.
Amoseas and Gulf receive offshore oil licenses. [4]
1964 1 December
National parliamentary election.
SAFRAP and AGIP receive offshore oil licenses.
Another Tiv uprising heavily suppressed by police.
1965 Elections held in Western Region.
Autumn
Refinery completed at Port Harcourt ; owned 60% by Federal Government, 40% by Shell-BP. [4]
1966
15 January
A military coup deposed the government of the First Republic. Balewa , Premier of Northern Nigeria Ahmadu Bello , and
Finance Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh , were assassinated.
16 January
The Federal Military Government was formed, with General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi acting as head of state and Supreme Commander of the Federal Republic.
29 July
A counter- coup by military officers of northern extraction deposed the Federal Military Government. Aguiyi-Ironsi and Adekunle Fajuyi , Military Governor of the
Western Region, were assassinated. General
Yakubu Gowon became
President .
1967 Genocide against people of Eastern Nigerian origin claimed the lives of many thousands mostly Christian
Igbo people This was carried out by the Muslim
Hausa and Fula people . This triggered a migration of the Igbo back to the East.
27 May
Gowon announces further subdivision of Nigeria, into twelve states. These include subdivision of the Eastern Region which will undermine its political power.
30 May
Nigerian-Biafran War : General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of
Eastern Nigeria, declared his province an independent republic called
Biafra .
1970
8 January
Ojukwu fled into exile. His deputy Philip Effiong became acting President of Biafra
15 January
Effiong surrendered to Nigerian forces. Biafra was reintegrated into Nigeria.
1971
Nigeria joins Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries .[1]
1973 22 January
A plane crashed in Kano, Nigeria , killing 176 people.
1975 29 January
General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown in a bloodless coup. General
Murtala Mohammed became Head of State.
1976 13 February
Mohammed was assassinated on his way to work. His deputy, Lieutenant-General
Olusegun Obasanjo , became Head of State and set a date to end military rule.
1979 Shehu Shagari won election to the Executive Presidency of the
American -style Second Republic.
1 October Shagari was sworn in as
President .
1983 Shagari won reelection.
31 December
Shagari's government was ejected from power in a
palace coup, marking the end of the Second Republic. General
Muhammadu Buhari became Head of State and Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria.
1984 17 April
The Buhari regime promulgated Decree No. 4, the "Public Officer's Protection Against False Accusation" Decree, which made it an offence to ridicule the government by publication of false information.
1985 August
Buhari was overthrown in a palace coup . General
Ibrahim Babangida became Head of State and President of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of Nigeria .
1990 April
Middle Belt Christian officers, led by Major
Gideon Orkar, attempt to overthrow Babangida in an unsuccessful coup .
1992
Two political parties, the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) ware established by
Babangida in an attempt to return to civilian rule.
1993
12 June
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won a presidential election.
Babangida annulled the results.
26 August
Babangida stepped down due to pressure from the Armed Forces Ruling Council. Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan assumed power as Interim Head of State.
17 November
Shonekan was forced to resign from office. Defence Minister Sani Abacha became Head of State and established the Provisional Ruling Council of Nigeria.
1995
13 March
The Abacha administration arrested Obasanjo for allegedly supporting a secret coup plot.
10 November
Human and environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged with eight others.
1998
8 June
Abacha died from a heart attack. Abdusalami Abubakar became Head of State and Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council of Nigeria and lifted the ban on political activity.
15 June Obasanjo was released from prison.
1999 10 February
Obasanjo was elected
President .
29 May
Obasanjo was sworn in, ushering in the Fourth Republic.
19 December
Obasanjo ordered the
Nigerian Armed Forces to raid the town of Odi in the
Niger Delta, in response to the murder of twelve policemen by local militia.
2000 27 January
Sharia was established in the predominantly Muslim state of Zamfara .
May
Religious riots erupted in
Kaduna over the implementation of sharia.
5 June
The Obasanjo administration established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to tackle human and ecological issues in the Niger Delta region of Southern Nigeria.
Year Date Event
1901
Anglo-Aro war : The war began. The Aro Confederacy began to decline. (to 1902)
1902 Anglo-Aro war : The war ended.
1903 January Capture of Kano
The British conquered most of Northern Nigeria , including the Sokoto Caliphate .
1905 The British conquest of Southern Nigeria ended.
1906 1 May
Colonial Office amalgamates Lagos Colony with Southern Nigeria Protectorate .
1908 German-owned Nigerian Bitumen Company began searching for petroleum off coast. [4]
Protests against water fees in Lagos, encouraged by nationalistic journalism of Herbert Macaulay. [1]
1912
Lord Frederick Lugard , Governor of Northern Nigeria , established a system of indirect rule . Creation of Southern Nigeria Civil Service Union; later, Nigerian Civil Servants' Union. [1]
1914
January
Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated into Nigeria. British Crown gained monopoly rights over mineral extraction.
Nigerian soldiers fight under British command in
World War I .[1]
1918 The Adubi War is fought in
Egba Land.
1920
National Congress of British West Africa founded in Accra.
1923 Clifford Constitution.
1925 West African Students' Union.
1928 April British begin direct taxation.
1929 14 October
New governor implements plans to expand taxation.
November
" Women's War ": Widespread revolt against taxation.
1931 Founding of Nigeria Union of Teachers. [1]
1936 Founding of Nigeria Youth Movement. [1]
1937
Shell D'Arcy Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (later Shell-BP) granted petroleum exploration rights. [4]
1944
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons founded by Nnamdi "Zik" Azikiwe . [1]
1945 Countrywide general strike .
[1]
Adoption of first Ten Year Plan for economic development. [1]
1946
Nigeria entered a period of decolonization and growing Nigerian nationalism.
1950
A conference of northern and southern delegates was held in Ibadan .
1951 MacPherson Constitution.
Yoruba-aligned Action Group founded; headed by
Obafemi Awolowo .[1]
1953 1 May
Northern vs. Southern violence breaks out in the Northern city of Kano .
1956
Shell-BP expedition makes first discoveries of major petroleum deposits, at Olobiri and Afam. [4]
1957 Nigeria held a Constitutional conference.
1959 Nigeria holds its first national election to set up an independent government. Northern politicians won a majority of seats in the Parliament.
1959 Petroleum Profits Tax Ordinance establishes 50–50 split of oil revenues between corporation and government. Socony Mobil receives offshore oil license. [4]
1960 The period of nationalism and decolonization ended.
Tiv uprising.
1 October
Nigeria gained independence from Britain under Prime Minister
Tafawa Balewa and
President Nnamdi Azikiwe .
1962 Tennessee Nigeria receives offshore oil license.
1963
1 October
Nigeria severed its remaining ties to Britain , marking the birth of the Nigerian First Republic.
Amoseas and Gulf receive offshore oil licenses. [4]
1964 1 December
National parliamentary election.
SAFRAP and AGIP receive offshore oil licenses.
Another Tiv uprising heavily suppressed by police.
1965 Elections held in Western Region.
Autumn
Refinery completed at Port Harcourt ; owned 60% by Federal Government, 40% by Shell-BP. [4]
1966
15 January
A military coup deposed the government of the First Republic. Balewa , Premier of Northern Nigeria Ahmadu Bello , and
Finance Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh , were assassinated.
16 January
The Federal Military Government was formed, with General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi acting as head of state and Supreme Commander of the Federal Republic.
29 July
A counter- coup by military officers of northern extraction deposed the Federal Military Government. Aguiyi-Ironsi and Adekunle Fajuyi , Military Governor of the
Western Region, were assassinated. General
Yakubu Gowon became
President .
1967 Genocide against people of Eastern Nigerian origin claimed the lives of many thousands mostly Christian
Igbo people This was carried out by the Muslim
Hausa and Fula people . This triggered a migration of the Igbo back to the East.
27 May
Gowon announces further subdivision of Nigeria, into twelve states. These include subdivision of the Eastern Region which will undermine its political power.
30 May
Nigerian-Biafran War : General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of
Eastern Nigeria, declared his province an independent republic called
Biafra .
1970
8 January
Ojukwu fled into exile. His deputy Philip Effiong became acting President of Biafra
15 January
Effiong surrendered to Nigerian forces. Biafra was reintegrated into Nigeria.
1971
Nigeria joins Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries .[1]
1973 22 January
A plane crashed in Kano, Nigeria , killing 176 people.
1975 29 January
General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown in a bloodless coup. General
Murtala Mohammed became Head of State.
1976 13 February
Mohammed was assassinated on his way to work. His deputy, Lieutenant-General
Olusegun Obasanjo , became Head of State and set a date to end military rule.
1979 Shehu Shagari won election to the Executive Presidency of the
American -style Second Republic.
1 October Shagari was sworn in as
President .
1983 Shagari won reelection.
31 December
Shagari's government was ejected from power in a
palace coup, marking the end of the Second Republic. General
Muhammadu Buhari became Head of State and Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria.
1984 17 April
The Buhari regime promulgated Decree No. 4, the "Public Officer's Protection Against False Accusation" Decree, which made it an offence to ridicule the government by publication of false information.
1985 August
Buhari was overthrown in a palace coup . General
Ibrahim Babangida became Head of State and President of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of Nigeria .
1990 April
Middle Belt Christian officers, led by Major
Gideon Orkar, attempt to overthrow Babangida in an unsuccessful coup .
1992
Two political parties, the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) ware established by
Babangida in an attempt to return to civilian rule.
1993
12 June
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won a presidential election.
Babangida annulled the results.
26 August
Babangida stepped down due to pressure from the Armed Forces Ruling Council. Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan assumed power as Interim Head of State.
17 November
Shonekan was forced to resign from office. Defence Minister Sani Abacha became Head of State and established the Provisional Ruling Council of Nigeria.
1995
13 March
The Abacha administration arrested Obasanjo for allegedly supporting a secret coup plot.
10 November
Human and environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged with eight others.
1998
8 June
Abacha died from a heart attack. Abdusalami Abubakar became Head of State and Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council of Nigeria and lifted the ban on political activity.
15 June Obasanjo was released from prison.
1999 10 February
Obasanjo was elected
President .
29 May
Obasanjo was sworn in, ushering in the Fourth Republic.
19 December
Obasanjo ordered the
Nigerian Armed Forces to raid the town of Odi in the
Niger Delta, in response to the murder of twelve policemen by local militia.
2000 27 January
Sharia was established in the predominantly Muslim state of Zamfara .
May
Religious riots erupted in
Kaduna over the implementation of sharia.
5 June
The Obasanjo administration established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to tackle human and ecological issues in the Niger Delta region of Southern Nigeria.
0 comments: