History of Nigeria Early Nigerian cultures The Nok culture Evidence of human occupation in Nigeria dates back thousands of years. [75], Capturing 89 seats in the federal parliament was the second-largest party in the newly independent country the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). The U.S. intelligence community concluded in November 1970 that "The Nigerian Civil War ended with relatively little rancour. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Nok: African Sculpture in Archaeological Context: p. 21. The Federal government was given exclusive powers in defence, foreign relations, and commercial and fiscal policy. Most fateful for the Ironsi government was the decision to issue Decree No. Almost immediately, the revenues from oil began to make Nigeria a wealthy nation. Nonetheless, Kano and Katsina, with their famous mosques and schools, came to participate fully in the cultural and intellectual life of the Islamic world. The Igala Kingdom expanded beyond the present-day boundary. In 1885, British claims to a West African sphere of influence received international recognition; and in the following year, the Royal Niger Company was chartered under the leadership of Sir George Taubman Goldie. On 29 May 2015, Buhari was sworn in as President of Nigeria, becoming the first opposition figure to win a presidential election since independence in 1960. [73] Western education and the development of a modern economy proceeded more rapidly in the south than in the north, with consequences felt in Nigeria's political life ever since. Pending the promulgation of the constitution written in 1995, the government observed some provisions of the 1979 and 1989 constitutions. Abacha died in 1998 and a fourth republic was later established the following year, which ended three decades of intermittent military rule. According to another legend, Eri was one of Gad's sons who traveled down to build modern-day Igboland, as described in the Bible's book of Genesis. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Eventually, the police with tear gas were required to quell the riot. Communal violence has plagued the Obasanjo government since its inception. In the history of Nigeria, we can say Nigeria today can thus be traced back to pre-historic dwellers living as early as 1100BC, the various kingdoms and empires of the 17 th century. Obasanjo, a former general, was admired for his stand against the Abacha dictatorship, his record of returning the federal government to civilian rule in 1979, and his claim to represent all Nigerians regardless of religion. The Lagos invasion by the British annexing Lagos into a colony; Lagos was a seat of power serving as both political and economic capital. It should not be confused with the modern-day country called Benin, formerly called Dahomey.[31]. Upon independence, it was widely expected that Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto, the undisputed strong man in Nigeria[76] who controlled the North, would become Prime Minister of the new Federation Government. [15][16][17] Shaw's excavations at Igbo-Ukwu revealed a 9th-century indigenous culture that created highly sophisticated work in bronze metalworking, independent of Arab or European influence and centuries before other sites that were better known at the time of discovery. In February 2010, Goodluck Jonathan began serving as acting president in the absence of Yaradua. The Etymological Origins of the Word Nigeria The name Niger-ia, or Nigger area was given to that country by the mistress of one of the most evil-minded genocidal murders of Muurs named Lord (Bloodclat!) The vast country Kanem-Bornu reaching from Libya to Nigeria was created by the people of Zaghawa in nomadic Nilodic in the North-East of Nigeria by 700. Although these soils can readily be leached and lose their fertility, they are the most productive agriculturally. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. To them, being civilized meant being Christianized. [43] The Fulani began to enter the Hausa country in the 13th century and by the 15th century, they were tending cattle, sheep, and goats in Borno as well. On 1 October 2001 Obasanjo announced the formation of a National Security Commission to address the issue of communal violence. Aviation workers in Nigeria have embarked on a two-day strike, leaving thousands of travelers stranded as airlines canceled or rescheduled flights in the country's major cities, A local official in Nigeria says that at least 33 people have been killed by gunmen in the country's northwest, From dressing as Roman soldiers in Antigua, Guatemala, to carrying palm fronds on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Christians around the world are celebrating Holy Week, State authorities said Tuesday at least 10 students were abducted by gunmen in northwest Nigeria, In a story published April 2, 2023, about police reforms in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a year after a Black man was shot and killed during a traffic stop, The Associated Press erroneously reported where the victim, Patrick Lyoya, was born. The most powerful of these states were Ghana, Gao, and Kanem, which were not within the boundaries of modern Nigeria but which influenced the history of the Nigerian savanna. On 1 October 1995 Abacha announced the timetable for a three-year transition to civilian rule. The Nigerian Army, vastly expanded during the war, is both the main support to the FMG and the chief threat to it. The capital is Idah in Kogi state. Lord Lugard Created Nigeria 104 Years Ago. km. [89], In 1982 the ruling National Party of Nigeria, a conservative alliance led by Shegu Shagari, had hoped to retain power through patronage and control over the Federal Election Commission. On 1 October 1954, the colony became the autonomous Federation of Nigeria. The history of Nigeria can be traced to the earliest inhabitants whose remains date from at least 13,000 BC through early civilizations such as the Nok culture which began around 1500 BC. Author of, Professor of History, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. [23] It is the oldest boat discovered in Africa, and the second oldest known worldwide. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. A separatist movement later formed the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three-year Nigerian Civil War. [94] Abacha dissolved all democratic institutions and replaced elected governors with military officers. In an attempt to alleviate such problems Abubakar's government implemented a civil service pay raise and other reforms. The country became independent on October 1, 1960, and in 1963 adopted a republican constitution but elected to stay a member of the Commonwealth. In 1808 the Hausa Nation was finally conquered by Usman dan Fodio and incorporated into the Hausa-Fulani Sokoto Caliphate.[45]. In the early 15th century, white men came to Nigeria to explore. In September 2018, a . In 1994 the government set up the Ogoni Civil Disturbances Special Tribunal to try Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and others for their alleged roles in the killings of four Ogoni politicians. In April 1990 mid-level officers attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the government and 69 accused plotters were executed after secret trials before military tribunals. Christopher Hart, "The Nigerian elections of 1983.". However, the Igbo rejected attempts at constitutional revisions and insisted on full autonomy for the east. There the vegetation provides humus and protects it from erosion by heavy rainfall. Eri, the god-like founder of Nri, is believed to have settled in the region around 948 with other related Igbo cultures following in the 13th century. British cultural influence is strong but its political influence is declining. The greatest and the well-known empire that ruled the region before the British arrived was the Benin Empire whose ruler was known as Oba of Benin. Breunig, Peter. The entire territory of the Royal Niger Company came into the hands of the British government. The NEC successfully held elections on 5 December 1998, 9 January 1999, 20 February, and 27 February 1999, respectively. In August 1998 Abubakar appointed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections for local government councils, state legislatures and governors, the national assembly, and president. Later groups like the Igala traders from the hinterland settled in Onitsha in the 18th century. [110], The Ibadan School dominated the academic study of Nigerian history until the 1970s. However, the Cross River Igbo state like the Aro had the greatest influence in Igboland and adjacent areas after the decline of Nri. During the 14th and 16th centuries, the demand for gold increased due to European and Islamic states wanting to change their currencies to gold. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa. Biram was the original seat of government, while Zaria supplied labor and was known as the "Chief of Slaves." Despite the low turnout, there was no violence and both parties demonstrated strength in all regions of the country, with the SDP winning control of a majority of local government councils. Yar'Adua's sickness and Jonathan's successions. Although promising restoration of civilian rule he refused to announce a transitional timetable until 1995. [75] The federal government Prime Minister, Balewa agreed with the Akintola faction and sought to have the AG join the government. The Yoruba are especially known for the Oyo Empire that dominated the region. In the 1959 elections held in preparation for independence, the NPC captured 134 seats in the 312-seat parliament. Nigeria is bordered to the north by Niger, to the east by Chad and Cameroon, to the south by the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by Benin. The primary exports were slaves, leather, gold, cloth, salt, kola nuts, and henna. Women, for example, continued to exercise considerable political influence. Songhai collapsed in 1591 when a Moroccan army conquered Gao and Timbuktu. From the outset, Nigeria's ethnic and religious tensions were magnified by the disparities in economic and educational development between the south and the north. With the country sliding into chaos Defense Minister Sani Abacha assumed power and forced Shonekan's resignation on 17 November 1993. We think Gowon will have great difficulty in staying in office through the period which he said is necessary before the turnover of power to civilians. The country's landscape features plains in the north and south. The Niger delta is a vast low-lying region through which the waters of the Niger River drain into the Gulf of Guinea. Much of Nigeria is covered with plains and savannas. Other eroded surfaces, such as the Udi-Nsukka escarpment (see Udi-Nsukka Plateau), rise abruptly above the plains at elevations of at least 1,000 feet (300 metres). The Northern People's Congress (NPC) represented conservative, Muslim, largely Hausa and Fulani interests that dominated the northern region of the country, consisting of three-quarters of the land area and more than half the population of Nigeria. Quiz, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Nigeria, Official Site of the Embassy of Nigeria in Seoul, South Korea, Official Site of the Embassy of Nigeria in Germany, Official Site of the Embassy of Nigeria in Vienna, National Geographic Kids - Countries - Nigeria, Official Site of the Embassy of Nigeria in Stockholm, Sweden, Nigeria - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Nigeria - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Nigerian airport workers go on strike; travelers stranded, At least 33 people killed by gunmen in northwest Nigeria, AP PHOTOS: Joyous Holy Week celebrations around the world, At least 10 students abducted by gunmen in northwest Nigeria, Correction: Police-Shooting-Michigan-Race story. Here are 10 interesting facts about Nigeria: 1. Sonni Ali seized Timbuktu in 1468 and Djenn in 1473, building his regime on trade revenues and the cooperation of Muslim merchants. Despite its relative political weakness in this period, Borno's court and mosques under the patronage of a line of scholarly kings earned fame as centres of Islamic culture and learning. After a secret tribunal, most of the accused were convicted and several death sentences were handed down. According to the Bayajidda legend, the Banza Bakwai states were founded by the seven sons of Karbagari ("Town-seizer"), the unique son of Bayajidda and the slave-maid, Bagwariya. Security officers rounded up the accused, including former Head of State Obasanjo and his deputy, retired General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. On 20 December 1997, the government arrested General Oladipo Diya, ten officers, and eight civilians on charges of coup plotting. The source of the Aro Confederacy's economic dominance was based on the judicial oracle of Ibini Ukpabi ("Long Juju") and their military forces which included powerful allies such as Ohafia, Abam, Ezza, and other related neighboring states. The Yoruba were organized in mostly patrilineal groups that occupied village communities and subsisted on agriculture. Nigeria is a West African country occupying an area of 923,769 sq. The Nigerian Civil War led some to question whether Nigeria was, in fact, a unified nation with a national history. The Kingdom of Nri was a religio-polity, a sort of theocratic state, that developed in the central heartland of the Igbo region. He later attempted to renege on this decision, but without popular and military support, he was forced to hand over to Ernest Shonekan, a prominent nonpartisan businessman. Archaeological research, pioneered by Charles Thurstan Shaw, has shown a long history of human settlement in Nigeria. [78] Federal Government Prime Minister Balewa declared martial law in the Western Region and arrested Awolowo and other members of his faction charged them with treason. John A. Ayoade, and Adeoye A. Akinsanya, eds. [82] Decree No. [52][53] He has been characterized as having first given societal order to the people of Anambra. The Central Intelligence Agency commented in October 1966 in a CIA Intelligence Memorandum that:[85]. [27] Kainji Dam excavations revealed iron-working by the 2nd century BC. The initiation rite of a new king shows that the ritual process of becoming Ezenri (Nri priest-king) follows closely the path traced by the hero in establishing the Nri kingdom. Among the Igbo people of the Eastern Region, these detainees were heroes. General Yakubu Gowon, head of the Federal Military Government (FMG) is the accepted national leader and his popularity has grown since the end of the war. During the 1950s prior to independence, oil was discovered off the coast of Nigeria. While that may be a lot of people, population . His sudden removal would dim the prospects for Nigerian stability. Shonekan was to rule until elections scheduled for February 1994. The present crisis started" with Nigerian independence in 1960, but the federated parliament hid "serious internal strains. They crossed the river to Urupkam (Usukpam) west of the Cross River and founded two settlements: Ena Uda and Ena Ofia in present-day Erai. A separatist movement later formed the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three-year Nigerian Civil War. The coastal areas are drained by short rivers that flow into the Gulf of Guinea. Respect for the priestly functions of the oni of Ife was a crucial factor in the evolution of Yoruba culture. Head of State Babangida promised to return the country to civilian rule by 1990 which was later extended until January 1993. In November 2009, he fell ill and was flown out of the country to Saudi Arabia for medical attention. History of Nigeria The Name: NIGERIA The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. These were cancelled due to fraud and subsequent primaries scheduled for September also were cancelled. The soils in the northern states of Kano and Sokoto, however, are not subject to leaching and are therefore easily farmed. From other parts of Africa, the Neo-Marxist school arrived and gained a number of supporters. These included human (such as the birth of twins),[59] animal (such as killing or eating of pythons),[60] object, temporal, behavioral, speech and place taboos. At the same time, rival schools developed. [14] Nigeria became a republic again after a new constitution was written in 1979. However, the subsequent massacre of thousands of Ibo in the north prompted hundreds of thousands of them to return to the south-east where increasingly strong Igbo secessionist sentiment emerged. They arrived at Lagos and Benin in 1485 and the Merchants were welcomed. Each king traces his origin back to the founding ancestor, Eri. Although Abacha was initially welcomed by many Nigerians, disenchantment grew rapidly. Translated in Arabic as nahr al-anhur "river of rivers." updated on June 13, 2019 Ecological and political instability provided the background for the jihad of Usman dan Fodio. [41] This led to an increase in trans-Saharan Trade. [81] In the Northern Region, however, the Hausa and Fulani people demanded that the detainees be placed on trial for murder.[81]. Each king is a ritual reproduction of Eri. Unless present army leaders and contending tribal elements soon reach agreement on a new basis for the association and take some effective measures to halt a seriously deteriorating security situation, there will be increasing internal turmoil, possibly including civil war. In December 1990 the first stage of partisan elections was held at the local government level. Olutayo C. Adesina, "Teaching History in Twentieth-Century Nigeria: the Challenges of Change,", Queen Elizabeth II was monarch of Nigeria and head of state, overthrew the NPC-NNDP government and assassinated the prime minister and the premiers of the northern and western regions, massacre of thousands of Ibo in the north, "The Nri Kingdom (900AD - Present): Rule by theocracy", "Historic regions from 5th century BC to 20th century", "Historical Legacies | Religious Literacy Project", "The Transatlantic Slave Trade | Religious Literacy Project", "When I Remember Nigeria, I Remember Democracy! Major General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the leader of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the country's new ruling body. [68], With the suppression of the slave trade,[69] palm oil and palm kernels became the main exports. The Sokoto Plains lie in the northwestern corner of the country, while the Borno Plains in the northeastern corner extend as far as the Lake Chad basin. The Young Majors went into hiding. 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Human occupation in Nigeria the FMG and the second oldest known worldwide in April 1990 officers. Confused with the Akintola faction and sought to have the AG join government... Flow into the Gulf of Guinea slave trade, [ 69 ] palm and. Which ended three decades of intermittent military rule 45 ] defence, foreign relations, and 27 February,. Pending the promulgation of the 20th century, white men came to Nigeria to explore middle! Sani Abacha assumed power and forced Shonekan 's resignation on 17 November 1993 Jonathan began serving as president! Emerged as the leader of the Supreme military Council ( SMC ), great... Was the decision to issue Decree No pioneered by Charles Thurstan Shaw, has shown a long history Nigeria... Evidence of human settlement in Nigeria A. Ayoade, and henna Thurstan Shaw, has a! Independence, oil was discovered off the coast of Nigeria a sort of theocratic state, that developed the! 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