| 1900: |
|
In Northern Nigeria, administration of the
Royal Niger Company renamed Protectorate of Northern Nigeria under British Crown;
in the East, some Igbo communities defeated by the British.
The Niger Coast protectorate is renamed Protectorate of Southern Nigeria |
| 1901: |
|
Centers of resistance in Nupe, Kotangora
defeated by the British by the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) |
| 1902: |
|
Bauchi, Borno resistance centers defeated by
the British RWAFF |
| 1903: |
|
Kano, Sokoto resistance centers defeated by
the British RWAFF |
| 1906: |
|
Colony and Protectorate of Lagos merged with
the protectorate of Southern Nigeria to form the Colony and Protectorate of Southern
Nigeria |
| 1907: |
|
Mineral Oil Ordinance enacted |
| 1914: |
|
Amalgamation of the administrations of
Northern and Southern Nigeria into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Lord Lugard
appointed Governor-General. Two Chief Commissioners are in charge of the two divisions,
Northern and Southern. Mineral Oil Act enacted |
| 1914-1918: |
|
World War I |
| 1921: |
|
Oil exploration rights granted to D'arcy
Exploration Co. & Whitehall Petroleum Co. Ltd; no oil found in the Niger Delta |
| 1922: |
|
Sir Hugh Clifford (successor to Lugard)
abolishes the two existing legislative Councils in Lagos, substituting with with a single
Nigerian Legislative Council for Southern provinces only, In the North, legislative power
is vested in the Governor. The Clifford Constitution is in operation Herbert Macaulay and
others form the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) |
| 1923: |
|
First Legislative Council elections in
September: NNDP wins three seats |
| 1926: |
|
Sir Graham Thompson becomes Governor of
Nigeria |
| 1930: |
|
Sir Donald C. Cameron becomes Governor of
Nigeria (till 1936) |
| 1933: |
|
Legislative council powers are extended to
the North; Vaughn Ikoli and Akinsanya form Lagos Youth Movement (LYM) |
| 1934: |
|
Zik returns to Africa (Ghana) from the US |
| 1936: |
|
Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) formed |
| 1937: |
|
Zik returns to Nigeria from Ghana
Sir Bernard Bourdillon becomes Governor; LYM changed to Nigeria Youth Movement; H.O.
Davies is General Secretary; "West African Pilot" newspaper established with
Nnamdi Azikwe as founding Editor |
| 1938: |
|
Shell D'arcy granted oil exploration over
the whole of mainland Nigeria; Shell D'arcy later becomes Shell-BP (an Anglo-Dutch
concern) |
| 1939: |
|
Southern Protectorate divided into Western
and Eastern provinces, each with a Chief Commissioner, with headquarters at Ibadan and
Enugu |
| 1939 - 1945: |
|
World War II |
| 1943: |
|
Sir Arthur Richards (later Lord Milverton of
Lagos and Clifton) becomes Governor; introduces the first Federal form of constitution
worked on earlier by Sir Bernard Bourdillon |
| 1944: |
|
National Council of Nigerian and Cameroon
(NCNC) formed August 26; Herbert Macaulay is president and Nnamdi Azikiwe is General
Secretary. In December, Sir Richards lays out constitutional reforms (December) |
| 1945: |
|
Sir Richards' constitutional reforms laid on
table of Legislative Council (March) General Workers' strike |
| 1946: |
|
Herbert Macaulay dies; Zik succeeds him as
NCNC president |
| 1947: |
|
The Action Group is founded; NCNC delegation
of seven, led by Dr. Azikiwe, travels to London to protest Macpherson Constitution
This year: Daily Times newspaper founded |
| 1948: |
|
Sir John Macpherson becomes Governor
The University College, Ibadan, is established |
| 1949: |
|
Nigerian Tribune newspaper founded by Chief
Obafemi Awolowo
In the North, the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), originally non-political, is formed |
| 1950: |
|
Aminu Kano forms first Northern political
party: Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) |
| 1951: |
|
The Macpherson Federal Constitution is
introduced |
| 1952: |
|
National census taken: count - 29 million
Nigerians |
| 1953: |
|
Enahoro moves (in March 1953) resolution in
the House of Representatives for attainment of self-governance of Nigeria "in
1956". North is unwilling, preferring "as soon as practicable."
May: riots break out in Kano during campaign for self-government Macpherson Constitution
revised in London in July and August |
| 1954: |
|
More revisions of the Macpherson
Constitution in London and Lagos; becomes effective October 1, 1954; Sir John Macpherson
becomes first Governor-General of the Federation of Nigeria Federal House of
Representatives elections October - December |
| 1956: |
|
Oil discovered by Shell-BP in Nigeria in
January 1956 at Oloibiri in the Niger Delta; later in the year at Afam, Bomu & Ebubu
(in Ogoniland) |
| 1957: |
|
Ghana becomes independent (March 6); Nigeria
London Constitutional Conference (May/June). Independence unanimously proposed for a date
unspecified in 1959, but "not later than April 2, 1960" |
| |
August 30: |
Alhaji Tafawa Balewa forms first all-Nigeria
Federal Executive Council; he is Prime Minister |
| |
September 25: |
Willink Minorities Commission set up |
| 1958: |
August 18: |
Willink Commission publishes report
September/October: Resumed Constitutional Conference in London announces October 1, 1960
as Independence date First oil field came on stream producing 5,100 bpd |
| 1959: |
|
Promulgation of Petroleum Profit Tax
Ordinance
Northern Region becomes self-governing March 15 (East and West were already self-governing
since 1957) |
| |
August 29: |
Balewa appointed first Prime Minister of the
Federation |
| |
December 12: |
Federal Elections |
| |
December 15: |
Akintola appointed Premier of Western
Nigeria to succeed Awolowo who is to become Leader of the Opposition in the new Federal
Legislature |
| |
December 20: |
NPC/NCNC forms coalition Federal Government,
with Balewa as first elected Prime Minister of the Federation |
| 1960: |
January 12: |
- first meeting of the Federal House of
Representatives |
| |
January 14: |
House passes motion for Nigeria's
Independence |
| |
March: |
Tivs defy tax assessment by Native Authority
|
| |
April 22: |
Balewa travels to London for final hand-over
preparations |
| |
May 10 - 19: |
Nigerian Constitutional Conference in London
(final talks) |
| |
October 1: |
Independence from Great Britain |
| |
October: |
Tiv riots throughout the first week of
October |
| |
November 15: |
Azikiwe becomes first Nigerian
Governor-General |
| |
|
This year: The University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, established by the Eastern Region; it also takesover the Eastern Nigerian Outlook
newspaper
Government acquires 30% participation interest in the Nigerian Agip Oil Company |
| 1961: |
This year: |
Federal Government estalishes the Morning
Post and Sunday Post newspapers |
| 1962: |
May 19: |
AG Executive Committee votes to dismiss
Akintola; he refuses to voluntarily quit as governor |
| |
May 21: |
Western Region Governor Oba Adesoji Aderemi
dismisses Akintola as governor |
| |
May 23: |
Alhaji Adegbenro sworn in to replace
Akintola, who files court challenge as to constitutionality of actions |
| |
May 25: |
Fighting in Western Region House |
| |
May 29: |
Federal House meets on Western crisis and
declares state of emergency |
| |
May 30: |
Awo and several others have their movement
restricted |
| |
September 30: |
Awo placed under house arrest |
| |
November 2: |
Awo charged for treason (with 26 other
persons) |
| |
November 27: |
Enahoro arrested in London |
| |
May: |
national census taken (later cancelled) |
| |
This year: |
Regional Universities of Ahmadu Bello (ABU),
Ife and Federal university of Lagos established
NCNC changes its name to National Council of Nigerian Citizens |
| 1963: |
May 16: |
Enahoro deported to Nigeria from England |
| |
June 24: |
Enahoro's trial begins |
| |
July 13: |
- plebiscite on MidWest Region State |
| |
September 7 |
- Enahoro found guilty and jailed |
| |
September 11 |
- Awolowo and others convicted and jailed
for treason |
| |
October 1: |
Nnamdi Azikiwe becomes the first president
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria |
| |
November 5-8: |
national census taken (count: 55.6 million
Nigerians) |
| 1964: |
February: |
Isaac Adaka Boro leads abortive secession
bid in the Niger Delta Tiv insurrection |
| |
March 10: |
Akintola forms Nigerian National Democratic
Party (NNDP)
Akintola-led Western Region government founds Daily Sketch and the Sunday Sketch |
| |
June 3: |
United Progressive Grand Alliance (AG + NCNC
and others) formed |
| |
August 20: |
Nigerian National Alliance (NNDP + NPC and
others) formed |
| |
December 30: |
Federal elections, partially boycotted by
UPGA |
| 1965: |
|
Shell-BP builds oil refinery at Alesa-Eleme,
near Port Harcourt |
| |
March 18: |
Supplementary Federal elections in Eastern
region
Crisis in the University of Lagos over VC Eni Njoku's replacement by Saburi Biobaku forces
closure for three months |
| |
October 11: |
Western Regional elections |
| |
October 15: |
incident in Ibadan broadcasting studio
purportedly involving Wole Soyinka, who is declared wanted.
Bola Ige arrested over another broadcast incident |
| |
December 20: |
Wole Soyinka, charged with robbery and
violence, acquitted |
| 1966: |
|
Northern Region government forms a chain of
newspapers |
| |
January 15: |
Nigeria's first military coup led b Major
Nzeogwu;
Akintola, Ahmadu Bello, Tafewa Balewa, Okotie-Eboh, Ademulegun, Maimalari and others
killed.
Ironsi becomes Head of State |
| |
May 29-30: |
Massacre of Igbos in the North |
| |
July 29: |
Ironsi, Fajuyi and others killed in coup;
Yakubu Gowon comes to power and forms the second military government of the year. |
| |
September/October: |
More massacre of the Igbos |
| 1967: |
January 4-7: |
Aburi meeting in Ghana on military crises |
| |
May 27: |
Nigeria is divided into 12 states. |
| |
May 30: |
The Eastern region declares secession,
proclaiming itself the Republic of Biafra. Two and a half years of civil war follow.
Decree 1 imposes OPEC terms on companies operating in Nigeria |
| |
August 9: |
Invasion of Midwest by Biafran forces |
| |
October 7: |
Biafran forces pushed out of the Midwest |
| 1969: |
|
Decree 51 of November 1969 abrogates 1914
Mineral Oil Act, and vests entire ownership of all petroleum in the Nigerian state |
| 1970: |
January 12: |
Civil War ends
Midwest Institute of Technology (later University of Benin) established |
| 1971: |
|
Kunle Adepeju, University of Ibadan student,
dies during anti- UI-administration demonstrations
Nigeria joins OPEC;
Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC) is established; later becomes NNPC (in April
1977, upon merger of NNOC and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources) |
| 1973: |
|
Arab Oil embargo on the West; Nigeria reaps
profit |
| 1975: |
|
General Gowon is overthrown (on 29 July) by
General Murtala Muhammed.
The number of states is increased to 19, with plans for a new capital in Abuja. |
| |
October 4: |
Muhammed sets up Constitution Drafting
Committee headed by Chief FRA Williams. |
| 1976: |
|
General Muhammed is assassinated in an
abortive coup. General Olusegun Obasanjo assumes power. |
| 1977: |
|
Indigenization Decree of 1977 enacted;
NNPC becomes the dominant player in the downstream industry by acquiring equity shares in
all the international oil marketing companies in the country and taking over ownership of
the Port Harcourt I refinery from Shell-BP |
| 1978: |
|
Major university students crisis
country-wide against tuition fees, leading to death of University of Lagos student
Akintunde Ojo (April 1978) and six students in ABU, and the banning of students'
association NANS |
| |
September 21: |
New Constitution becomes law, includes Land
Use Decree |
| 1979: |
July 7: |
Senate Elections; |
| |
July 14: |
House of Representatives elections; |
| |
July 21: |
State of Assembly elections; |
| |
August 11: |
Presidential elections
Presidential election is won by Shehu Shagari and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) over
Awolowo of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Zik of Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Aminu Kano
of Peoples Redemption Party (PDP) and Waziri of Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP). |
| |
September 26: |
Awo's challenge of presidential election
results fail in the Supreme Court |
| 1980: |
January 24: |
Shugaba, majority leader of Borno State
assembly, deported by presidential order |
| |
March 25: |
Shugaba's deportation order quashed by the
courts
Kano Maitatsine fundamentalist Muslims uprising; 4,000-6,000 people dead |
| 1983: |
|
The NPN strengthens its hold on power in
fresh elections but the civilian government is overthrown by General Muhammadu Buhari on
December 31. |
| 1984: |
|
Decree 20: death penalty for oil-related
sabotage (later amended in 1986 to read life imprisonment.) |
| 1985: |
|
General Buhari is removed (27 August) in a
bloodless coup, and replaced by General Ibrahim Babangida, who becomes Nigeria's first
military president. |
| 1986: |
|
An IMF-style structural adjustment programme
(SAP) is initiated.
May-June - major unrest in Nigerian universities, with ASUU and Labour congress joining
in.
NANS banned again. Soyinka awarded Nobel Prize for Literature |
| 1989: |
|
Anti-SAP May riots |
| 1990: |
April 22, 1990 |
Gideon Orkar abortive military coup |
| |
October: |
Umuechem massacre, arising from oil
community complaints and brutal government response |
| |
October: |
Ogoni Bill of Rights published |
| |
1991: |
The number of states is increased to 30,
plus federal capital territory, Abuja. |
| 1992: |
|
The scheduled return to democracy is
postponed for a year due to doubts about presidential primary elections. Anti-SAP riots |
| 1993: |
|
General Babangida annuls (on June 23) the
results of presidential elections of June 12, the freest and fairest ever held in Nigeria,
believed to have been won by Bashorun Moshood K.O. Abiola. |
| |
August 27: |
General Babangida "steps aside"
under pressure, and is replaced first by Ernest Shonekan's interim national government |
| |
November 17: |
General Sani Abacha replaces Shonekan |
| 1994: |
June 23: |
Moshood Abiola is arrested and detained
after proclaiming himself president June 11. |
| 1995: |
|
General Abacha announces a three-year
programme of transition to civilian rule. |
| |
September: |
Alfred Rewane assassinated |
| |
November 10: |
The execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other
Ogoni activists prompts the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth. |
| 1996: |
|
Local government elections take place in
March.
Kudirat Abiola, MKO's wife, is assasinated in April.
Five new political parties are registered in October as a first step in the transition to
democracy.
Six new states are created, taking the total to 36. |
| 1997: |
|
Local elections on a party basis take place
in March, amid considerable criticism but with little violence, with the two parties
supporting General Abacha widely successful. |
| 1998: |
|
State and National Assembly elections are
held amid calls by the opposition for their boycott. Turn-out was said to be the lowest
ever in Nigeria.
Opposition declares it the "people's verdict" on General Abacha's transition
programme.
Gubernatorial and presidential elections are scheduled for the third quarter of the year. |
| |
April: |
all five parties approve Abacha as their
presidential flag-bearer |
| |
June 8: |
Abacha dies
Abdusalami Abubakar takes over as Head of State and announces a new transition to civil
rule. |
| |
July 7: |
Abiola dies |
| |
October 17: |
Jesse oil spill fire: estimate of more than
1000 dead Some elections hold in December. |
| 1999: |
|
More elections hold. |
| |
February 27: |
Obasanjo wins presidential elections over
Falae |
| |
May 29: |
Civilian government is inaugurated.
Shagamu riots, followed by Kano riots |
| |
October 27: |
Sharia Islamic law launched in Zamfara State
|
| |
October 29-31: |
Ajegunle riots |
| |
Nov. 19: |
Odi community in Bayelsa State razed |
| |
Nov. 25-26: |
Ketu riots |
