His comments were interpreted by some analysts as a warning to his vice president and 2007 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. [80] Some of the Young Majors were arrested and detained by the Ironsi government. [74], The Federation of Nigeria was granted full independence on 1 October 1960 under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary government and a substantial measure of self-government for the country's three regions. Toyin Falola, and Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere. Although promising restoration of civilian rule he refused to announce a transitional timetable until 1995. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The military Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) under Abubakar commuted the sentences of those accused in the alleged coup during the Abacha regime and released almost all known civilian political detainees. However, on June 12, 2018, General Muhammadu Buhari, as president, announced a shift in this date from May 29 to June 12, as from the year 2019. 2014. The President moved quickly and retired hundreds of military officers holding political positions, established a blue-ribbon panel to investigate human rights violations, released scores of persons held without charge, and rescinded numerous questionable licenses and contracts left by the previous regimes. Eventually, the police with tear gas were required to quell the riot. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British journalist Flora Shaw, who later married Baron Frederick Lugard, a British colonial administrator. The AG was manoeuvred out of control of the Western Region by the Federal Government and a new pro-government Yoruba party, the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), took over. While the hero had a child with the queen, Bawo, and another child with the queen's maid-servant, Karbagari. Igbo gods, like those of the Yoruba, were numerous, but their relationship to one another and human beings was essentially egalitarian, reflecting Igbo society as a whole. At Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, the Islamic Legitimist school arose that rejected Western models in favour of the scholarly tradition of the Sokoto Caliphate and the Islamic world. Abacha enforced authority through the federal security system which is accused of numerous human rights abuses, including infringements on freedom of speech, assembly, association, travel, and violence against women. The area was formerly the Igala Division of Kabba province, and is now part of Kogi State. General Muhammadu Buhari took over the helm of affairs in May 2015 after a peaceful transfer of power from the Jonathan led administration. The election was marred by electoral fraud, and denounced by other candidates and international observers.[102][103]. The Sokoto Plains and the Borno Plains are located in the northwestern and northeastern corners of the country respectively. [14] Nigeria became a republic again after a new constitution was written in 1979. They can be found in Idah, Igalamela/Odolu, Ajaka, Ofu, Olamaboro, Dekina, Bassa, Ankpa, omala, Lokoja, Ibaji, Ajaokuta, Lokoja and kotonkarfe Local government all in Kogi state. Although these western empires had little political influence on the Nigerian savanna before 1500 they had a strong cultural and economic impact that became more pronounced in the 16th century, especially because these states became associated with the spread of Islam and trade. Their homeland, the former Igala Kingdom, is an approximately triangular area of about 14,000 km2 (5,400 sq mi) in the angle formed by the Benue and Niger rivers. The states included only kingdoms inhabited by Hausa-speakers: Since the beginning of Hausa history, the seven states of Hausaland divided up production and labor activities in accordance with their location and natural resources. Borno regained some of its former might in the succeeding decades, but another drought occurred in the 1790s, again weakening the state. A separatist movement later formed the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three-year Nigerian Civil War. Nigeria is a patchwork of distinctive regions, including deserts, plains, swamps, mountains, and steamy jungles. Thus, the AG was reduced to an opposition role in their own stronghold.[77]. Islam arrived at Hausaland along the caravan routes. [77] Fighting between the members broke out. These parties were the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the All People's Party (APP), and the predominantly Yoruba Alliance for Democracy (AD). 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. Their capital city was situated about 100km north of present-day Oyo. Biram was the original seat of government, while Zaria supplied labor and was known as the "Chief of Slaves." He remained incommunicado for 50 days, by which time rumours were rife that he had died. On 15 January 1966, a group of army officers (the Young Majors) mostly south-eastern Igbos, overthrew the NPC-NNDP government and assassinated the prime minister and the premiers of the northern and western regions. These included Islamic empires in northern Nigeria and smaller organized political groupings in southern Nigeria. Their nearest linguistic relatives are the Igala who live on the opposite side of the Niger's divergence from the Benue, and from whom they are believed to have split about 2,000 years ago. In November 1999, the army destroyed the town of Odi, Bayelsa State and killed scores of civilians in retaliation for the murder of 12 policemen by a local gang. As in most African art styles, the Nok style focuses mainly on people, rarely on animals. [67] From 1725 until 1750, roughly 17,000 enslaved Africans were sold from Calabar to European slave traders; from 1772 to 1775, the number soared to over 62,000. The country has abundant natural resources, notably large deposits of petroleum and natural gas. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Thus the North dominated the federation government from the beginning of independence. These tropical grasslands spread out as far as the eye can see . During the 14th and 16th centuries, the demand for gold increased due to European and Islamic states wanting to change their currencies to gold. Rather than relaxing colonial strictures in gratitude after the war, the European presence in Africa intensified. Although Abacha was initially welcomed by many Nigerians, disenchantment grew rapidly. Nigeria is not only large in arealarger than the U.S. state of Texasbut also Africa 's most populous country. On 1 October 2001 Obasanjo announced the formation of a National Security Commission to address the issue of communal violence. E. Elochukwu Uzukwu [48] In an attempt to alleviate such problems Abubakar's government implemented a civil service pay raise and other reforms. His successor Askia Muhammad Ture (14931528) made Islam the official religion, built mosques, and brought Muslim scholars, including al-Maghili (d.1504), the founder of an important tradition of Sudanic African Muslim scholarship, to Gao.[32]. Introduction Background In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a great diversity of ethnic groups with different languages and traditions. ", This page was last edited on 10 April 2023, at 11:20. Nigeria as a nation has a rich and complex history which can be traced to when it first became a British protectorate in 1901. Many of the domestic journals, including the Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, faltered and were only published rarely, if at all.[112]. [77] Unrest continued in the West and contributed to the Western Region's reputation for, violence, anarchy and rigged elections. "The period 1919-1935 was colonial imperialism's last territorial drive in Africa. 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. Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna fled to Kwame Nkrumah's Ghana where he was welcomed as a hero. 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. [84] The name Federal Republic of Nigeria was restored on 31 August 1966. During the 16th century, the Songhai Empire reached its peak, stretching from the Senegal and Gambia rivers and incorporating part of Hausaland in the east. From 1959 to 1960, Jaja Wachuku was the First Nigerian Speaker of the Nigerian Parliament, also called the "House of Representatives." [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. The Soviet Union benefits from Nigerian appreciation of its help during the war, but is not trying for control. It has been in an acute stage since last January when a military coup d'tat destroyed the constitutional regime bequeathed by the British and upset the underlying tribal and regional power relationships. After calling off a threatened strike in July the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reconsidered a general strike in August after the government imposed conditions on Abiola's release. Largely because of Songhai's influence, there was a blossoming of Islamic learning and culture. The Igala played significant roles in the formation of Nigeria having been made host to the capital of Nigeria at Lokoja in the past, with Lugard as the Governor. Abacha died of heart failure on 8 June 1998 and was replaced by General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Much use was made of oral history and throughout the school took a strongly interdisciplinary approach to gather information. On July 29, 1975, Gen. Murtala Mohammed and a group of officers staged a bloodless coup, accusing Gen. Yakubu Gowon of corruption and delaying the promised return to civilian rule. Only five political parties were approved by the regime and voter turnout for local elections in December 1997 was under 10%. Breunig, Peter. [38][39] Today the Hausa people now reside in the Northern part of Nigeria.[40]. Other tribes such as the Nri Kingdom also . In Kaduna in FebruaryMay 2000 over 1,000 people died in rioting over the introduction of criminal Shar'ia in the State. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. The federal military government that assumed power under General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was unable to quiet ethnic tensions on the issue or other issues. Political parties, however, tended to reflect the makeup of the three main ethnic groups. All announced candidates were disqualified from standing for president once a new election format was selected. circa 800 BC - Jos plateau settled by Nok - a neolithic and iron age civilisation. Prehistoric inhabitants adjusting to the encroaching desert were widely scattered by the third millennium BC, when the desiccation of the Sahara began. The neat protrusion from the chin represents a beard. River basin development projects have created many large man-made lakes, including Lake Kainji on the Niger and Lake Bakolori on the Rima River. Each king traces his origin back to the founding ancestor, Eri. Trade is the key to the emergence of organized communities in the sahelian portions of Nigeria. In April 1990 mid-level officers attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the government and 69 accused plotters were executed after secret trials before military tribunals. [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. [90] All of this meant that by 1979, Nigeria was the sixth largest producer of oil in the world with revenues from oil of $24 billion per year. Olusegun Obasanjo inherited a country suffering economic stagnation and the deterioration of most democratic institutions. [23] It is the oldest boat discovered in Africa, and the second oldest known worldwide. In response, petroleum workers called a strike demanding that Abacha release Abiola and hand over power to him. The Nigerian Civil War led some to question whether Nigeria was, in fact, a unified nation with a national history. The soils in the northern states of Kano and Sokoto, however, are not subject to leaching and are therefore easily farmed. Finidi George was the first Nigerian to play and score in the UCL semi-final as Ajax defeated Bayern Munich 5-2 at the Amsterdam Arena in the second leg to win 5-2 on aggregate in 1995. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa. [70] The name, "Nigeria", given us by Flora Shaw, wife of former colonial master, Frederick Lugard, bears a negative vibration. [21][22] Radiocarbon dating of a sample of charcoal found near the site dates the canoe at 8,500 to 8,000 years old, linking the site to Lake Mega Chad. 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. [65] Akwa Akpa (named Calabar by the Spanish) became a center of the Atlantic slave trade, where African slaves were sold in exchange for European manufactured goods. "Nigeria is likely to take a more active role in funding liberation movements in southern Africa." [61] The rules regarding these taboos were used to educate and govern Nri's subjects. The monarch of Nigeria was still head of state but legislative power was vested in a bicameral parliament, executive power in a prime minister and cabinet, and judicial authority in a Federal Supreme Court. [96], Most civil society leaders and Nigerians witnessed marked improvements in human rights and freedom of the press under Obasanjo. Some Fulbe converted to Islam as early as the 11th century and settled among the Hausa, from whom they became racially indistinguishable. Cotton grew readily in the great plains of these states, and they became the primary producers of cloth, weaving and dying it before sending it off in caravans to the other states within Hausaland and to extensive regions beyond. The mai (king) of Kanem and his court accepted Islam in the 11th century, as the western empires also had done. [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. [25][26] Iron smelting furnaces at Taruga, a Nok site, date from around 600 BC. Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters. They discovered that Nigerians have to be civilized so as to be good customers. [89] All five parties won representation in the National Assembly. Almost immediately, the revenues from oil began to make Nigeria a wealthy nation. Morocco was unable to control the empire and the various provinces, including the Hausa states, became independent. [37] Contemporary historical scholarship views this legend as an allegory similar to many in that region of Africa that probably referenced a major event, such as a shift in ruling dynasties. In the vote, widespread electoral fraud was alleged and riots erupted in the Yoruba West where heartlands of the AG discovered they had apparently elected pro-government NNDP representatives. From other parts of Africa, the Neo-Marxist school arrived and gained a number of supporters. Each king is a ritual reproduction of Eri. Necklaces form a cone around the neck and keep the focus on the face. [62][63], The Arochukwu kingdom emerged after the Aro-Ibibio Wars from 1630 to 1720, and went on to form the Aro Confederacy which economically dominated Eastern Nigerian hinterland. Nok male head; 550-50 BC; terracotta; Brooklyn Museum (New York City, USA). More than 100 were killed in riots before Babangida agreed to hand power to an interim government on 27 August 1993. With the country sliding into chaos Defense Minister Sani Abacha assumed power and forced Shonekan's resignation on 17 November 1993. However, the opposition had accusations of electoral fraud in polls. Lagos, however, is not perceived as the "spiritual and bureaucratic capital of Africa"; Addis Ababa has that role.". This is a figure that seems to be in the midst of a conversation. [20], The Nok culture thrived from approximately 1,500 BC to about 200 AD on the Jos Plateau in north and central Nigeria and produced life-sized terracotta figures that include human heads, human figures, and animals. 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. The Yorubaland now consists of different tribes from different states which are located in the Southwestern part of the country, states like Lagos State, Oyo State, Ondo State, Osun State, Ekiti State and Ogun State, among others. Yar'Adua's presidency was fraught with uncertainty as media reports said he suffered from kidney and heart disease. There they constituted a devoutly religious, educated elite who made themselves indispensable to the Hausa kings as government advisers, Islamic judges, and teachers. The Yoruba were organized in mostly patrilineal groups that occupied village communities and subsisted on agriculture. [75] and the Action Group (AG) was a left-leaning party that represented the interests of the Yoruba people in the West. 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! The Federal government was given exclusive powers in defence, foreign relations, and commercial and fiscal policy. Nigeria. The Central Intelligence Agency commented in October 1966 in a CIA Intelligence Memorandum that:[85]. At various moments in their history, the Hausa managed to establish central control over their states, but such unity has always proven short. [107] On 29 May 2019, Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in for a second term as Nigeria's president, after winning the presidential election in February 2019. The need to protect its commercial interests compelled Borno to intervene in Kanem, which continued to be a theatre of war throughout the 15th century and into the 16th century. As of January 2010, he was still abroad. The Abiriba and Aro are Brothers whose migration is traced to the Ekpa Kingdom, East of Cross River, their exact take of location was at Ekpa (Mkpa) east of the Cross River. Hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, including Yoruba, Igbo, Fula, Hausa, Edo, Ibibio, Tiv, and English. Nigeria is a West African country occupying an area of 923,769 sq. In general, the topography of Nigeria consists of plains in the north and south interrupted by plateaus and hills in the centre of the country. But Benin's fame is based on factors other than power. 150200 deaths (current estimate). Nok seated figure; 5th century BC 5th century AD; terracotta; 38cm (1ft. 3 in. However, over the centuries Nigerians have utilized agricultural techniques such as slash and burn, intercropping, and the use of shallow planting implements to cope with the shortcomings of the soil. 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. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was coined on 8 January 1897, by the British journalist Flora Shaw, who later married Frederick Lugard, a British colonial administrator. 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. Nigeria first became a republic in 1963, but succumbed to military rule after a bloody coup d'tat in 1966. [94] Abacha dissolved all democratic institutions and replaced elected governors with military officers. Here are 10 interesting facts about Nigeria: 1. The Niger delta is a vast low-lying region through which the waters of the Niger River drain into the Gulf of Guinea. The 1965 national election produced a major realignment of politics and a disputed result that set the country on the path to civil war. History & Background. The neighbouring Republic of Niger takes its name from the same river. John A. Ayoade, and Adeoye A. Akinsanya, eds. The central region has hills and plateaus. The country became independent on October 1, 1960, and in 1963 adopted a republican constitution but elected to stay a member of the Commonwealth. Chairs were thrown and one member grabbed the parliamentary Mace and wielded it like a weapon to attack the Speaker and other members. "The Crisis in Research and Academic Publishing in Nigerian Universities" (2002). [79] The dominant northern NPC went into a conservative alliance with the new Yoruba NNDP, leaving the Igbo NCNC to coalesce with the remnants of the AG in a progressive alliance. Shonekan was to rule until elections scheduled for February 1994. 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. Each king traces his origin back to the founding ancestor, Eri. History of Nigeria The Name: NIGERIA The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. [36], The Hausa Kingdoms were a collection of states started by the Hausa people, situated between the Niger River and Lake Chad. 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.