Nigeria History and Current Affairs
Historical Records
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1. 800 BC - Jos plateau settled by Nok - a neolithic and iron age civilisation.
2. 11th century - Formation of kingdoms and empires- Hausa kingdoms and Borno dynasty in the north, Oyo and Benin kingdoms in the south.
3. 1000AD -First Islamic school started in Bornu
4. 1450 -Arabic schools were established in Sokoto,Kano and Kaduna
5. 1472 - Portuguese navigators reach Nigerian coast
6. 1500 -Islamic Religion started in Northern Nigeria
7. 16-18th centuries - Slave trade era in which millions are forcibly sent to the Americas
8. 1777 -The society for the abolition of slave trade was established
9. 1802- Fulani Jihad was launched under Usman Dan Fodio
10. 1805- Usman Dan Fodio conquered Bornu
11. 1809 - Single Islamic state - Sokoto caliphate - is founded in north
12. 1830s-1886 - Civil wars plague Yorubaland, in the south
13. 1841 Methodist Church was established in Badagry, Lagos
14. 1850s - British establish presence around Lagos
15. 1859 First Secondary School in Nigeria - CMS Grammar School Lagos
16. 1859 Iwe Iroyin, Nigeria’s first newspaper was published
17. 1860 First Newspaper in Nigeria published - Iwe Iroyin
18. 1861 Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther ordained as the first African Bishop
19. 1861 Nigerian Police was established
20. 1861-1914 - Britain governs by "indirect rule" through local leaders
21. 1863 Nigerian Army was Established
22. 1895 First Nigeria hospital built at Abeokuta - Sacred Heart Hospital
23. 1898 The Name “Nigeria” was given by Mrs Flora Shawn - wife of Lord Luggard in 1898
24. 1899 First Government Primary School was established at Badagry Lagos
25. 1901 Completion of Lagos - Ibadan Railway line (123miles)
26. 1903 The British conquered most of Northern Nigeria including the Sokoto Caliphate
27. 1905 Completion of first motor road in Nigeria (Ibadan - Oyo)
28. 1906 Federal Capital of Nigeria moved from Calabar to Lagos
29. 1912 Lord Lugard, Governor of of Northern Nigeria established a system of indirect rule
30. 1914 Northern and Southern Nigeria was amalgamated
31. 1918 Paper money (currency) became a legal tender in Nigeria
32. 1920 Apapa Warf was officially opened
33. 1922 First political party in Nigeria-NNDP established by Herbert Macaulay
34. 1925 First Aeroplane landed in Nigeria at Kano
35. 1949 Nigerian Tribune Newspaper was established by Awolowo
36. 1950 Conference of Northern and Southern delegates held in Ibadan
37. 1953 The London conference regarding Nigeria’s federal fomula took place
38. 1956 Oil was first discovered in Nigeria at Oloibiri in Bayelsa State
39. 1956 Nigerian Navy was established
40. 1957 Nigeria held its constitutional conference
41. 1958 Central Bank of Nigeria was established
42. 1959 Nigeria held its first national election to set up an Independent Government
43. 1960 Nigeria gained independence
44. 1962 Nigerian Army was re-established
45. 1962-63 - Controversial census fuels regional and ethnic tensions
46. 1963 Nigeria became a Republic
47. 1964 Nigerian Air Force was established
48. 1966 January - Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa killed in coup., Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi takes over
49. 1966 July - Ironsi killed in counter-coup, replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon
50. 1967 Ethnoreligious violence between Igbo Christians and Hausa/Fulani Muslims in the East and North
51. 1967 12 state creation by General Yakubu Gowon
52. 1967 The beginning of the Nigerian civil war. The war ended in 1970
53. 1970 The kainji Dam was commissioned at a cost of $180m
54. 1971 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation was established
55. 1972 Nigeria changed from left to right hand drive
56. 1973 NYSC was established
57. 1973 Nigeria adopted the naira and kobo currency
58. 1975 Gowon overthrown, replaced by Brigadier Murtala Ramat Mohammed
59. 1976 Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) was launched
60. 1976 Feb. 3, Additional 7 State creation by Gen. Murtala Mohammed
61. 1976 Gen. Murtala Mohammed was killed in a bloody coup, he was replaced by his Deputy, Lt.Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo
62. 1977 FESTAC 77 was held in Nigeria
63. 1979 Elections bring Alhaji Shehu Shagari to power
64. 1979 A new National Anthem was introduced
65. 1982 Pope John Paul visited Nigeria
66. 1983 Aug.., - Shagari re-elected amid accusations of irregularities.
67. 1983 Dec.31st Maj. Gen. Buhari overthrew the Shagari government
68. 1985 Aug.27th Gen. Babangida overthrew the Buhari’s government
69. 1986 Oct.19th - Dele Giwa was killed by a letter bomb
70. 1986 Prof. Wole Soyinka won the nobel prize for literature
71. 1987 May 9, Chief Obafemi Awolowo passed away
72. 1987 Sep. 23, Additional 2 State creation by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida
73. 1988 April 4, The Nigerian Police uniform was changed to black
74. 1989 Aug. 8, Sam Okwaraji slumped and died in the National stadium during a match.
75. 1989 Aug. 29, Gen. Babangida formed two political parties (SDP and NRC)
76. 1990 April, unsuccessful coup attempt on the Babangida administration
77. 1991 Aug. 27, Gen. Babangida created nine more states making a total of 30 states.
78. 1991 Dec. 12, Federal Capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja
79. 1993, June 12; presidential elections were held between SDP(Abiola) and NRC (Tofa)
80. 1993, June 23; Gen. Babangida annulled the June 12 elections
81. 1993 Aug. 26, Ernest Shonekan is appointed as the Head of the Interim Government as IBB steps down
82. 1993 Nov. 17, General Sani Abacha seizes power from the Interim Government
83. 1994, June 11 MKO Abiola decleared himself president and was arrested and detained June23
84. 1994, Sept.1 Ray Power commenced broadcasting service in Nigeria
85. 1995 Mar. 13 Olusegun Obansanjo arrested for allegedly supporting a secret coup plot against the Abacha Govt.
86. 1995, Nov.10 Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others were hanged by the Abacha government
87. 1996 April 20, Ibrahim Dasuki, former Sultan of Sokoto was deposed
88. 1996, June 4 Kudirat Abiola was killed by assassins
89. 1996 Aug. 4, Under 23 National football team win the Atlanta Olympic Gold medal
90. 1996 Oct. 1, 6 States creation by Gen. Sanni Abacha
91. 1997, Dec.21 Alleged coup plot against Abacha led by Gen. Diya
92. 1998, June 8 Gen. Sanni Abacha dies, succeeded by Major-General Abdulsalami Abubakar
93. 1998 June 15, Former Head of state - Olusegun Obasanjo is released from prison
94. 1998, July 7 MKO Abiola dies in detention
95. 1999, May29th Handover to civilian rule by the Gen. Abdusalam government
96. 1999, Dec. N100 note was introduced
97. 2000 Jan. 27 Sharia law was established in Zamfara state, 11 northern states follow suit
98. 2000 May Religious riots erupted in Kaduna over the implementation of Sharia law
99. 2000 Jun. 5 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) established to tackle Niger Delta Development
100. 2000, Dec. N200 note was introduced
101. 2001 Feb. 9 GSM Operators were licensed to commence operations in Nigeria
102. 2001, Dec. N500 note was introduced
103. 2001, Nov.17th Miss Agbani Darego became the first African to win the Miss World competition
104. 2002, Jan. 27th Ikeja Bomb Explosion Occurred
105. 2002, Feb. 2nd Nigerian Police force embarked on a strike action for the first time
106. 2002 Oct. 10 International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cameroon over the disputed oil rich Bakassi Penisula
107. 2003 Apr. President Olusegun Obasanjo was re-elected as president and swon in on the 29th of May 2003
108. 2003 Sep. Nigeria's first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, launched by Russian rocket
109. 2003 Dec. Common Wealth Head of Government held in Nigeria with the Queen of England in attendance
110. 2003 Jul. 19 Organization of African Unity (OAU) changed to African Union (AU)
111. 2004 May - State of emergency is declared by President Obasanjo in the central Plateau as violence escalates.
112. 2004 Aug. 13 The dreaded Okija shrine in Okija, Anambra State was demolished by the Police
113. 2004 Dec. 12 Enyimba Football club of Aba won the prestigious CAF Cup back to back
114. 2005 Jan. 17 Tafa Balogun, Inspector General of Police was removed
115. 2005 Apr.5 Adolphus Wabara, former senate president resigns
116. 2005 July - Paris Club of rich lenders agrees to write off two-thirds of Nigeria's $30bn foreign debt
117. 2005, Oct.22nd Bellview plane crash in Ogun State
118. 2005, Oct.23rd Former First Lady (Stella Obasanjo) died after surgery in Spain
119. 2005 Dec.10th Sosoliso plane crash in PortHarcourt
120. 2006 Mar. Head count of persons and houses tagged Census 2006 took place nationwide
121. 2006 April -Nigeria becomes the first African nation to pay off its debt to the Paris Club
122. 2006 May - The Senate rejects proposed changes to the constitution on tenure elongation
123. 2006 Oct. 19 Pres. Obasanjo declears state of emergency in Ekiti State.
124. 2007 April - Umaru Yar'Adua is proclaimed winner of the presidential election
125. 2007 Sep. 9 Nigerian Golden Eaglets win the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Seoul, Korea
126. 2008 November - clashes between Christians and Muslims in the central Nigerian town of Jos
127. 2010 Jan. - clashes between Christians and Muslims in the central Nigerian town of Jos and environ.
128. 2010 May - President Umaru Yar'Adua dies, Vice-president, Goodluck Jonathan, succeeds him
129. 2010 Oct. - Bomb blast close to eagle square during independence celebrations. MEND claims responsibility.
130. 2010 Dec.- Christmas and New Year Eve Bomb blasts in Jos and Abuja respectively. Nobody claims responsibility.
131. 2011 April- Riots in Northern Nigeria over Goodluck Jonathan’s success at the presidential polls.
132. 2011 June, July - Social Unrest in Northern Nigeria especially Maiduguri in Borno state caused by Boko Haram ( a radical Islamic sect)
133. 2011 August - CBN withdraws banking licenses from Spring, PHB and Afri-Bank and Nationalised them for failing to recapitallize.
134. 2011 August - Bombing of UN Headquarters in Abuja, Boko Haram claims responsibility.
135. 2011 September - Unified mobile caller sim registration ends.
136. 2011 October - NFF replaces Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia with Steven Keshi for failing to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
137. 2011 November - Nigeria loses two prominent citizens, Odumegwu Ojukwu (Biafran Leader) and Chief Alex Ibru (Veteran Publisher)
138. 2011 December - Christmas day Mandala Bomb blastin Niger State; targeted at Christains, Boko Haram claims responsibility.
139. 2012 January - Nationwide strike by Labour over increase in Premium Motor Spirit (P.M.S) price to N141/litre from N65/litre
140. 2012 January - Multiple bombings in Kano, targerted at security and immigration installations, Boko Haram claims responsibility
141. 2012 January - Supreme Court sacks five governors(Bayelsa,Kogi,Adamawa,Sokoto,Cross River) stating that their tenures were long over
142. 2012 February - Bomb blast at one of Plateau State’s Church of Christ in Nigeria, Boko Haram claims responsibility.
143. 2012 March - Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerges National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the party’s congress election.
144. 2012 March - Federal Government approves new uniform for the Nigeria Police.
145. 2012 April - House of Reps debate the Oil Subsidy probe report, demand that 17 oill marketers indicted appear before the house.
146. 2012 May - Outrage and Protests by Students and the Academia as President renames University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University
147. 2012 June - Dana plane crashes in Lagos State killing 6 crew members, 153 passengers and 6 people on the ground.
148. 2012 July - 200 Adults, children die scooping petrol from fallen tanker in Rivers State
149. 2012 August - President orders overhaul of the Sport Ministry after Team Nigeria’s dissappointing outing at the Olympics without a medal
150. 2012 September /October - floods ravage s different communities in the country.
151. 2012 November - Civilians evited form barracks after twin sucide bombings at a Military base church in Kaduna.
152. 2012 Dec. - Kaduna State Govenor, Patrick Yakowa and Former National Security Adviser, Adrew Azazi die in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa.
153. 2013 January - Nigeria’s Super Eagles Team win the 29th African Cup of Nations football competition hosted by South Africa.
154. 2013 March - Nigerian writer and nationalist Chinua Achebe passes on at Boston US after a brief illness.
155. 2013 July - Court of Appeal in Lagos discharge and acquits Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Former CSO to late Head of State,Gen.Sani Abacha.
156. 2013 August - INEC registers and confirms APC as a political party . This will be a strong contender to the PDP in the 2015 elections.
157. 2014 January - Nigerian Centenary Celebrations (Jan 1914 tp Jan. 2014) held on its 100 years existence since almagamation by Lord Lugard
158. 2014 April - Islamic Jihadist group (Boko Haram) kidnapps over 200 Female Students from Chibok Government Secondary School
159. 2015 March - Nigerian Army recaptures Gwazo (Boko Haram HQ) in Bornu.
160. 2015 March - Presidential election was won for the first time by an opposition candidate.
161. 2015 May - Newly elected government take on the responsibility of governance.
162. 2015 Nov - For the fifth time the Nigerian Golden Eaglets became only, the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup back to back.
163. 2016 May - Nigerian Government removes fuel subsidy
164. 2016 June - CBN announces devaluation of the Naira and unveils a new flexible foreign exchange regime
165. 2016 Aug - Nigeria slides into recession as Q2 GDP contracts by 2.06%
166. 2016 Nov - Nigeria’s economic recession deepens as GDP contracts further by 2.24% in 3rd quarter
167. 2017 Aug - President Muhammadu Buhari returns to Nigeria after 103 days in London where he was treated for an undisclosed illness