Nigerian History
Nigerian History covers pre-colonial states, colonial rule, nationalism, independence and military rule. Questions often test sequence, dates and cause-effect rather than isolated names.
Core rules
- Pre-colonial states include Kanem-Bornu, Oyo, Benin and the Sokoto Caliphate, founded in 1804 by Usman dan Fodio.
- The 1914 amalgamation joined the Northern and Southern Protectorates with the Lagos Colony under Lord Lugard.
- Independence came on 1 October 1960; Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
- The Civil War ran from 1967 to 1970.
- Military coups from 1966 shaped state structure and army organisation.
Worked example
Why is the 1914 amalgamation significant?
It created a single colonial administration over the Northern and Southern Protectorates and Lagos, forming the territorial basis of modern Nigeria. It was not independence (1960) and did not create the republic (1963). Matching each date to its event removes the distractors.
Traps that cost marks
- Swapping 1960 (independence) with 1963 (republic).
- Attributing the amalgamation to the wrong colonial administrator.
- Placing pre-colonial empires in the wrong region, such as locating Oyo in the far north-east.
- Treating the Civil War's start and end dates as the same year.
- Confusing nationalist movements with political parties formed later.