1900Colonial
Protectorate of Northern Nigeria proclaimed
1 January 1900. Frederick Lugard appointed High Commissioner.
Lugard
Pivotal moments
1900 — present1914Colonial
Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates
1 January 1914. The colony and protectorate of Nigeria.
Lugard
1929Resistance
Aba Women's War
November–December 1929. At least 55 women killed by colonial troops.
South-East
1947Constitutional
Richards Constitution
First constitution to divide Nigeria into three regions: Northern, Western, Eastern.
1947
1954Constitutional
Lyttleton Constitution
Established Nigerian federation. Office of Federal Prime Minister created.
1954
1960Independence
Independence Day
1 October 1960. Federal Parliament inaugurated. Tafawa Balewa sworn in as Prime Minister.
1960
1963Republic
Republic Day
1 October 1963. Republican Constitution. Azikiwe becomes first President.
1963
1966Crisis
January and July coups
15 January coup (Nzeogwu et al.). 29 July counter-coup. Ironsi killed.
1966
1967Civil War
Declaration of Biafra
30 May 1967. Civil war from 6 July 1967 to 15 January 1970.
1967 — 70
1975Coup
Murtala assumes power
29 July 1975 bloodless coup. Gowon deposed at OAU summit, Kampala.
1975
1976Assassination
Murtala assassinated
13 February 1976. Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka leads abortive coup. Obasanjo assumes Headship.
1976
1979Civilian Transition
Second Republic begins
1 October 1979. Shagari sworn in. 1979 Constitution.
1979
1983Coup
December coup
31 December 1983. Buhari overthrows Shagari.
1983
1985Coup
August coup
27 August 1985. Babangida overthrows Buhari.
1985
1993Election
June 12 election annulled
12 June 1993 presidential election widely judged free and fair; annulled by Babangida 23 June.
1993
1998Transition
Abacha dies; Abdulsalami transitions
8 June 1998. Abubakar's eleven-month transition programme begins.
1998
19994th Republic
Fourth Republic begins
29 May 1999. Obasanjo inaugurated. 1999 Constitution promulgated by Decree 24.
1999
2005Debt
Paris Club exit
October 2005. $30bn debt cancelled/paid down for $12bn cash.
Obasanjo II
2010Doctrine
Doctrine of Necessity
9 February 2010. National Assembly votes to make Jonathan Acting President.
Jonathan
2015Election
First incumbent loss
31 March 2015. Jonathan concedes to Buhari — first incumbent loss in Nigerian history.
2015
2020Civic Power
End SARS
October 2020. Nationwide protests. 20 October — Lekki Toll Gate.
2020
2023Reform Era
Tinubu inaugurated; subsidy removed
29 May 2023 inauguration. 'Subsidy is gone' on the same day. Naira floated in June.
2023
Methodology
Tier 1 · primary
Courts. Gazettes. National archives.
Tier 2 · corroborating
OCCRP. HRW. BudgIT. TheCable.
Redline
Wikipedia is never a source.