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NIGERIA FROM 1000-1999 - An Historical Update
by
Burtonsville, MD, USA
Last year, at about this same time of the year, I compiled and published what I could glean from various sources about various key events in Nigeria over the past millennium. It was comprehensive, but by no means exhaustive. There were events omitted - sporting highlights, the contribution of women, literary and educational milestones, death announcements of some important personalities, etc. A few dates needed correction. Several readers graciously pointed some of these out, while I went looking for others. The information below is my best attempt at the update of One Thousand Years of Nigeria's history from 1000 to 1999. The highlights of just the Year 2000 will be published in a separate email at a later date. Have a Happy New Year 2001. Bolaji Aluko ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigerian Millenium History in Review - 1000 - 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- >From 1000 AD to 1799 AD: 1000-1300s Hausa states develop in Northern Nigeria, Kanem-Bornu kingdom in Northeast Nigeria introduces Islam to the region. Yoruba culture thrives around Ile-Ife. 1290: This year: Ile-Ife smiths arrive in Benin 1472: Portuguese reach Benin Gulf and begin trading 1500 - 1600s: High point of Northern political history 1591: Powerful Songhai Kingdom (which included Western Hausaland) collapses under Moroccan invasion 1700s:Britain dominates other European nations in controlling lucrative slave trade along Nigerian coast Severe drought and resulting famine in the 1740s, 1750s and 1790s weaken several Sahel and Savanna states In the 1800s: 1804: Fulani Jihad begins 1817: Ilorin Afonja revolt against Oyo; Fulani Alimi takes over 1851: Occupation of Lagos by the British forces; Oba Kosoko defeated and deposed 1859: First Nigerian newspaper, Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba ati Yoruba [Newspaper for the Egbas and the Yoruba] set up December 1859 in Abeokuta by Anglican minister, Henry Townsend CMS Grammar School, Lagos is established as Nigeria's first secondary school 1861: Lagos ceded to British; Oba Docemo signs cession treaty; Lagos has its own governor 1866: Governor of Sierra Leone rulers over Lagos 1867: "Iwe Irohin" newspaper ceases publication 1871: First census of Lagos Colony 1872: First prison (Broad Street) established in Nigeria 1874: Governor of Gold Coast (now Ghana) rules over Lagos 1879: In the North, Sir George Goldie forms the United and later National African Company, amalgamating rival traders 1881: Census of the settlement of Lagos and its dependencies 1885: Berlin West African Conference; Oil River Protectorate declared in the Eastern part of Nigeria 1886: Successful military campaign by the British against Yoruba rulers outside Lagos begins (ending in 1906) 1886: Charter granted to the National African Company (later called the Royal Niger Company) to administer the protected territories in Northern NIgeria 1887: British punitive expedition against King Jaja of Opobo 1889: Oil Ordinance, a colonial legislation, enacted 1891: British consul in Calabar named a commisioner 1892: British Expeditions against Emirs of Ilorin and Nupe 1893: Oil River Protectorate (East) renamed Niger Coast Protectorate Rabeh, a Shuwa Arab and his army, sacks much of Bornu and its capital Kukawa 1894: British punitive expedition against Jekri Chief Nana in the South; in the North, Borno territory placed under British protection 1895: British punitive expedition against Brass Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar is established as Nigeria's first east of the Niger secondary school 1897: British punitive expedition against Oba of Benin in the South; in the North, Emirates of Nupe and Ilorin defeated militarily 1899: Niger Coast protectorate transferred to the Colonial Office In the 1900s: 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) 1901: Census of the British Empire (including its territories in Nigeria) 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 1912: Enugu (Eastern region) established as a coal-mining town 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 (4th April 1914 - 11th November, 1918) 1917: Kaduna is founded as an administrative headquarters of the North 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 1927: Aba Riots (or "Igbo Ogu Umuwanyi", Women's War) in November. 50 women killed, 50 wounded in Owerri and Calabar provinces 1928: April 28: Ibibio State Union (a cultural ethnic organisation) formed 1930: Sir Donald C. Cameron becomes Governor of Nigeria (till 1936) 1931: Census of Nigeria 1933: Legislative council powers are extended to the North; Vaughn Ikoli and Akinsanya form Lagos Youth Movement (LYM) Newspaper "The Comet" estabished 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 (1st September 1939 - May 7, 1945) 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) May 7: World War II ends June 22: General Workers' Strike, lasting 45 days This year: Nigeria Football (NFA) founded Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a Yoruba cultural organization, is founded in London by Obafemi Awolowo 1946: May 7: 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 Nov. 18: Coal Miners' Strike (Iva Valley, Enugu), over pay raise demand, 21 miners massacred 1950: Aminu Kano forms first Northern political party: Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) Census of Lagos 1951: The Macpherson Federal Constitution is introduced 1952: National census taken: count - 29 million Nigerians Amos Tutuola publishes first Nigerian mythic prose fiction ("The Palmwine Drinkard") 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 Council of Rivers Chiefs replaces Ijo Rivers People's League (formed between 1941-52) and continues agitation for creation of distinct Rivers province. December: Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) State movement formed in Uyo 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 Cyprian Ekwensi publishes first Nigerian "realistic" novel ("People of the City") 1955 First set of 20 women were recruited into the Nigeria Police Force 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: March 6: Ghana becomes independent May/June: Nigeria London Constitutional Conference. 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 This year: Asuquo Bassey (aka Hogan "Kid" Bassey) wins World featherweight boxing title in Paris, France Nigeria establishes (in Western Nigeria) first television station in Africa 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 This year: Hogan "Kid" Bassey is knighted by the Queen Elizabeth II Chinua Achebe publishes highly popular novel "Things Fall Apart" 1959: Promulgation of Petroleum Profit Tax Ordinance Northern Region becomes self-governing March 15 (East and West were already self-governing since 1957) March: State visit of British Prime Minister Harold Wilson July 1: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) established 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) Independence from Great Britain October 1. Tiv riots throughout the first week of October October 7: Nigeria admitted into the UN as the 99th member 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 This year: Mrs Esan is elected as first female member of Nigeria's Federal parliament 1961: February: Cameroon Plebiscite sees Northern Cameroon join Nigeria (becomes Sardauna province) and Southern Cameroon join the Republic of Cameroon This year: Federal Government estalibshes the Morning Post and Sunday Post newspapers Chief (Mrs) Margaret Ekpo, Mrs. Janel N. Micelle and Miss Okapi A. Young become first female members of Eastern House of Assembly Summer 1961: Prime Minister Balewa visits President Kennedy in Washington DC 1962: May 13: Census enumeration begins, and continues for two weeks 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 July 7: Supreme Court (under Chief Justice Sir. Adetokunboh Ademola) reverses Western premier AKintola's dismissal July 16: Akintola breaks from AG, and forms United Peoples Party (UPP) September 30: Awo placed under house arrest September: Enahoro flees Nigeria to avoid charges of treasonable felony October 1: Prime Minister Balewa announces plot to overthrow the government, and 12 persons arrested October 23: Richard Ihetu (aka Dick Tiger) wins World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight crown November 2: Awo charged for treason (with 26 other persons) November 12: Treason trial of Awo and co. opens in Lagos. Riots outside court claim one live and 50 arrested November 27: Enahoro arrested in London December 31: Coker Commission report published; state of emergency in Western Nigeria lifted This year: Nojeem Maiyegun wins gold medal at Cairo All African Boxing tournament Regional Universities of Ahmadu Bello (ABU), Ife and Federal university of Lagos established NCNC changes its name to National Council of Nigerian Citizens 1963: January 1: Akintola returns as Western region premier February 10: Balewa announces cancellation of 1962 census April 29: Balewa announces that Nigeria will become a republic in October May 16: Enahoro deported to Nigeria from England May 27: Privy Council (London) rules that Akintola's dismissal was valid May: Nigeria plays leading role in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in May June 24: Enahoro's trial begins June 29: Balewa and regional premiers meet in Jos on future republican Nigeria 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) This year:The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) established Dick Tiger beats American Gene Fullmer to become undisputed world middleweight boxing champion 1964: February 3: Midwest regional Elections February 8: Chief Dennis Osadebay, as new premier, forms Midwest government. Jereton Mariere is governor February 24: Census board announces 1963 Census interim results February 28: Dr. Okpara (of Eastern region) rejects census results. (all other regions, except Northern region) also reject them. 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 8: Federal parliament dissolved December 30: Federal elections, partially boycotted by UPGA 1965: January 4: President Azikiwe invites PM Balewa to form new government 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 September 18: Western region house of assembly dissolved September 26: Premier Ahmadu Bello of Northern Nigeria arrives Ibadan to launch NNA campaign 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 November 19: Riots in Ijebu province over murder of an UPGA leader December 20: Wole Soyinka, charged with robbery and violence, acquitted This year: Nigeria wins first Olympic Games medal ever - Boxing bronze by Nojeem Maiyegun in Tokyo, Japan The Defence Industries Corporation (DIC) established 1966: January 2-12 - riots in Ibadan, Lagos, Ilesha 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 February: Isaac Adaka Boro (along with Sam Owonaro and Nottingham Dick) declare abortive "Delta People's Republic" 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 December 15: Dick Tiger beats Jose Torres to become undisputed light-heavyweight boxing champion This year: Northern Region government forms a chain of newspapers Nojeem Maiyegun wins Bronze Medal at World Boxing Championship in Jamaica 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 1968: Dick Tiger loses his light-heavyweight boxing crown 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 May: The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) established by decree This year: 2nd All-Africa Games 1974: April 1: Udoji salary reviews paid to public service workers This year: National Universities Commission (NUC) created by statute 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. This year: Nigeria plays leading role in the creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Nigerian Chess Federation (NCF) established (Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwe as pioneer president) 1976: February 3: 7 new states created, bringing total to 19 February 13: General Murtala Mohammed is assassinated in an abortive coup led by Dimka. General Olusegun Obasanjo assumes power September 14: Constitution Drafting Committee submits draft constitution to Obasanjo September 30: National Theatre Complex in Lagos opened September: Universal Primary Education (UPE) launched October 7: Constitution opened to public debate prior to later submission to a Constituent Assembly This year: Obasanjo launches "Operation Feed the Nation" (OFN) 301 local governments created for the first time Command and Staff College, Jaji, established 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 October - Head of State Obasanjo visits the US This year: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) created 2nd African Arts and Culture festival ("Festac '77") held in Lagos 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 April - President Carter of US visits Nigeria August: Constituent Assembly completes its constitution review assignment September 21: New Constitution becomes law, includes Land Use Decree October 2 - News Association of Nigeria (NAN) commences service 1979: July 7: Senate Elections; July 14: House of Representatives elections; July 21: State of Assembly elections; July 28: Gubernatorial 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). August 13: 24 football fans die at National Stadium in a stampede after match between IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Bendel Insurance of Benin September 26: Awo's challenge of presidential election results fail in the Supreme Court October 1: Shagari officially becomes first Executive President of Nigeria 1980: January 24: Shugaba, majority leader of Borno State assembly, deported by presidential order March 23: Nigeria wins African Nations Soccer Cup in Lagos (skipper: Christian Chukwu) March 25: Shugaba's deportation order quashed by the courts March 30: Joseph Tarka dies in London April: OAU Economic Summit hosted in Lagos; Lagos Plan of Action adopted April: Shagari launches "Green Revolution" (agriculture) campaign Action for closer intra-African economic cooperation outlined December 20: Kano Maitatsine fundamentalist Muslims uprising; 4,000-6,000 people dead This year: Chief MKO Abiola sets up The Concord Group of Newspapers Nigeria wins African Nations Soccer Cup in Lagos (skipper: Christian Chukwu) Oil production of Nigeria declines from 2.09 mbpd (January) to 0.64 mbpd (August) to 0.5 mbpd in early 1982 Shagari negotiates N2.5 billion loan with IMF, N1.5 billion with 25 European, American and Middle-Eastern countries (July) and $180 million credit loan from the US (November) 1981-1983: World Oil Market glut 1981: May 11-15: National Workers' Strike over minimum wage payment May 20: Chinyere Onyenucheya, first Nigerian commercial pilot, flies in from the US June 23: Governor Balarabe Musa impeached by Kaduna State House of Assembly July 10: Communal violence erupts in Kano October 1: President Shagari announces presidential pardon for former head of state General Yakubu Gowon over February 13, 1976 abortive coup that killed Murtala Mohammed This year: Nigeria and Cameroon have border skirmishes 1982: February 12: Pope John Paul II arrives for a six-day visit March: General workers' strike by Electricity and gas workers. Other strikes by ASUU, medical doctors follow throughout the year April 15: Archbishop Runcie of the Church of England arrives on a two-week visit May 18: Pardon of Ojukwu, former leader of Biafra, issued by president Shagari June 18: Ojukwu arrives from 12-year exile in Ivory Coast 1983: The NPN strengthens its hold on power in fresh elections but the civilian government is overthrown by General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31. January 17: Federal government orders aliens to leave within 14 days. Over two million (illegal) aliens forcibly expelled April 17: Alhaji Aminu Kano dies November 27: Nigeria Airways F28 aircrash in Emene, near Enugu, kills at least 66 people December 5: Gowon flies in from exile after eight years absence Miss Franca Afegbua becomes Nigeria's first female senator on winning election This year: Several workers' strikes continue 1984: May 31 - December 13: Former Governors Bisi Onabanjo of Ogun, Melford Okilo of Rivers, Ambrose Alli of Bendel, Jim Nwobodo of Anambra, Barkin Zuwo of Kano, Adamu Atta of Kwara, Aper Aku of Benue, Awwal Ibrahim of Kwara are sentenced to long-term imprisonments (ranging from 21 to 252 years) by the Buhari regime for various corruption charges using Special Military Tribunals July 5: Attempted "crate" kidnap of Alhaji Umaru Dikko from Britain by the Buhari regime November 8: Fela Anikulapo-Kuti jailed 5 years in Lagos for foreign currency smuggling December 17: Dr. Michael Okpara dies at age 64 December: General Mamman Vatsa and co. accused of alleged coup plot This year: Boxer Peter Kongewachi wins Nigeria's first ever Olympic Games medal in Los Angeles Decree 20: death penalty for oil-related sabotage (later amended in 1986 to read life imprisonment.) 1985: January 9: Cocoa House, Ibadan, once Africa's tallest building, burns February 12: Four botched kidnappers of Umaru Dikko jailed at Old Bailey Court, London April 10: 3 convicted cocaine pushers executed by firing squad at Kirikiri Maximum prison, Lagos May 10 - 11: Federal government clamps down on illegal aliens; some of them on rampage at Murtala Mohammed airport May 11: Nigeria wins inaugural FIFA U-16 soccer tournament in China (skipper: Nduka Ugbode) August 27: General Buhari is removed in a bloodless coup, and replaced by General Ibrahim Babangida, who becomes Nigeria's first military president August 30: AFRC announces release of 87 political detainees September 2: New military governors sworn in October 1: Babangida announces 15-month economic emergency 1986: January 29: After Nigeria's membership in the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC) alleged, General Shagaya panel set up to investigate implication of membership February 25: General Maman Vatsa and 10 others sentenced to death for coup plotting March 23: Fela Anikulapo-Kuti released from prison October 6: Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe removed as Chief of General Staff and replaced by Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu October 16: Wole Soyinka wins 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature October 19: Dele Giwa, Editor-in-Chief, NewsWatch, is killed by parcel bomb This year: 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. 1987: May 9: Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of Western Region and Federal Leader of the Opposition, and Leader of the Yoruba, dies May 12: University of Ife renamed Obafemi Awolowo University July 1: Babangida announces a 1990 hand-over date September 23: Number of states increased by 2 to a total of 21, and number of local governments increased to 449 1988: January 7: Margaret Thatcher pays official visit to Nigeria July 7: ASUU proscribed for refusal by members to return to work November 10: Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki is new Sultan of Sokoto This year: Babangida dissolves Nigerian Labor Congress Execo and replaces with Sole Administrator 1989: February 28: Prof. Eme Awa is dismissed as National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman and replaced by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu March 28: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Britain visits Nigeria briefly May 3: A new constitution is signed into law, ban on politics lifted and 143 local governments created May 24: University of Benin students begin demonstrations that soon spread across the country May 31: Major violent anti-SAP demonstrations in Lagos August 12: Footballer Sam Okwaraji dies in match between Nigeria and Angola. Seven fans also die of suffocation at National Stadium, Lagos. September 21: Ex-Governor Prof. Ambrose Alli of Bendel State dies October 7: Babangida dissolves freely-formed 13 political National Republican Convention (NRC) - "a little to the left, a little to the right." October 10: December elections postponed October 18: Chief Emeka Anyaoku becomes Commonwealth Sec.-General December 4: Manifestoes of SDP and NRC released This year: Babangida goes on a state visit to Britain National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) set up 1990: April 4: Artiste Chief Hubert Ogunde dies April 22, 1990 Gideon Orkar abortive military coup May 13: Nelson Mandela visits Nigeria after his release from prison July 25: Sir Kashim Ibrahim, first Nigerian governor of Northern Region, dies July 29: Chief K.O. Mbadiwe dies October: Umuechem massacre, arising from oil community complaints and brutal government response October: Ogoni Bill of Rights published December 8: Election into local government councils 1991: January-February: US and allies attack and defeat Iraq in war to push Iraq out of Kuwait's territory (invaded August 2, 1990); Nigeria gains oil windfall from Gulf War crisis June 3 - 6: Nigeria hosts OAU Summit in Abuja, with Babangida as OAU chairman June 15: Elections into state assemblies June 30: Financial Times journalist William Keeling deported for writing about Gulf War Oil windfall corruption by Nigerian government August 27: Babangida announces the creation of nine new states (to make a total of 30) and the number of local governments increased by 47 to 589 Nigeria hosts OAU Summit in Abuja September 8: US Vice-President Dan Quayle visits September 10: Veteran labor leader Wahab Goodluck dies September 23: 89 more local governments created October 4: Babangida addresses United Nations General Assembly in New York October 14: Serious religious riots in Kaduna November 21: General Olusegun Obasanjo contests post of Secretary-General of the United Nations but loses to Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt November 27-29: Census count (population count: 88.5 million) December 2: Seat of government formally moves to Abuja from Lagos December 14: NRC wins governorship elections in 16 states while sDP wins in 14 states 1992: January 2: 30 new civilian governors sworn in March 19: Census figure of 88.5 million announced by Babangida April 9: President de Klerk of South Africa visits Nigeria May 4: Nigeria re-establishes diplomatic relations with Israel May 5: Fuel scarcity leads to riots in Lagos May 13: More riots in Lagos, and the University of Benin May 18: Zagon-Kataf community riots, with Hausa Muslims and Christian Kataf warring July 4: Elections into National Assembly. NRC: 37 Senate seats and 275 House of Rep seats. SDP: 52 Senate seats and 314 House of Rep seats July 10: Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, GNPP founder, dies July 22: ASUU is proscribed July 27: National Assembly convenes August 1 - September 26: party presidential primaries. An August 1 primary was cancelled on August 7 and rescheduled for September 19 September 11: Noted Islamic scholar Sheikh Abubakar Gumi dies September 26: C130 plane bearing soldiers crash in Ejigbo, Lagos, killing over 160 officers and civilians on board October 15: Babangida cancels presidential primaries, sacking the executives of the two parties, and issuing fresh election guidelines, and opening the field for more participants October 21: About 10,000 Nigerians deported from Gabon arrive in Lagos Apapa port November 18: Handover date shifted to August 1993. Option A4 presidential system announced. All previous presidential aspirants banned. December 23: Shonekan elected as head of 27-member civilian Transitional Council which had been formed December 5. This year: Boxers Richard Igbinegbu and David Izonritei win Nigeria medals in Barcelona 1993: February 3: General Zamani Lekwot and 5 others sentenced to death by hanging over Zango-Kataf riots February 18-20: First Nigerian Economic Summit holds in Abuja March 27: MKO Abiola and Bashir Tofa emerge as SDP and NRC presidential flagbearers from party conventions held in Jos and Port Harcourt respectively June 12:presidential elections hold June 23: General Babangida annuls the results of presidential elections of June 12, 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 This year: Nigeria wins FIFA U-16 Soccer tournament in Japan (skipper: Wilson Oruma) for the second time 1994: Abacha dissolves Labor execs for pro-democracy activism June 11: Moshood Abiola proclaims himself president June 23: Moshood Abiola is arrested and detained This year: Nigeria wins (for second time) Africa Nations Cup in Tunis (skipper: Stephen Keshi) 1995: February-April: Gwadabe, Fadile, Akinyemi, Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Beko Kuti, etc arrested for alleged coup plot against Abacha May-July: Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Beko Kuti, etc. jailed for alleged coup plot October 1: General Abacha announces a three-year programme of transition to civilian rule October 6: Chief Alfred Rewane assassinated November 10: The execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists prompts the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth. This year: number of local governments increased to 774 1996: January 17: Ibrahim Abacha (Abacha's oldest son) dies in a plane crash March: Local government elections take place June 4: Kudirat Abiola, MKO's wife, is assassinated in Lagos October 1: Five new political parties are registered as a first step in the transtion to democracy; six new states (Ekiti, Zamfara, Nassarawa, Ebonyi, Bayelsa and Gombe) created November 7: 142 people are killed when a Boeing 727 owned by Nigeria's ADC airline plunges into a lagoon 85 kilometres (55 miles) from Lagos. Claude Ake dies in the crash November 22: Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya dies This year: Female long-jumper Chioma Ajunwa wins Nigeria's first ever gold medal in Olympics Games, in Atlanta. Nigeria also wins Soccer Gold, beating Argentina 3-2 in finals. Overall, Nigeria wins 2 gold, 1 Silver (boxer Duncan Dokiwari) and 3 bronze (sprinters woman Mary Onyali, woman Falilat Ogunleye and 4x400 relay women) This year: a round of ethnic fights between Itsekiris and Ijaws in the Warri area 1997: March 15: Local elections on a party basis take place.... May 11: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first president of Nigeria, dies August 2: Popular musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti dies of AIDS December 8: General Musa Shehu Yar'Adua dies in prison December 20: General Diya (second in command to Abacha) and several others (Adisa, Olanrewaju, etc.) accused of a coup plot 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. March 21-23: Pope John Paul II visits Nigeria for the second time. March: President Clinton (US) 12-day, 6-nation African tour bypasses Nigeria 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 November 4: Soyinka returns home after 4 years of exile November: Obasanjo declares that he will run for president This year: Hogan "Kid" Bassey dies Some LG elections hold in December. 1999: More elections hold. February 27: Obasanjo wins presidential elections over Falae March: General Diya and Co. released from prison March 24: General Idiagbon dies April 3-24: Nigeria hosts 10th World Youth Championship (Soccer U-20) May 29: Civilian government is inaugurated. June 4, 6: Itsekiris and Urhobos clash in Warri and environs July 10: Cult activity leaves 8 students dead at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife July 19: Shagamu Yoruba-Hausa riots, followed by Kano reprisals one week later September: Ijaws & Ilajes clase in Ondo State 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 December 17: 14 Churches burnt in Ilorin by Muslim extremists; 4 more burnt and others attacked later ------- The historical naira exchange rates (1970-99) (official, Black Market and Autonmous) In this Year 1 US Dollar Exchanged for and 1 Pound Sterling Naira for Naira 1970 0.7143 1.7114 1971 0.6955 1.7156 1972 0.6579 1.6289 1973 0.6579 1.6289 1974 0.6299 1.4795 1975 0.6159 1.3678 1976 0.6265 1.1317 1977 0.6466 1.1671 1978 0.6060 1.2238 1979 0.5957 1.2628 1980 0.5464 1.2647 0.9 PMER 1981 0.6100 1.2495 1982 0.6729 1.1734 1983 0.7241 1.1216 1984 0.7649 1.0765 1985 0.8938 1.1999 1.7 PMER 1986 2.0206 2.5554 3.9 PMER 1987 4.0179 6.5929 5.9 PMER 1988 4.5367 8.0895 6.7 PMER 1989 7.3916 12.0695 10.7 PMER 1990 8.0378 16.2419 9.3 PMER 1991 9.9095 17.4955 6.7 PMER 1992 17.2984 27.8684 21.9 PMER 1993 22.3268 33.2522 56.8 PMER 1994 21.8861 33.4252 71.7 PMER 1995 21.8861 34.7111 78.3 PMER 79.8955 AFEM 127.66 AFEM 1996 21.8861 35.7368 81.8 PMER 84.5750 AFEM 135.90 AFEM 1997 21.8861 35.7368 84.7 PMER 84.7004 AFEM 136.60 AFEM 1998 21.8861 35.7368 88.0-90.0 PMER 85.0004 AFEM 136.00 AFEM 1999 (July) 85.9800 137.4680 105.0 PMER 94.88 AFEM 145.71 AFEM PMER (Parallel Market Exchanger Rate or "Black" Market) AFEM (Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market); official dual exchange rate started in 1995. All other rates quoted are official exchange rates -------------------------------------------------------------------- Compiled from various sources by Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD Burtonsville, MD, USA
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