Nigeria, often referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” stands as a beacon of cultural richness and diversity, with its vast array of ethnic groups, languages, and traditions. This West African nation, with its population surpassing 200 million, is not only the most populous country on the continent but also one of the largest economies in Africa. Known for its vibrant music, literature, and film industries, Nigeria has made significant contributions to the global cultural landscape. Despite its wealth in natural resources, notably oil, Nigeria’s development journey has been marked by a series of complex challenges, including political instability, insecurity, economic disparities, and social tensions. For my country project in this class, I will be focusing on Nigeria, my home country.
Key Developmental Events in Nigeria
- The Consolidation of Northern and Southern Nigeria (1914): The consolidation of the British-controlled Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 stands as the most pivotal event in Nigerian history. In addition to establishing Nigeria’s existing governmental structure, it effectively signaled the inception of Nigeria as a sovereign nation. Before this period, the various peoples and ethnic groups in Nigeria functioned as somewhat autonomous entities, resembling “mini-nations,” under Britain’s system of indirect governance (234Express, 2016:47). It established the foundation for the nation’s present-day geographical and administrative framework. This amalgamation stimulated the necessity for inter-regional collaboration and established the groundwork for the national economy by merging different regional economic activities.
- Nigeria achieved independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960, marking the country’s transition into a self-governing and autonomous nation. By 1959, self-governance had been established in all areas, with regional Premiers overseeing their own governments. However, the events of 1960 relieved the country’s leaders from the obligation of reporting to the British Crown. The nation’s governance was primarily entrusted to a democratically-elected parliament, led by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the Prime Minister and Nnamdi Azikiwe as the Governor General (later President) of the federation. (Burns, 1972:34)
Nigeria’s attainment of self-governance granted it the autonomy to devise and execute its own development strategies, free from the requirement of obtaining consent from the British monarchy. The government’s ability to act independently was essential in order to concentrate on key national objectives, including economic growth, infrastructure development, education, and healthcare, all of which were customized to meet the specific requirements and desires of the Nigerian population. - The First Military Coup in Nigeria occurred on January 15, 1966, and was orchestrated by Major Chukwuma. The involvement of Kaduna Nzeogwu was a pivotal moment in the history of the nation. The event sprang from profound political dissatisfaction and regional hostilities following the 1964/65 elections. The coup led to the targeted killings of prominent political and military figures, primarily those from the Northern and Western regions. Among the victims were Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Northern Region Premier Ahmadu Bello. The non-inclusion of Eastern leaders among the casualties gave rise to allegations of a ‘Igbo conspiracy,’ intensifying ethnic tensions. (234Express, 2016:99-100)
The significance of this coup in Nigeria’s developmental history lies in its disruption of the early democratic process and the subsequent establishment of a recurring pattern of military involvement in Nigerian politics. The situation escalated regional suspicion, specifically towards the Igbo population, resulting in violent reprisals and setting the foundation for the Nigerian Civil War. Moreover, the result of the coup led to the rise of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo, as the new leader, intensifying regional animosity and escalating acts of violence. The prolonged period of political instability in Nigeria has enduring consequences on the country’s governance, national cohesion, and efforts to foster an all-encompassing national identity, greatly influencing the course of the country’s progress. - The Nigerian Civil War, sometimes referred to as the Biafran War, occurred between 1967 and 1970. In the aftermath of the coup and counter-coup in 1966, which intensified ethnic tensions, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu proclaimed the secession of the Eastern Region and the establishment of the Republic of Biafra in May 1967. The secession was rejected by the Federal Government, under the leadership of Lieutenant Yakubu Gowon, which resulted in a 30-month struggle with significant ramifications. (234Express, 2016:103-106)
The significance of this war in Nigeria’s developmental history lies in its profound influence on the country’s national unity and identity. The battle exposed the ethnic schisms and underscored the difficulties of assimilating heterogeneous populations into a unified nation-state. It resulted in a substantial loss of human lives and had extensive consequences on the nation’s social structure and economy. The war concluded with the reunification of Biafra with Nigeria, but, the enduring effects of the battle and the necessity for national reconciliation persistently shape Nigeria’s political and developmental discussions even now. - The Oil Boom of the 1970s is a significant and transformative event in Nigeria’s developmental trajectory. Nigeria’s oil sector had consistent growth following the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1956, as new oil fields were developed and international investment increased, leading to an expansion in production capacity. The oil embargo of the 1970s resulted in a substantial increase in world oil prices, which greatly enhanced Nigeria’s oil revenue. During this period, the government embarked on an ambitious infrastructure construction initiative, driven by the surplus of revenue from oil. (234Express, 2016:112)
This period is essential for comprehending Nigeria’s progress for multiple reasons. The oil boom brought about a significant change in the country’s economic structure and global position, as it shifted the focus from agriculture to oil as the primary driver of the economy, establishing the country as a prominent oil exporter. Nevertheless, the swift surge of oil riches also resulted in detrimental consequences, such as economic disparities, inflation, a decrease in agricultural output, and a rise in corruption. Nigeria’s economic policies, societal structure, and general development trajectory have been significantly influenced by the oil boom and its consequences. The country’s approach to resource management and economic diversification has been shaped by the valuable lessons acquired from this experience. - The Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was implemented in the 1980s.
The implementation of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) during the 1980s, under the government of President Ibrahim Babangida, was a pivotal event in Nigeria’s economic history. The response to the severe economic slump involved implementing market-oriented reforms such as debt restructuring, reducing public expenditure, diversifying the economy, and decreasing import dependence. The objective was to reorganize and stabilize the economy. (234Express, 2016:150)
The relevance of SAP in Nigeria’s development history is rooted in its enduring impact on the country’s economic policies and social structure. Although SAP aimed to rectify budgetary disparities and establish a self-sufficient economic framework, it resulted in extensive social difficulties, such as adversity and turmoil, and had varied effects on economic stabilization. The reforms have had an enduring impact on Nigeria’s economic approach and the way the population views international financial initiatives. - Restoration of Civilian Governance (1999). The election of Olusegun Obasanjo as president in 1999 heralded Nigeria’s transition from military administration to civilian authority, symbolizing the foundation of the Fourth Republic. This transformation was a pivotal move towards the establishment of a democratic system and served as the basis for future endeavors in democratic government and development. (234Express, 2016:180)
The transition in question is of utmost importance to Nigeria’s developmental trajectory as it reinstated democratic institutions and procedures, hence facilitating a more inclusive political atmosphere and the possibility of enhanced government transparency. This event marked a crucial political shift, paving the way for economic restructuring, expansion of civil liberties, and the reestablishment of Nigeria’s connections with the global community following a period of isolation enforced by the military.
Annotated Bibliography
This section contains sources that expand on the context of the subject. While it was quite challenging to find one resource (specifically a book as instructed) that documents these events, I eventually found one, the first bibliography. They all helped me understand Nigeria and its journey in development.
234Express (2016). Nigerian History: A Chronological Account of Selected Events from 1000BC to 2015AD for Young Readers / Abuja: 234Express Communications
From this book, I got a relatively in-depth and chronological history of Nigeria before and after it became Nigeria. I found the book very resourceful because of how the events were compiled precept built upon precept. In studying it, I realized how subsequent events were most often a consequence of what had previously happened. Most of the information I laid out in this paper, I got the basic information from this book.
Burns, A. (1972). History of Nigeria / [by] Sir Alan Burns. (8th ed.). London: Allen and Unwin.
In the History of Nigeria, Alan did quite a good job of telling the story of how Nigeria was formed. However, the book did not tell so much about key development events beyond the information around its foundation. Hence, I got a good overview and background but not sufficient information to write my paper.
Crowder, M. (1978). The story of Nigeria / Michael Crowder. (4th ed., rev.). London: Faber.
This book gave an impartial view of the history of present-day Nigeria from the 1700s to 1960 when independence was achieved. It detailed how independence was achieved and the major players in this success, the major challenges that faced the new country that, evidently, still exist today. However, I felt it wasn’t as detailed in the post-independence chapters as it was in the events leading up to independence.