Colonial Period and Independence Movements in Nigeria

Study Notes

Colonial Period

Early Contact: Began in the 15th century with Portuguese explorers; trade in palm oil, ivory, and slaves.
British Colonization: In the late 19th century, Britain established control through treaties and military conquests.
Lagos Colony: Created in 1865; expanded to include the Gold Coast and Northern Nigeria.
Amalgamation: In 1914, the British merged the Northern and Southern protectorates to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
Economic Exploitation: Focused on cash crops and resources, leading to infrastructure development but also local discontent.

Independence Movements

Nationalist Groups: Emerged in the 1940s, including the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) and the Action Group.
Constitutional Reforms: The Richard Constitution (1946) and Lyttleton Constitution (1954) aimed to increase Nigerian representation.
Growing Unrest: Post-World War II, there was increased agitation for self-rule; strikes and protests highlighted discontent with colonial rule.
Independence Achieved: Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, becoming a republic in 1963.

Post-independence Governance

First Republic (1963-1966): Characterized by political instability, ethnic tensions, and corruption; led to a military coup.
Military Rule: General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi overthrew the government in 1966; followed by a counter-coup in July of the same year.
Civil War (1967-1970): The Biafran War resulted from ethnic tensions and secessionist movements, causing significant loss of life.
Subsequent Military Regimes: General Yakubu Gowon, General Murtala Mohammed, and General Olusegun Obasanjo led until the return to civilian rule in 1979.
Second Republic (1979-1983): Marked by attempts at democratic governance but ended in another military coup.
Return to Democracy: In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo became president, marking the transition to the Fourth Republic, which continues today.

Colonial Period

Early contact with European powers began in the 15th century, primarily involving Portuguese explorers engaged in trade of palm oil, ivory, and slaves.
British colonization intensified in the late 19th century through treaties, military conquests, and the establishment of control over various territories.
The Lagos Colony was officially created in 1865, later expanding to encompass the Gold Coast and Northern Nigeria.
In 1914, British authorities amalgamated the Northern and Southern protectorates, forming the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
Economic exploitation focused on cash crops and natural resources facilitated infrastructure development, but bred local discontent and unrest.

Independence Movements

Nationalist groups like the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) and the Action Group emerged in the 1940s, advocating for self-governance.
Constitutional reforms, including the Richard Constitution (1946) and Lyttleton Constitution (1954), aimed to enhance Nigerian representation in governance.
Following World War II, widespread discontent manifested through strikes and protests, highlighting the demand for self-rule and independence.
Nigeria officially gained independence on October 1, 1960, becoming a republic by 1963.

Post-independence Governance

The First Republic (1963-1966) was marked by political instability, ethnic rivalries, and corruption, ultimately leading to a military coup.
General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi led a coup in 1966, but his government faced a counter-coup in July the same year.
The Biafran War (1967-1970) resulted from ethnic tensions and secessionist movements, leading to significant casualties.
Following the civil war, military regimes led by figures such as General Yakubu Gowon, General Murtala Mohammed, and General Olusegun Obasanjo ruled until civilian rule was reinstated in 1979.
The Second Republic (1979-1983) attempted to establish democratic governance but was cut short by another military coup.
In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo's election as president represented the transition to the Fourth Republic, which remains in place.

Description

This quiz explores the colonial history of Nigeria, including early contact with Portuguese explorers, British colonization, and the establishment of the Lagos Colony. It also covers the emergence of nationalist groups and key constitutional reforms leading to Nigeria's independence. Test your knowledge on this transformative period in Nigerian history.