A Brief History of Nigeria

A Brief History of Nigeria

Independence is the right of self-determination of a country. Self-reliance is the ability to realize that right in reality.
It is often said that out of every four Africans, one is a Nigerian. This speaks to the testament of the country's population and influence, both within the continent and globally. However, I won’t be focusing on the country's potentials, challenges, or problems. Instead, I’ll be looking through the lens of ideology—what Nigeria has stood for as it has evolved over the decades.
Curating history often has its bias. The hunter’s story will glorify his skills rather than the game’s fightback. However, appreciating history comes from looking past inconsistencies due to the passage of time and perspective, as no two historical events are identical. What matters is seeing things for what they are.

Pre-1960s
Nigeria existed long before independence, but the land wasn't yet called Nigeria. People had been living, trading, and thriving on this land. In the late 19th century, world powers met at the Berlin Conference to divide Africa among themselves, driven by colonial ambitions. While the Europeans were focused on global domination, Africans were content with their decentralized local governance. It was the Berlin Conference that led to the "Scramble for Africa," and the borders of West Africa, including Nigeria, were drawn.
The British began arriving, reshaping the land in their image. They expanded burgeoning markets and reinforced existing political, economic, and socio-cultural structures rather than abolishing them. However, traditional rulers who resisted British rule were deposed.
Colonialism took decades to materialize, aided by what the British perceived as the backwardness of local populations. In 1914, the northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated for economic reasons. The southern protectorate was economically prosperous, while the northern protectorate was struggling, relying on financial aid from Britain.
The British brought religion and education alongside their quest for domination. Christianity provided traditional rulers with spiritual and economic benefits, while education was meant to integrate Nigerians into the British administration, though always inferior to the British themselves.
Meanwhile, the jihad in the North aimed to purify Islam and led to the formation of the Sokoto Caliphate. Politically, its reach was debatable, but it was significant both economically and culturally.
Eventually, Nigerians began to see through British intentions. Nationalists sought education abroad and advocated for greater representation in government and investment in local communities. This growing nationalist movement culminated in negotiations with the British, leading to independence.

1960 - 1966
Nigeria's independence was a triumph for the nationalists. The fact that they could envision, agree on, and achieve independence demonstrated hope for a brighter future. They transcended ethnic divisions to make this happen.
However, while the British had the wealth to manage the country effectively, the Nigerian nationalists were from the working class, and this shift had consequences. Ethnic tensions soon arose, particularly concerns over ethnic dominance in government. These tensions culminated in a series of military coups, as the civilian government struggled to manage the growing unrest.

1966 - 1979
The bloody coups of this period introduced two new realities: military rule and civil war. The war was a direct consequence of the coups. After the leading nationalists were killed, reprisal attacks followed, and leaders from the Igbo ethnic group felt marginalized. They attempted to secede, but the military government resisted, fearing the breakup of the country. This conflict escalated into the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), also known as the Biafran War. After three years of fighting, the Biafran forces surrendered, and the military government declared it a "no victor, no vanquished" war.   The post-war years were spent rebuilding and preparing for a return to civilian rule.

1979 - 1983
Civilian rule returned through elections, and this period coincided with the oil boom, which transformed Nigeria into a rentier state. The country's reliance on oil revenues made other sectors, such as agriculture, less significant.
As oil wealth flowed in, corruption flourished, and religion began to rise as an escape from political and economic struggles.
While civilian rule protected citizens' rights, it failed to curb corruption. This paved the way for another military intervention.

1983 - 1985
The brief civilian government was overthrown in another military coup. The military junta that followed cracked down on corruption and introduced various reforms. However, despite the oil boom, no government seemed able to find a lasting solution to Nigeria’s problems. Successive governments performed slightly better than their predecessors but failed to address underlying issues.

1985 - 1998
Military governments often justified their coups by accusing previous administrations of corruption. However, no government, whether military or civilian, could claim perfection within an imperfect system. Each regime carried out reforms, built infrastructure, and punished corrupt officials, sometimes targeting opposition members and suppressing press freedom.
State creation continued during this period to ensure equitable distribution of oil revenue, but the dissatisfaction with military rule eventually reached its peak, and the era ended with the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998.

1998 - Present
The death of the last military head of state marked the end of military rule. A transitional government quickly organized elections, and Nigeria has remained under civilian rule ever since.
Although Nigeria faces recurring challenges, each successive democratic government has introduced new strategies to address these issues. From converting former military rulers into civilian presidents to exploring ideas like restructuring, the country continues to grapple with its problems. Oil revenues remain significant, but Nigeria is shifting towards becoming an oil production hub. Calls for secession are swiftly suppressed, and poverty is addressed through cash transfers and support from religious organizations and wealthy individuals. The government strives to stay on top of these challenges.

Ten years ago, I asked myself whether Nigeria was progressing, and I couldn’t answer.
Progress is about improvement and forward movement. Nigeria is indeed progressing, though the pace varies across states. For example, Lagos State, which was directly administered by the British during colonial times, is far ahead of other states that were merely protected territories.
Since the late 1990s, we have maintained civilian rule, which is itself progress.
How well have we tackled kleptocracy? Kleptocrats exploited loopholes and the government’s lack of accountability. Many Nigerians, disillusioned, also abandoned patriotism for personal gain. However, governments committed to due process and accountability have continued to work towards closing these gaps.
On issues like poverty, job creation, national unity, press freedom, security, and education, progress depends on the vision of the government in power.

Democracy is a work in progress worldwide, and this is true for Nigeria as well. As we celebrate another independence anniversary, we reflect on our nation’s history, which has shaped who we are today. Every country has its story, and Nigeria has its own. These stories are the building blocks of our nation's future.
History tells us who we are. If I had been in power during the nationalist era or the dictatorship years, would I have done better? Perhaps I would have gotten one or two policies right, but what about everything else? Governance is never as straightforward as it seems, and that’s why the patriotic spirit within me drives me to contribute to my country’s progress, whatever direction that may take.