-
Portuguese navigators became the first Europeans to visit Nigeria. And they soon started buying slave and agricultural produce from coastal middlemen.
-
Portuguese followed the British, French, and Dutch slave trades. The Igbo and Ibibio a number of cities were involved with individuals who became wealthy by engaging in the slave trade.
-
In the north of Nigeria Sokoto Caliphate is founded. Askiya Mohammed Ture made Islam the official religion.
-
The slaves in the British colonies didn't get their freedom until the 1830s.
-
Britain consolidated its hold over what it called the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, and governed by "indirect rule" through the local leaders.
-
The British mandate has two small strips on the eastern border of Nigeria.
-
Independence was granted with Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leading a coalition government.
-
The Civil war broke out in 1967 when three eastern states got together and formed the Republic of Biafra.
-
Abiola died on July 7 on the day before his release. He collapsed during a meeting with the US Under-Secretary of State Thomas Pickering.
-
Saw the adoption of Islamic, or Sharia law by several northern states in the face of opposition from the Christians. Tension over the issue resulted in hundreds of deaths during clashes between Christians and Muslims.
-
Floods in 2007 affected countries in Africa, from east to west; a number of people lost their lives in flooding in Nigeria.
-
Christmas Eve bomb attacks near central city of Jos killed at least 80 people. The attacks were claimed by the Islamist sect Boko Haram. This spark clashes between Christians and Muslims, leaving some 200 killed in reprisal attacks.
