Embassy of Nigeria history

Because of these conflicts, the Fulanis, led by Usman Dan Fodio in 1804, successfully challenged the Hausa States and set up the Hausa-Fulani Caliphate with headquarters in Sokoto, commanding a broad area from Katsina in the far north to Ilorin, across the River Niger.

Tourist sites in Ilorin include the Mimi’s Mosque and residence built in 1831, the first mosque in Ilorin, and the magnificent new Central Mosque, built during the reign of Zul-Gambari, the late Emir of Ilorin.

In about 1837, it collapsed completely due to civil wars and effects of the Fulani jihad.

The first critical step in this uncertain path was taken in 1849 when, as part of an effort to ‘sanitize’ the Bights of Benin and Biafra, which were notorious for the slave trade, the British created a consulate for the two Bights.

Chronologically, the conquest of Nigeria through military campaign was inaugurated by the annexation of Lagos in 1861.

The second step, along the same path, was taken about 1862 when the British annexed the Lagos Lagoon area and its immediate environs and converted same into a crown colony.

First visited by the Portuguese at the end of the 15th Century, CALABAR is also the center from which many missionaries ventured forth in the 19th and 20th centuries, including Mary Slessor, who arrived in Calabar in 1875.

Similarly, by 1884, the National African Company had concluded about thirty-seven treaties at the Niger territories including Atani, Onitsha, Abo, Osomala, Ndoni, Oko, Odekpe.

With the exile of Jaja of Opobo in 1887, his territory became part of the Niger Protectorate.

Again, on 3 February 1893, Carter concluded a similar treaty with Oba Adeyemi, the Alafin of Oyo.

Thus, by about 1897, the three blocks of territory had emerged, as British colonial possessions, from moves made during the period of the scramble for Nigeria, best characterized as having been marked by fits and starts.

The move towards administrative union or amalgamation (a term that was later to occupy a place of disproportionate importance in Nigerian history) began in 1898 with the appointment, by the British Government, of the so-called Niger Committee chairman by Lord Selborne.

A protectorate was declared over northern Nigeria in 1900.

In May 1906, the Lagos Colony and Protectorate were amalgamated with the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria to form the new Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria.

Sites in Enugu include a branch of the National Museum, the Iva Valley Coal Mine Museum (where coal was first mined in 1909), and University of Nigeria faculties.

Now the second most important port in Nigeria, Port Harcourt did not exist before 1913.

For ease of administration and control, the Northern Protectorate, and the Southern Protectorate (made up of Lagos and Niger Coast) were amalgamated in 1914 to form the country Nigeria.

In 1947, a federal system of government was established under a new Nigerian constitution introduced by the United Kingdom.

Conflicting demands for autonomy and central government by the various political groupings compelled the British in 1954 to establish a measure of compromise to accommodate conflicting demands.

After the exclusion from power at the federal level in the 1959 election, the AG party- with Yoruba sentiments- felt alienated and was also affected by factionalism.

In 1961, the Consulate was upgraded to a full Embassy and Ireland's first Ambassador to Nigeria, Eamonn Kennedy (now deceased) assumed duties in Lagos on 30 August 1961.

In February 1964, further threats to the federal unity emerged when the ethnic tribe, Tiv of the Benue Plateau- who had sought autonomy since independence, launched attacks against NPC personnel and offices.

The first military intervention in Nigeria occurred in January 1966 when the civilian government was overthrown in a military coup.

The military rule continued under Gowon till 1975 when he was‘forcibly' retired and allowed to go into exile.

Muhammed had a substantial popular following, he was assassinated in February 1976 by a disaffected army officer, Lt-Col Bukar Dimka and a number of associates who demanded the reinstatement of Gen.

Plans are underway to have an annual Durbar festival in Kaduna like the 1977 Durbar, a festival that drew all the northern Emirs to Kaduna.

He announced the return to a civilian rule government by October 1979, following the adoption of a new constitution and the holding of local, state and federal elections.

Despite these problems, the NPN used its entrenched position and financial influence to return to office in a six political party contested elections which took place in August to September 1983.

In July 1984, a diplomatic crisis arose between Nigeria and the United Kingdom as a result of an attempted kidnapping in London of Umaru Dikko, a political exile and a former government official in the Shagari administration being sought on charges of corruption.

In August 1985, Buhari's regime was deposed in a peaceful military coup, led by Maj.-Gen.

Until 1989 the capital was Lagos, with a population of about 2,500,000, but the government recently moved the capital to Abuja.

Ten ethnic groups including Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Kanuri, Tiv, Edo, Nupe, Ibibio and Ijaw account for nearly 80% of the total population. Its November 1991 census stood at 88,514,501 and has risen above 120 million currently.

Unfortunately President Yar’Adua died as a result of ill health in 2010 and his then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan succeeded him in office.

In March 2011 Goodluck Jonathan wins presidential elections and was sworn in as the President.

In 2015, for the very first time in the history of Nigeria, opposition party won the election.

© 2019 Consulate General of Nigeria Frankfurt am Main, Germany