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DOWEN COLLEGE LAGOS
SUBJECT: HISTORY
CLASS: SS 2
WEEK 1
TERM
TEACHER OGUNDEJI. EA
TOPIC NIGERIA AS A NATION.

NIGERIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE

i. The first Republic (1960 66)
Socio-economic developments:
(a) Agricultural, commercial and industrial hospitals
were established (University of Lagos was established
in 1962 for example).

ii. Political Developments:

1. In 1963, Nigeria became a republic.
2. Increasing regionalism and ethnicity e.g.
political parties evolved along ethnic lines,
A.G. for west/Yoruba; N.P.C. for
North/Hausa and N.C.N.C. for East/Igbo.
3. Problems of the minorities e.g. the Tiv
riot of 1964; increasing demand for
creation of states.
4. The census controversy and its
implications.
5. The Regional and Federal Electoral
Malpractices and their implications.
6. Increasing intolerance among politicians
e.g. war of words on the pages of
newspapers, thuggery, arson etc.

iii. Coup detat

1. January 1966 first military coup of
Nigeria was staged. It ended the first
Republic.
2. Major-General Aguiyi-lronsi 1st
Military Head of State.
3. July 1966 second coup detat occurred.
It ended the rule of Ironsi. Gowon named
Head of State.
4. Causes of the second coup
a. Northern Officers revenged loss
suffered in the first coup.
b. Fear of domination by the Igbos, e.g.
majority of lronsis advisers were Igbos.
c. Unitary constitution and civil service
declared by lronsi-Northerners wanted
federalism.

5. July 1975 Third Coup detat.

It was a northern coup led by General
Muritala Mohammed.

CAUSES
1. There was bribery and corruption in
Gowons regime.
2. Inflation and strikes became the order of
the day.
3. Failure of Gowon to return the country to
civil rule.
4. The Nigerian Civil War (1967 1970)
CAUSES
1. The fallout of the second coup
Gowon was made the Head of State and
there were Military Officers Senior to him
in the army e.g. Lt. Col. Ojukwu. So,
Ojukwu refused to recognise Gowon as
Head of State.
2. The massacre of the Igbos in the north
and the Hausas in the east.
3. The disagreement over the outcome of
Aburi conference.
4. On 27th of May, 1967 Gowon created
twelve states out of the four regions and
three days later, Ojukwu declared the
eastern region a Republic of Biafra and the
war began.
5. The war ended on 12th January, 1970
no Victor, no vanquish.
Effects
1. Nigeria remained one political entity till
today.
2. Millions of human lives were lost, many
maimed.
3. The new 12 states structure went on
smoothly.
4. The Biafrans were re-absorbed into the
socio-economy, of the state through the
policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation
and Reconstruction.
5. The emergence of armed robbers.
6. Shortage of foreign exchange.

iv. Military rule and reconstruction

Gowons regime 1966 75
1. Gowon initiated the reconstruction and
reconciliation efforts after the civil war.
Example area:
1. National Stadium, Lagos.
2. National Arts Theatre, Lagos.
3. Car Assembly Plants in Lagos and
Kaduna.
4. War torn areas were gradually rebuilt.
other achievements of Gowon regime are:-
i. The setting up of the Federal Housing
Authority.
ii. The introduction of the national youth
services corps scheme in 1973
iii. Nigerias hosting of the second All
Africa Games.

v. Muritala Mohammed/Segun Obasanjo

administration 1975 79
1. This regime arrested the corruption of
the society by purging the public service.
2. It also began the implementation of the
third National Development Plan (1975
1981).
3. Under the development plan,
communication was improved, UPE
 Scheme embarked upon and Health/Social
Services increased.
4. This regime created seven more states,
thus giving Nigeria 19 states structure.
5. It also began the Abuja project (Federal
Capital).

The regimes foreign policy

a. The regime revived O.A.U.
b. Backed M.P.L.A. government in Angola.
c. Spearhead attacks on Apartheid South
Africa.
d. ECOWAS Nigeria became the Big
Brother.
e. Supported nationalist struggle in
Zimbabwe.

Other achievements of the regime

1. Hosting of FESTAC 77 in Lagos.
2. Constructed roads, bridges and ports.
3. Set up a constitution Drafting committee.
4. Return Nigeria to civil-rule in 1979.

vi. Nigerias Second Republic 1979 83

1. The five political parties that contested
1979 general elections were N.P.N. 2.
U.P.N. 3. P.R.P. 4. N.P.P. and 5. G.N.P.P.

2. N.P.N. won (Shagari became President)

and embarked on improving Agriculture
and Housing.

3. 2 Universities were established - Jos and

Sokoto.

4. U.P.N. won the western part of Nigeria

and embarked on Free Education/Health
Services, Rural Development and gainful
employment.
Shortcoming
1. Mismanagement of oil money.
2. Corruption in the high places.
3. Politics of bitterness between parties.
4. Inter/Intra party squabbles.
5. Thuggery and arson was the order of the
day.
6. 1983 elections was open rigged.
All these vices necessitated the December
31st 1983 coup detat that brough Buhari
regime to power.

vii. Development since 1983

Buhari/Idi-Agbon regime took some steps to
arrest the corruption of the second republic
and revitatlise the ailing economy of that
time. Those steps are as follows:-
1. Setting up of Military Tribunals to
recover ill-gotten wealth.
2. Promulgation of decree which made
cocaine pushing (hard drugs) punishable
by death.
3. Ban on importation.
4. Changing of the Nigerian Currency.

ASSIGNMEN.
1. Examine the socio-economic and
political developments of the first republic
1960 66.
2. What were the causes of the civil-war
1967 70?
3. What were the achievements of Gowons
regime?
4. What were the shortcomings of the
second Republic 1979 83.
5. What were the developments since
1983?

SUBMISSION DATE 12TH SEPT2014