The multi-ethnic state Nigeria gained its independence in 1960. The boundaries have been in place since the colonial era (mid 19th century) and are the result of the delineation of a French and German colonized environment. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is bordered to the north by Niger and with a small part to the Chad, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the country of Benin and Cameroon in the east. The population of Nigeria is situated in more than 2500 different ethnic groups. According to Ethnologue – Languages of the World – there are 510 living languages in Nigeria, according to a handbook by Walter Schicho there are still about 400. The 3 main languages are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. The official language is English.
Archaeological finds indicate settlements of more 10,000 years back and reflect different cultures. In the northeast part of Nigeria ceramics was produced since several millennia. In Zilum are remnants of a 2500 year old fortified town. She is considered one of the first fortified towns, which was discovered in the south of Africa´s Sahara. Already 400 AD there was metallurgy at Taruga. It is the oldest evidence of metallurgy for the whole of Western Africa. Famous are the impressive sculptures of the 2500 years old Nok Culture of Central Nigeria. Between the territory of Nigeria and the Mediterranean trading has been operated since 2nd Century. Known is the Bornustraße, which leads through the Sahara and connects Tripoli with the territory of Chad. Until the arrival of the first Portuguese in the year 1485 in the total area of Nigeria major and minor kingdoms and nations with diverse cultures, customs and religions developed. The Portuguese exchanged weapons against ivory, palm oil and people. From 1553 England also participated in this trade. They named the coasts after the local merchandise. The western coast of Nigeria became the slave-coast. In the beginning of the 19th Century the slave trade was declared illegal. Yet to 1860 there was still a brisk slave trade in North and South America.
In the Middle of the 19th Century, the British assumed more and more influence on the states of Nigeria. In 1862, the city of Lagos and its environs was declared Protectorate and in 1886 to the Crown. Thus Great Britain had the first direct rule. Commercial companies advanced the influence of Great Britain. Wellknown is the Royal Niger Company, which also defined boundaries to the French and German colonial territories at their own operation. By and by all parts of Nigeria fell under the authority of Great Britain. Up to the year 1918 the Igbos defended themselves in a guerrilla war; in vain. During the following years a Nigerian nationalism developed with increasing independence.
On 1 st October 1960 Nigeria was decolonized. In February 1961 Nigeria won the northern part of British Cameroon and covers the territory the way we know it today since then. Until 1966 Nigeria had a federal constitution with 3 states and a large central government. Due to numerous riots and violence the military assumed power in 1966, the regions of Nigeria were replaced on 27 th May 1967 by 12 states. The Igbus strived for their own independence; the Biafra war lasted from 1967 to 1970. Nigeria became the largest oil exporter of Africa during the ´70s.
1975 General Murtala Mohammed replaced in a bloodless overthrow the previous military dictator, Yakubu Gowon. In a failed coup attempt, General Murtala Mohammed was killed half a year later. His successor, General Obasanjo Olusegung continued the democratization program. In 1976 Nigeria was subdivided in 19 different states. President Shehu Shagari was elected in a civil proceeding in 1979.
At the end of 1982 even this period of government ended in a military revolt and General Muhammadu Buhari came to power. Only three years later, in 1985, he was removed by General Ibrahim Babangida. The country was subdivided in 1987 to 21 and in 1991 to 30 different states. Under the dictatorship of Babangida until 1993 corruption and repression increased continuously.
During one of the most brutal military dictatorships under General Sani Abacha, Nigeria was subdivided in 1996 into 36 states. He reigned from 1993 until his death in 1998. Due to his tyranny Nigeria was excluded in 1995 with immediate effect from the Commonwealth of Nations. His successor became General Abdulsalami Abubakar. In his desire to bring Nigeria back to the international community, he pervaded within of one year a program of democratization.
1999 Olusegun Abasanjo was sworn in as president. In the year 2003 a second presidential term was confirmed through elections. As in America, the presidential term in Nigeria doesn´t last longer as eight years. In April 2007 the favorite of President Olusegun Abasanjo succeeded by election: Umaru Yar’Adua. He is the current President of Nigeria.
Since 1999 Nigeria pushed an active foreign policy forward. This managed to eliminate the damages of the Abacha dictatorship, but riots, corruption and civil commotion still shape the image of Nigeria.
