1. Pre-colonial Era
Before colonial rule, the region now known as Nigeria was home to numerous kingdoms and empires, including the Nok civilization, the Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Oyo Empire, and the Benin Empire. These states had established systems of trade, governance, and craftsmanship long before European contact.
2. Colonial Period
Britain established the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate, which were amalgamated in 1914 into a single colony under Lord Frederick Lugard. Colonial administration relied heavily on indirect rule through existing traditional authorities, particularly in the north.
Colonial-era boundaries brought together many distinct ethnic groups, a legacy still visible in the country's demographic makeup, described in Culture: Ethnic Groups.
3. Independence and Republic
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on 1 October 1960 and became a republic in 1963. The early republic was marked by regional tension, culminating in a military coup in 1966 and the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970, fought largely over the attempted secession of the Eastern Region as Biafra.
4. Military Rule
Following the civil war, Nigeria experienced a series of military governments interspersed with brief civilian administrations. Oil revenue, discussed in Economy: Petroleum, became central to state finances during this period.
5. Fourth Republic
Civilian rule was restored in 1999 with the beginning of the Fourth Republic, under a new constitution and a presidential system. This period is covered further under Nigeria: Government.