January 31, 2026
Nigeria Timeline
Welcome to our timeline page for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This page contains key events and happenings in Nigeria from 1960 till date.
Data last updated: February 10, 2026
December 25, 2025
US Airstrikes on Nigerian Soil
October 1, 2025
Coup Plot Foiled, Military Officers Arrested
June 26, 2025
Tinubu Signs Four Tax Reform Laws
March 18, 2025
Emergency Rule Declared in Rivers State
January 17, 2025
Nigeria Admitted to BRICS
August 1, 2024
“End Bad Governance” Nationwide Protests
July 18, 2024
New Minimum Wage of ₦70,000 Signed
May 29, 2024
National Anthem Changed Back to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”
April 3, 2024
300% Electricity Tariff Hike for Band A
January 12, 2024
Dangote Refinery Begins Production
October 26, 2023
Supreme Court Upholds Tinubu’s Election
September 4, 2023
Lagos Blue Line Rail Begins Operations
June 14, 2023
Naira Floated / Exchange Rate Unified
May 29, 2023
Removal of Fuel Subsidy by Tinubu
January 19, 2023
Naira Redesign & Cash Crisis
May 29, 2023
Bola Ahmed Tinubu Sworn in as President
March 20, 2021
Burna Boy & Wizkid Win Grammy Awards
October 20, 2020
#EndSARS Protest & Lekki Toll Gate Shooting
July 12, 2019
Nollywood Becomes the Second Largest Film Industry in the World
May 31, 2018
#NotTooYoungToRun Bill Passed
May 29, 2015
Muhammadu Buhari Becomes President
April 14, 2014
Chibok Girls Kidnapping by Boko Haram
April 7, 2014
Nigeria Becomes Africa’s Largest Economy
October 2, 2012
Oil Subsidy Removal Protests Begin
January 2, 2012
Occupy Nigeria — Fuel Subsidy Removal Protests
December 16, 2011
Introduction of Cashless Policy by CBN
May 5, 2010
President Yar’Adua Dies
July 30, 2009
Boko Haram Founder Mohammed Yusuf Killed
June 25, 2009
Niger Delta Amnesty Programme Launched
August 14, 2008
Bakassi Peninsula Handed to Cameroon
May 29, 2007
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Becomes President
April 21, 2005
Nigeria Clears $30 Billion Paris Club Debt
October 27, 1999
Introduction of Sharia Law in Northern Nigeria
May 29, 1999
Start of the Fourth Republic
July 7, 1998
MKO Abiola Dies in Detention
June 8, 1998
Death of General Sani Abacha
August 3, 1996
Nigeria Wins Olympic Gold in Football
November 10, 1995
Ken Saro-Wiwa Hanged With Eight Others
June 21, 1994
Nigeria’s Super Eagles Play in Their First FIFA World Cup
November 17, 1993
General Sani Abacha Overthrows Shonekan
August 26, 1993
Babangida Steps Down
June 12, 1993
Presidential Election & Annulment of 1993
May 22, 1992
Deregulation of the Banking Sector
December 12, 1991
Abuja Becomes Nigeria’s Capital
August 27, 1991
Creation of 30 States
April 22, 1990
Failed Coup Against Babangida
June 4, 1986
Introduction of Structural Adjustment Program (SAP)
August 27, 1985
Military Coup of 1985
January 17, 1983
“Ghana Must Go” — Mass Deportation of 2 Million Immigrants
December 31, 1983
Military Coup of 1983
March 22, 1980
Nigeria Wins First AFCON Title
October 1, 1979
Return to Civilian Rule
May 22, 1977
Introduction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
January 15, 1977
FESTAC ‘77
February 3, 1976
Creation of 19 States
February 1, 1976
Abuja Chosen as Nigeria’s New Federal Capital
February 13, 1976
General Murtala Mohammed Assassinated
July 29, 1975
General Yakubu Gowon Overthrown
January 22, 1973
Plane crash in Kano killing 176 people
July 12, 1971
Nigeria Joins OPEC
July 12, 1971
Nigeria joins Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC
January 15, 1970
End of the Biafran War
August 9, 1967
Biafra Invades Mid-West Region
May 27, 1967
Nigeria Restructured: 12 States Replace 4 Regions
January 5, 1967
Aburi Accord — Last Chance for Peace
July 6, 1967
Start of the Biafran War
September 29, 1966
Anti-Igbo Pogrom in Northern Nigeria
February 23, 1966
Secession of the “Niger Delta Republic”
January 16, 1966
Formation of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria
July 29, 1966
Counter-Coup of 1966
January 15, 1966
First Military Coup
October 11, 1965
1965 Western Nigeria Regional Elections and the Political Crisis
June 1, 1965
Completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery
December 1, 1964
1964 Tiv Uprising
December 1, 1964
National parliamentary election
October 1, 1963
Nigerian First Republic
June 1, 1962
Tennessee Nigeria Offshore Oil Licence
February 11, 1961
1961 British Cameroons referendum
October 1, 1960
Independence
March 4, 1958
Establishment of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
March 14, 1957
First Miss Nigeria Pageant
January 15, 1956
Discovery of Oil at Oloibiri
October 22, 1954
Lyttleton Constitution Introduced
July 11, 1946
Richard Constitution Introduced
November 20, 1929
Aba Women’s Riot
March 12, 1922
Clifford Constitution Introduced
January 1, 1914
Amalgamation of Northern & Southern Nigeria
March 15, 1903