Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
Military regimes, coups, economic policies, and the transition to democratic governance in Nigeria from 1966 to 1999.
Nigeria’s Supreme Military Council: How Military Power Shaped the Nation
Nigeria’s political landscape was profoundly shaped by military intervention between 1966 and 1999. At the heart of military rule was the Supreme Military Council...
When the Army Took Over: Nigeria’s Constitution Suspended and Rule by Decree
On 15 January 1966, a faction of young army officers staged Nigeria’s first military coup, overthrowing the civilian government led by Prime Minister Abubakar...
When the Army Stepped In: Civil–Military Relations Before Nigeria’s First Coup
Before 15 January 1966, Nigeria’s First Republic faced severe political challenges. The country was experiencing intense ethnic competition, contested elections, and regional rivalries. Civilian...
Action Group Crisis of 1962: The Political Breakdown That Led Nigeria to Military Rule
Barely two years after independence, Nigeria faced its first major constitutional breakdown. In the Western Region, political rivalry within the Action Group escalated into...
Western Nigeria in Turmoil: How the Action Group Crisis Led to the 1962 State of Emergency
In 1962, Nigeria’s Western Region was engulfed in a profound political crisis after a leadership rupture within the dominant regional party, the Action Group...
From Hope to Collapse: The End of Nigeria’s First Republic
Nigeria gained independence on 1 October 1960 and adopted a parliamentary system based on the British Westminster model. In 1963, the country became a...
Federalism, Ethnicity, and Political Rivalry in Pre-Independence Nigeria: How Regional Politics Shaped the Nation
The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 introduced decentralised governance, giving regional assemblies limited self-rule for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Regions. While this was not...
Legacy of Empire: How British Military Traditions Shaped the Nigerian Army
The Nigerian Army owes much of its foundation and organisational culture to British colonial military traditions. Formed to enforce imperial authority, protect trade interests,...
From Colonial Force to State Power: How British Rule Shaped Nigeria’s Security and Governance
Modern Nigeria emerged from a long period of British colonial rule that fundamentally reshaped political authority and state institutions. Between the late nineteenth century...
January 15 1966: The Coup That Toppled Nigeria’s First Republic and Cost Its Leaders Their Lives
On 15 January 1966, Nigeria’s First Republic ended abruptly in a violent military coup that shocked the nation. Senior political leaders and key military officers were...