Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
Military regimes, coups, economic policies, and the transition to democratic governance in Nigeria from 1966 to 1999.
Nigeria’s National Leaders, 27 August 1985 to 29 May 2023, A Timeline of Power and Transition
Nigeria’s national leadership between 27 August 1985 and 29 May 2023 unfolds as a continuous story of authority changing hands under very different conditions....
From Coup to Catastrophe: How Nigeria’s 1966 Political Upheavals Sparked Civil War
Nigeria’s first republic, established after independence in 1960, was a fragile federation of diverse ethnic groups. By 1966, political crises, ethnic rivalries, and violent...
How January 15 1966 Changed Nigeria Forever
On 15 January 1966 Nigeria experienced its first military coup since independence. A group of junior army officers rose against the civilian government of...
Ironsi and the January 1966 Coup: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Military Takeover
On the fifteenth of January 1966, Nigeria experienced its first military coup, orchestrated by a group of junior army officers, including Major Chukwuma Kaduna...
Why Ironsi Survived the January 1966 Coup
The survival of Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi during Nigeria’s first military coup on 15 January 1966 remains one of the most consequential moments...
Why Lt-Col Unegbe’s Death Still Matters in Nigeria’s History
When Nigeria’s first military coup took place on 15 January 1966, national attention focused on the dramatic deaths of prime ministers, premiers, and senior...
Nigeria’s 1966 Turning Point: How the January Coup and July Counter‑Coup Changed the Nation
Nigeria’s political landscape was profoundly altered in 1966 when two successive military coups tore through the First Republic within six months. First came the...
Festus Okotie‑Eboh: Architect of Nigeria’s Finance and First Republic Leader
Festus Samuel Okotie‑Eboh was born on 18 July 1912 in Warri, Southern Nigeria Protectorate. He was educated at Sapele Baptist School and initially worked...
Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari: How a Senior Nigerian Officer Fell in the January 1966 Coup
On 15 January 1966, Nigeria witnessed its first military coup. The uprising, led by a faction of junior army officers, resulted in the assassination...
How Abraham Adesanya Survived Violence and Led Nigeria’s Pro Democracy Stand
In the mid 1990s, Nigeria was living under one of the most restrictive political periods in its post independence history. Military governance under Sani...