Cheatsheet: Nigerian History & Constitution

1. Pre-Colonial Nigeria

1.1 Major Kingdoms and Empires

1.2 Political Systems

• Centralized systems: Benin, Oyo, Kanem-Bornu (hereditary monarchies with defined political structures)
• Decentralized systems: Igbo (village republics), Tiv (gerontocratic councils)
• Theocratic system: Sokoto Caliphate combined religious and political authority
• Age-grade systems: Common in southeastern Nigeria for social organization

1.3 Economic Activities

• Agriculture: farming of yam, cassava, millet, guinea corn
• Trade: Trans-Saharan trade (gold, salt, slaves, kola nuts)
• Crafts: bronze casting (Benin), leather work (Hausa), wood carving (Yoruba)
• Currency: cowries, iron bars, brass rods, salt, cloth

2. Colonial Period (1861-1960)

2.1 British Colonization Timeline

2.2 Key Colonial Administrators

• Lord Frederick Lugard: Governor-General; architect of amalgamation (1914); introduced indirect rule
• Sir Hugh Clifford: Governor (1919-1925); introduced Legislative Council
• Sir Arthur Richards: Governor (1943-1948); introduced Richards Constitution (1946)
• Sir John Macpherson: Governor-General (1948-1955); Macpherson Constitution (1951)
• Sir James Robertson: Last Governor-General (1955-1960)

2.3 Colonial Constitutions

2.4 Nationalist Movements and Leaders

3. Post-Independence Nigeria (1960-Present)

3.1 Independence and First Republic (1960-1966)

• October 1, 1960: Independence achieved; became a constitutional monarchy
• October 1, 1963: Nigeria became a republic; Nnamdi Azikiwe became first President
• Parliamentary system of government
• Three regions: Northern, Western, Eastern
• Ended by military coup on January 15, 1966

3.2 Military Coups and Regimes

3.3 Nigerian Republics

3.4 Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970)

• Duration: July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970
• Cause: Secession of Eastern Region as Republic of Biafra
• Biafran leader: Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu
• Federal leader: Gen. Yakubu Gowon
• Ended with "No Victor, No Vanquished" policy
• Creation of 12 states from 4 regions before war

3.5 Presidents of Fourth Republic

4. The Nigerian Constitution

4.1 Constitutional Development

4.2 Structure of Government (1999 Constitution)

4.2.1 Executive Branch

• President: Head of State and Commander-in-Chief; 4-year term (maximum 2 terms)
• Vice President: Succeeds President if office becomes vacant
• Federal Executive Council: Ministers appointed by President
• Qualification: 35 years minimum age; Nigerian citizen by birth; educated to secondary school level

4.2.2 Legislative Branch

4.2.3 Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court: Highest court; final court of appeal; headed by Chief Justice of Nigeria
• Court of Appeal: Intermediate appellate court
• Federal High Court: Handles federal matters
• State High Courts, Magistrate Courts, Customary Courts, Sharia Courts (in northern states)

4.3 Fundamental Rights (Chapter IV)

• Right to life (Section 33)
• Right to dignity of human person (Section 34)
• Right to personal liberty (Section 35)
• Right to fair hearing (Section 36)
• Right to private and family life (Section 37)
• Right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (Section 38)
• Right to freedom of expression and press (Section 39)
• Right to peaceful assembly and association (Section 40)
• Right to freedom of movement (Section 41)
• Right to freedom from discrimination (Section 42)
• Right to acquire property (Section 44)

4.4 Citizenship

4.5 Directive Principles of State Policy (Chapter II)

• Political objectives: sovereignty, national integration, democratic system
• Economic objectives: suitable employment, just minimum wage, equal pay for equal work
• Social objectives: free and compulsory primary education, university education as directed
• Educational objectives: free education at all levels when practicable
• Environmental objectives: protect and improve the environment

4.6 Federal Character Principle

• Section 14(3): Ensures diversity in government composition
• Prevents dominance by persons from few states or ethnic groups
• Applies to appointments and distribution of resources
• Federal Character Commission enforces compliance

4.7 State Creation

• 1960: 3 regions (Northern, Western, Eastern)
• 1963: 4 regions (Mid-Western created)
• 1967: 12 states created by Gowon
• 1976: 19 states under Murtala Mohammed
• 1987: 21 states under Babangida
• 1991: 30 states under Babangida
• 1996: 36 states under Abacha
• Current: 36 states + Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)

5. Key National Symbols and Facts

5.1 National Symbols

5.2 Geopolitical Zones

• North-West: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara (7 states)
• North-East: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe (6 states)
• North-Central: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, FCT (6 states + FCT)
• South-West: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo (6 states)
• South-East: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo (5 states)
• South-South: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers (6 states)

5.3 Important National Dates

5.4 Major Ethnic Groups

• Hausa-Fulani: Predominantly in northern Nigeria; Islamic; largest ethnic group
• Yoruba: Southwestern Nigeria; significant in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti
• Igbo: Southeastern Nigeria; mainly in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo
• Other major groups: Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe, Gwari
• Over 250 ethnic groups in total

6. Constitutional Amendments and Reforms

6.1 Amendment Process

• Requires two-thirds majority of National Assembly (both chambers)
• Approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly (24 out of 36 states)
• President's assent required
• Section 9 of 1999 Constitution specifies procedure

6.2 Electoral System

6.2.1 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

• Established by Section 153 of 1999 Constitution
• Responsible for conducting elections (federal, state, local government)
• Chairman appointed by President (subject to Senate confirmation)
• 12 National Commissioners

6.2.2 Presidential Election Requirements

• Simple majority of votes cast
• At least 25% of votes in two-thirds of all states (24 states) and FCT
• If not met, second round between top two candidates

6.3 Local Government System

• Third tier of government (constitutional status)
• 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria
• Functions: primary education, healthcare, sanitation, markets
• Sources of revenue: federal allocation, state allocation, internal revenue
• Chairman as head; Legislative Council

6.4 Public Services

7. International Relations and Memberships

7.1 Regional Organizations

• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): Founding member in 1975
• African Union (AU): Successor to OAU; Nigeria is a key member
• Lake Chad Basin Commission: Member nation
• Niger Basin Authority: Member nation

7.2 International Organizations

• United Nations: Member since 1960
• Commonwealth of Nations: Member nation
• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): Joined 1971
• Non-Aligned Movement: Member nation
• World Trade Organization (WTO): Member nation

7.3 Foreign Policy Principles

• African centerpiece: Africa as cornerstone of foreign policy
• Non-alignment: Not aligned to any power bloc
• Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity
• Peaceful settlement of disputes
• Anti-apartheid stance (historical)

8. Economic and Social Development

8.1 Natural Resources

• Crude oil: Major export; discovered in Oloibiri (1956); commercial production (1958)
• Natural gas: Significant reserves
• Solid minerals: Tin, coal, limestone, iron ore, gold
• Agricultural products: Cocoa, rubber, palm oil, groundnut, cotton

8.2 National Development Plans

• First National Development Plan (1962-1968)
• Second National Development Plan (1970-1974): Post-civil war reconstruction
• Third National Development Plan (1975-1980)
• Fourth National Development Plan (1981-1985)
• Vision 2020 (launched 2009): Economic development blueprint

8.3 Key Parastatals and Agencies

• Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC): Oil and gas
• Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN): Monetary policy; established 1958
• Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): Anti-corruption; established 2003
• Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC): Anti-corruption; established 2000
• National Youth Service Corps (NYSC): Established 1973; one-year service for graduates
• National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA): Drug control