Nigeria Independence Timeline

Britain prohibits subjects from trafficking in slaves in the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Even though it didn't abolish the practice of slavery, it did encourage British action to press other nation-states to abolish their own slave trades.

The Treaty Between Great Britain and Lagos was an agreement between the United Kingdom and Oba Akitoye, the newly installed Oba of Lagos.

Britain consolidates its hold over what it calls the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, governs through local leaders.

The British conquered most of Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria, including the Sokoto Caliphate.

Lord Frederick Lugard, Governor of Northern Nigeria, established a system of indirect rule. Indirect rule was a system of governance used by the British and French to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in Africa and Asia, through pre-existing indigenous power structures.

Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated into Nigeria and the British Crown gained monopoly rights over mineral extraction.

Part of former German colony Kamerun is added to Nigeria under the League of Nations mandate.

Nigeria entered its period of decolonization and started to grow in Nigerian nationalism.

Nigeria holds its first national election to set up an independent government. Northern politicians won a majority of seats in the Parliament.

Nigeria gained independence from Britain under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and President Nnamdi Azikiwe. An independence movement succeeded in gaining Nigeria its independence.