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| 17. Nigeria |
| 1960, Oct. 1 |
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| Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Having learned from its experiences in Ghana, the British sought to avoid mass political agitation by negotiating with Nigerian political leaders. However, the Nigerian political leaders inherited a deeply divided and politically unstable country. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the country's first prime minister; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was named governor-general. | 1 |
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| 1966, Jan. 15 |
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| Igbo army officers staged an unsuccessful coup in which Prime Minister Balewa was assassinated. Army commander Gen. Johnson Aguiya-Ironsi restored order by putting a military regime in place. | 2 |
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| May |
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| Northerners overthrew the military government and replaced it with a new one, killing Aguiya-Ironsi and others in the process. Army chief of staff Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon was chosen to head the new regime. | 3 |
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