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| 1967–70 |
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| Nigerian Civil War (also known as the Biafran War). The Nigerian federation was unstable from the outset. Northerners and southerners disagreed over the composition of the federal House of Representatives, with those from the south greatly fearing northern domination. In May 1967, Igbos (from the south) proclaimed the independent state of Biafra, thus provoking civil war. During the next two and a half years of fighting, northern-based federalists battled southern-based secessionists. The war claimed at least 1 million lives, most lost through starvation and disease rather than military action. The war ended in 1970 when the federal government defeated the breakaway state of Biafra. | 1 |
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| 1967, May 30 |
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| Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced the formation of the state of Biafra, marking the secession of the country's Igbo-dominated eastern region. During the next three years, Nigeria was plagued by civil war as federal troops fought to regain control over Biafra. The war left 100,000 soldiers and more than 1 million civilians dead. In the end, the Biafran secessionists were defeated. | 2 |
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| 1975, July 29 |
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| Gen. Murtala Muhammad ousted Gowon in a successful coup. The Muhammad government trimmed the country's bureaucracy and announced plans for an eventual return to civilian rule. | 3 |
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| 1976, Feb. 13 |
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| Head of state Muhammad was assassinated in Lagos. Chief of staff Gen. Olasegan Obasanjo was named to succeed Muhammad. | 4 |
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| 1979 |
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| The Obasanjo government lifted the ban on independent political activity. Fifty new political parties were formed. | 5 |
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| July–Aug |
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| In nationwide elections held over a period of six weeks, Shehu Shagari's National Party of Nigeria won a plurality of votes. | 6 |
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| Oct. 1 |
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| Shagari was sworn in as head of state. His rule coincided with a severe economic slump and rise in corruption. | 7 |
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