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| 1984, Jan. 1 |
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| Maj. Gen. Muhammad Buhari led a successful coup against the Shagari government. | 1 |
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| 1985, April–May |
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| Buhari expelled almost 800,000 immigrants in Nigeria as part of an economic austerity program. Approximately half of those expelled were Ghanaians. | 2 |
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| Aug. 27 |
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| Army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida seized power. He announced plans for the return of civilian rule. | 3 |
| Nigeria moved uneasily toward civilian rule. Babangida seized power with the goal of eventually restoring civilian rule. Early in his administration he improved human rights conditions and lifted government restrictions on the opposition. In May 1988, the swearing in of a constituent assembly signaled a definite swing toward elective government. But outbreaks of unrest later in the year indefinitely postponed the implementation of full civilian rule. | 4 |
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