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| 1998, June 8 |
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| Military tyrant and acting president Gen. Sani Abacha died of a heart attack. The resultant transitional military government was led by army chief Abdusdem Abubakar. Pres. Abubakar freed political prisoners in an act of reconciliation, but foul play was suspected when former opposition leader Moshood Abiola mysteriously died just before his scheduled release. | 1 |
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| 1999, May 29 |
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| The first popularly elected president in over 15 years, Olusegun Obasanjo took power. The former general and military ruler faced increased civil violence between Muslims and Christians, who were fighting over the spread of Islamic Law (shari`a) in the densely Muslim northern part of the country. This conflict was compounded by social and economic disorder due to rising fuel prices and billions of dollars having been stolen by past regimes. | 2 |
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| 2000, Jan.–March |
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| Muslim-Christian clashes caused the death of more than 800 people in Northern Nigeria. | 3 |
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| Aug. 26 |
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| The first U.S. head of state to visit Nigeria in 22 years, Pres. Bill Clinton spoke in response to increased religious and political violence and to encourage the economic success of Nigeria. | 4 |
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| Sept.–Oct |
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| The Ogoni people and international environmentalists continued to protest the drilling of wells along the southern coast of Nigeria. Petroleum from these wells represented a substantial portion of the estimated 22.5 billion barrels of oil available as a natural resource in Nigeria. | 5 |
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