. . . Brief Memories of Nigeria History, Politics, Government and Geography
By Livinus Nnebedum
The 1st storey building in Nigeria was established at Badagry in Lagos, also the 1st primary school was established in Badagry.
In 1898 Nigeria was named “Niger Area” by Flora Shaw which later was modified as Nigeria in 1945. In 1906, FCT of Nigeria was re-located from Calabar to Lokoja. Then it was later relocated from Lokoja to Lagos and finally in Dec 12, 1991 to Abuja.
Lord Luggard is the 1st Governor General of Nigeria and has his base at Lokoja. Monument is still there at Lokoja close to Niger-Benue Rivers. This writer (Livinus Nnebedum ) on his trip to Abuja in June 2010 saw Lord Luggard House well preserved as Historical and tourist Centre.
In 1947 (being “Oye” market day in Igbo language) Nigeria witnessed total Eclipse of the Sun. In Adazi –Nnukwu Anambra State, it occurred at about 3pm when market women were returning from “Oye” market.
On 29th March 2006 Wednesday, (“Nkwo” Market day in Igbo language) between 9am and 10:30am across Nigeria, the total Eclipse of the sun occurred. This writer witnessed the Eclipse of the sun on that day at Aguata Local Government Secretariat between 9:30am and 10 am. It was like very late in the evening just as at 7pm. It is recalled that 2006 is the census year in Nigeria.
The 1st wrestler in Nigeria to win a World Belt was Power Mike Okpala, a native of Neni in Anambra State.
Mungo Park discovered the source of River Niger in 1795 while Richard Lander discovered the mouth of River Niger in 1830 where it enters the Atlantic Ocean. The source of River Niger is Fouta Jallon (Fouta DJalon) Highlands in Guinea. It rises from Fouta Djalon highlands in Guinea, pass through Mali and Nigeria. It joins River Benue at Lokoja and eventually enters into Atlantic Ocean.
Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the World. One time Common Wealth Secretary General is Chief Emeka Anyaoku. He hails from Obosi in Anambra State.
The population of Nigeria was 17million in 1921. In 1931 it was 21 million, 31 million in 1953 and 55.67 million in 1963. In 1991 official Census it was 88.99 million. In 2006 latest official census, it was 140 million. As at 2019 it is estimated that the population of Nigeria is 198 million, while the world population is about 7 billion.
At No 10 Downing Street London, then Prime Minister (PM) of U.K. Mr. Harold Macmillan announced the date of Independence for Nigeria; Present were Zik, Awolowo, Sardauna and Balewa from Nigeria and Macmillan and Lord Lennox – Boyd from Britain (Restoration of Nigerian Democracy by Zik, Published 1978).
In 1969 Nigerian troops launched attack in an attempt to reach Nnewi and captured Agulu and Adazi – Nnukwu which threatened the Biafran heartland (Frederick Forsyth, 1977). The Biafran troops fought back and the Nigerian troops retired back to Awka. That was during the Nigeria Civil War.
Christianity came to Igbo land in 1857. Northern and Southern Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914 by Lord Luggard. In 1805 Mungo Park died at New Bussa in the River Niger. The 1st Air Route was established in Nigeria between Lagos and Kano in 1935.
In 1859 the 1st Newspaper called “Iwe Irohin” was established in Nigeria at Abeokuta by Rev. Henry Townsend. It was in Yoruba Language.
Daily Times Newspaper was established in 1926. Niger Bridge was opened in 1964. There are about 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, some of them include Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, TIV, Edo, Kanuri, Nupe, Urhobo, Ibibio, Ijaw, Igala, Efik, Itshekiri, Oron, Idoma, Annang etc.
Nigeria is surrounded in the North by Niger Republic, in the South by Atlantic Ocean, East by Cameroon and West by Republic of Benin (Diahomey)
Livinus Nnebedum is a Visiting Lecturer at Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze in CEP/Weekend & Sandwich Programs.
