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The history of Nigeria - the acclaimed 'Giant of Africa' - can be traced to prehistoric settlers living in the area as early as 11000 BC. Numerous ancient African civilizations settled in the region that is today Nigeria, such as the Benin Empire, the Kingdom of Nri and the Oyo Empire.
Islam reached Nigeria through the Hausa States during the 11th century, while Christianity came to Nigeria in the 15th century through Augustinian and Capuchin monks from Portugal.
The Songhai Empire also occupied part of the region. Lagos was invaded by British forces in 1851 and formally annexed in 1861. Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901. Colonization lasted until 1960, when an independence movement succeeded in gaining Nigeria its independence.
Nigeria first became a republic in 1963, but succumbed to military rule three years later after a bloody coup d'état. A separatist movement later formed the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three-year Nigerian Civil War. Nigeria became a republic once again after a new constitution was written in 1979.
However, the republic was short-lived, when the military seized power again four years later. A new republic was planned to established in August 1993, but was dissolved once again by General Sani Abacha three months later. Abacha died in 1998.
Thereafter, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar took over the mantle of leadership. Later in 1999, Gen. Abubakar willingly handed over to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to pilot yet another democratic dispensation, which ushered in a fourth republic in the country. This era ended three decades of intermittent military rule.
The Rostrum had earlier reported that the Nigeria's Federal Government (FG) under the leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari had declared Monday, 2nd October 2017 as public holiday in the spirit of the celebration since the actual day fell on Sunday, a non-working day.
N.B: Stay tuned on Rostrum for further details on "Nigeria Agog As She Marks 57th Independence Anniversary".
Scripted by: Rostrum
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