- Britain merged the northern and southern protectorates on 1 January 1914
- Independence came at midnight on 30 September 1960, at the Lagos Race Course
- Nigeria became a republic on 1 October 1963, with Nnamdi Azikiwe as president
Nigeria at 66: how 1 October 1960 came about, and why it still matters
As the country marks a low-key 66th anniversary on Thursday, here is the road from amalgamation to independence and the republic that followed.
On Thursday, Nigeria turns 66. The Federal Government says this year’s celebration is low-key: prayers and a world press conference last week, then a public lecture on Wednesday and a nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu on 1 October. Before the speeches begin, here is a quick refresher on how the day came to be. The road to 1960 Modern…