When was lagos colonised

He charged the civilian government with economic mismanagement, widespread corruption, election fraud, and a general lack of concern for the problems of Nigerians. General Buhari also pledged to restore wealth to Nigeria and to return the government to civilian decree.

Despite relative popularity for its no-nonsense approach in tackling corruption, the Buhari government was peacefully overthrown by the SMC's third-ranking member, Army Chief of Staff Major. General Ibrahim Babangida, in August Babangida moved to restore freedom of the press and to release political detainees being held without charge.

As part of a month economic crisis, he announced stringent pay cuts for the military, police, and civil servants and endorsed similar cuts for the private sector.

Imports of rice, corn, and wheat were prohibited. Babangida orchestrated a national debate on proposed economic reform and recovery measures, which reportedly convinced him of intense opposition to an economic revival package dependent on an International Monetary Fund IMF loan. In early , a constituent assembly completed work on a constitution for the Third Republic, and political activity again was permitted.

In April , mid-level officers tried and botched to overthrow Babangida, and 69 accused coup plotters were later executed after secret trials before military tribunals. In December the first stage of partisan elections was held at the local government level, followed by gubernatorial and state legislative elections in December ; elections were declared peaceful but turnout was low. According to reports Babangida canceled primaries scheduled for August and September due to fraud.

All announced contenders were disqualified from again standing for president once a new election format was selected. Subsequent to delayed promises for elections in , the government finally held a presidential election on June 12, Most observers deemed the election as Nigeria's fairest elections. Early returns indicated that Yoruba businessman M. Abiola had won by a convincing victory.

But on June 23, Babangida, using several pending lawsuits as pretence, annulled the election, throwing Nigeria into chaos. Scores of people were killed in riots before Babangida agreed to hand power to an "interim government" on August Babangida then attempted to renege on his decision. Without popular and military support, he was forced to hand over to Ernest Shonekan, a prominent nonpartisan businessman.

He was to rule until new elections, scheduled for February With the country sliding into turmoil, Defense Minister Sani Abacha rapidly assumed power and forced Shonekan's "resignation" on November 17, Abacha dissolved all democratic political institutions and replaced elected governors with military officers.

Abacha promised to return the government to civilian rule but refused to reveal a timeframe. Following the annulment of the June 12 election, the United States and other nations imposed various sanctions on Nigeria, including restrictions on travel by government officials and their families and suspension of arms sales and military assistance.

More sanctions were imposed as a result of Nigeria's failure to gain full certification for its counter-narcotics efforts. Defense Minister Sani Abacha surrounded by soldiers. Although Abacha's takeover was initially welcomed by many Nigerians, disappointments grew rapidly.

Many opposition figures formed the National Democratic Coalition NADECO , to campaign for an immediate return to civilian regime, and most Nigerians boycotted the May polls for delegates to a government-sponsored Constitutional Conference. Abiola re-emerged and was arrested on June In an October 1, address to the nation, Gen. Sani Abacha announced the timetable for a 3-year transition to civilian rule. Widely expected to succeed himself as a civilian president on October 1, , he remained head of state until his death on June 8 of that year.

During the Abacha regime, the government continued to enforce its arbitrary authority through the federal security system--the military, the state security service, and the courts. Under Abacha, all branches of the security forces committed serious human rights abuses. Abacha was replaced by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who subsequently released almost all known civilian political detainees and decreased the number of reported human rights abuses. Pending the promulgation of the constitution written by the constitutional conference in , the government observed some provisions of the and constitutions.

Neither Abacha nor Abubakar lifted the decree suspending the constitution, and the constitution was not implemented. The judiciary's authority and independence was significantly impaired during the Abacha era by the military regime's arrogation of judicial power and prohibition of court review of its action. The court system continued to be hampered by corruption and lack of resources after Abacha's death.

In an attempt to alleviate such problems, Abubakar's government implemented a civil service pay raise and other reforms. In August , the Abubakar government appointed the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to conduct elections for local government councils, state legislatures and governors, the National Assembly, and president. Former military head of state Olusegun Obasanjo, freed from prison by Abubakar, ran as a civilian candidate and won the presidential election.

Irregularities marred the vote, and the defeated candidate, Chief Olu Falae, challenged the electoral results and Obasanjo's victory in court. The emergence of a democratic Nigeria in May ended 16 years of consecutive military rule.

Olusegun Obasanjo became the steward of a country suffering economic stagnation and the deterioration of most of its democratic institutions. The Colonial Hospital. Recreational activity by the Europeans. Group photo taken by Europeans mostly British in Lagos. Anglo Colonial Trading, Broad Street. Ollivant , From the collection of: The Centenary Project.

Ollivant, Marina. Bank of British West Africa, Marina. Piers by the coast , From the collection of: The Centenary Project. Built in , it was the official residence of the colonial governors. George's Hall. Tennis courts at Government House. The old Carter Bridge. One of the first trains. Colonial architectural styles in this photo as well as those on the left. Streets of Yaba on the Mainland. Lagos in the s.

View of Lagos in the s. Carter Bridge and Eko Bridge in the s. Victoria Island with Five Cowries Creek in the foreground. Tin Can Island. The Centenary Project. Originally this was due to their involvement in the slave trade.

However with its abolition and ban in the Nineteenth Century, it switched its interest to Palm Oil for use in soaps and as lubricants for machines. However, Britain's abolition of slavery had been unitlateral and plenty of others took their place. The Royal Navy was therefore tasked with searching and impounding any ships involved in the trade. The islands and deltas of the Nigerian coastline would prove a difficult coast to police with its myriad of inlets, shifting channels and deadly diseases.

The Royal Navy originally used the nearby island of Fernando Po as a base of operations. However, the Spanish claimed the island back in