1966 in Nigeria

Years in Nigeria:	1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Centuries:	19th century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
Years:	1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

Events in the year 1966 in Nigeria.

Military coup

On January 15, 1966, Nigeria was jolted awake by its first military coup d'état. Across the country, high-ranking politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Festus Okotie-Eboh, and Ladoke Akintola, were assassinated by young, ambitious officers. The coup was orchestrated by a group of young majors and was subsequently referred to as the "Coup of the Five Majors", after a comment made by its most visible member, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. The mutineers overthrew several cities but were overpowered and imprisoned after two days.

A new government was formed, and Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi became Head of State. However, six months later, a counter-coup occurred during which he and his host, Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, were assassinated. Yakubu Gowon succeeded him.

Individuals of Igbo descent, particularly those from the Eastern Region, were targeted in several violent attacks. Chinua Achebe's book "There Was a Country" provides a powerful personal account of these events.^[1] He recounts how soldiers searched for him at his former address and then his office, apparently suspecting that his novel A Man of the People was connected to the coup.

According to historical accounts, in October 1966, the Federal Public Service Commission relieved 40 non-Eastern Nigerian workers of their duties, giving them an ultimatum to return to their home regions or permanently forfeit their jobs. Fearing for their safety amidst the ongoing unrest, these individuals fled the areas where they had previously been employed across the country.^[2]

Agriculture

Prior to the oil boom, Nigeria's economy was largely agrarian, with the Kano Groundnut Pyramids serving as a prominent feature in the northern region. These pyramids, consisting of thousands of bagged groundnuts, thrived as a hub of business activity, providing significant financial windfall for local farmers as the crop was exported globally.^[3]

Sports

In November 1966, at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, Nigerian athlete Samuel Igun won the gold medal in the hop, step, and jump event, setting a new games record and placing Africa on the global sporting map.

Entertainment

That same year, Nigerian musician Sir Victor Uwaifo received the first-ever gold record in Africa for his hit song "Joromi", which was presented to him by Mr. Jan Lewen, the Managing Director of Philips Records West Africa.^[4]

Incumbents

President:
- Until 16 January: Nnamdi Azikiwe
- 16 January – 29 July: Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
- 29 July – 1 August: vacant
- Starting 1 August: Yakubu Gowon
Prime Minister:
- Until 15 January: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
- Starting 16 January: position abolished
Vice President:
- Until 16 January: position not in existence
- 16 January – 29 July: Babafemi Ogundipe
- Starting 29 July: Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey
Senate President:
- Until 15 January: Nwafor Orizu
- Starting 15 January: position abolished
House Speaker:
- Until 15 January: Ibrahim Jalo Waziri
- Starting 15 January: position abolished
Commissioner of Defence:
- Until 15 January: Inuwa Wada
- 15 January – 29 July: vacant
- Starting 1 August: Yakubu Gowon
Chief of Army Staff:
- Until 15 January: Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
- 15 January – 29 July: Yakubu Gowon
- Starting 29 July: Joseph Akahan
Chief Justice: Sir Adetokunbo Ademola

Events

January

January 10, 1966 — Diplomats of the British Commonwealth meet in Lagos to discuss the Rhodesian secession crisis.^[5]
January 15, 1966 — The first of many military coups in Nigeria deposes the Nigerian First Republic; Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated along with the premier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello, and the Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh.
January 16, 1966 — The Federal Military Government is formed, with General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi as the Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Federal Republic.

July

July 16, 1966 —The "Lagos Convention" calls for Nigeria's entry to the Common Market of the European Economic Community. Babafemi Ogundipe signs on behalf of the government. The convention will remain unratified and no agreement will go into effect until the signing of the Lomé Convention in 1976.^[6]
July 29, 1966 — A counter-coup by military officers of northern extraction, deposes the Federal Military Government; General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi is assassinated along with Adekunle Fajuyi, Military Governor of Western Region. General Yakubu Gowon becomes Head of State.

References

^ Chinua Achebe (24 September 2013). There was a Country. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780143124030.
^ Achebe, Chinua (2012). There was a country: a personal history of Biafra. New York, NY: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-59420-482-1.
^ Ekundare, Richard Olufemi (1973). An economic history of Nigeria 1860-1960. New York: Africana Publ. ISBN 978-0-416-75150-5.
^ Olorunyomi, Sola; Fela (2003). Afrobeat! Fela and the imagined continent. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press. ISBN 978-1-59221-072-5.
^ "Anti-Rhodesia Plan Is Sought At Lagos Talk: Crush Riots Barring Diplomats Route", Chicago Tribune, 11 January 1966.
^ Victor A. O. Adetula, "Nigeria and the European Union: The Lome Years and Beyond"; in Europe at the Crossroads, ed. Basil R. Jones; New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2007; pp. 134–137.

[1] Chinua Achebe (24 September 2013). There was a Country. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780143124030.

[2] Achebe, Chinua (2012). There was a country: a personal history of Biafra. New York, NY: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-59420-482-1.

[3] Ekundare, Richard Olufemi (1973). An economic history of Nigeria 1860-1960. New York: Africana Publ. ISBN 978-0-416-75150-5.

[4] Olorunyomi, Sola; Fela (2003). Afrobeat! Fela and the imagined continent. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press. ISBN 978-1-59221-072-5.

[5] "Anti-Rhodesia Plan Is Sought At Lagos Talk: Crush Riots Barring Diplomats Route", Chicago Tribune, 11 January 1966.

[6] Victor A. O. Adetula, "Nigeria and the European Union: The Lome Years and Beyond"; in Europe at the Crossroads, ed. Basil R. Jones; New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2007; pp. 134–137.

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