Chronology of major events in Nigeria 1960 - 2000

October 1960: Nigeria Gains independence from Britain
October 1963: Nigeria becomes a Republic
January 1966: First military coup led by Maj. Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogu
July 1966: Counter coup by Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon.
May 1967: Nigerian Civil War starts
May 1967: Gowon divides Four Regions into 12 states.
Jan. 1970: Nigerian Civil War ends
1972: Nigeria changes currency from Pound to Naira, introduces metric
system
1973: Nigeria switches from left- to right-hand driving
1973:  Nigeria hosts All-Africa Games
1973:  Nigeria inaugurates National Youth Service Corps
1974:  Gowon reneges on planned handover in 1976
1975:  Birth of Economic Community of West African States.
July 1975: Brig. Murtala Mohammed topples Gowon in Military Coup
1976:  Murtala increases states to 19
Feb. 1976: Murtala killed in failed military coup, Olusegun Obasanjo takes
over
1977: Nigeria hosts second Black and African Festival of arts and culture
Oct. 1979: Obasanjo hands over power to Shehu Shagari, Second Republic
begins
1980: Nigeria hosts and wins African Nations Cup for first time
Dec. 1983: Gen. Muhammadu Buhari topples Shagari in military coup
August 1985: Gen. Ibrahim Babangida ousts Buhari in military putsch
1985:  Nigeria wins first-ever global soccer title (U-16 FIFA/KODAK CUP)
1987:  Failed military coup led by Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa
1987:  Babangida increased states to 21
1990:  Failed military coup led by Maj. Gideon Orkar
1990:  Nigeria spearheads formation of ECOMOG
1991:  Babangida creates nine more states, bringing total to 30
June 1993: Babangida reneges on hangover plan, annulled presidential poll
1993:  Ernest Shonekan assumes office as head of interim government
November 1993: Gen. Sani Abacha seizes power from Shonekan
1995: Commonwealth Slaps Sanctions on Nigeria
1995:  Government announces aborted 'Coup' against Abacha
1996:  Abacha increases states to 36
1996: Nigeria wins first Olympic gold medals in long jump and soccer
1997:  Another 'coup' against Abacha foiled
8 June 1998: Abacha dies suddenly, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar assumes office
29 May 1999: Abdulsalami cedes power to Obasanjo.
1999:  Nigeria hosts World Youth Soccer Championship
2000:  Nigeria Co-hosts African Nations Cup with Ghana
2000: Nigeria joins league of world gas producers