The Fourth Republic
The 1999 constitution and return to democracy, Obasanjo's reforms and debt relief, the telecoms revolution, Yar'Adua and the Niger Delta amnesty (2009), Goodluck Jonathan, Boko Haram, the 2015 opposition victory, Buhari's presidencies, the 2016 and 2020 recessions, #EndSARS, the 2023 election, fuel subsidy removal and exchange-rate unification, and the debate over restructuring.
Democracy, insecurity and a young population
Nigeria's Fourth Republic is its longest period of continuous civilian rule. Its challenges include insecurity, corruption, unreliable power supply and dependence on oil revenue, alongside real achievements: peaceful transfers of power, a free press, and a dynamic private sector in telecoms, banking, entertainment and technology. Nigeria's population is among the youngest in the world, with a median age around 18, which shapes its politics and its economy.
Toyin Falola and Matthew Heaton (2008, for the early years); John Campbell, Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink (2010); Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results; National Bureau of Statistics; UN World Population Prospects (median age).