Nigeria : a new history of a turbulent century / Richard Bourne.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 276-308) and index.

Section 1: 1914-39 : Invention of a country. 1. A merger makes a large possession for Britain ; 2. First World War : Nigeria on the front line ; 3. Lugard struggles with opponents ; 4. Between the wars : Nigeria is not a single state ; 5. Between the wars : the economy in a world depression ; 6. Between the wars : a new assertive nationalism -- Section 2: 1939-64 : Rocky road to freedom. 7. Another world war and strategic importance ; 8. Political change and divisive regionalism ; 9. Regional governments and the coming of independence ; 10. The joy of independence ; 11. Overture to disaster -- Section 3: 1964-89 : The shadow of the generals. 12. Military coups, Biafra and civil war ; 13. Reconstruction, another coup and the craving for democracy ; 14. A second republic, its short, inglorious life and its overthrow ; 15. Buhari, IBB and a new military era -- Section 4: 1989-2014 : A decade of pain, then disappointment in democracy. 16. The annulment of an election puts Nigeria on edge ; 17. The disastrous Abacha years ; 18. Democracy, and the return of Obasanjo ; 19. Yar'Adua, Jonathan and threats in the Delta and the northeast -- Section 5: Reflections. Politics as business ; Ethnicity and religion ; Oil, inequity and poverty ; One Nigeria?.