2021 in Nigeria explained
See also: 2021 in West Africa. The following is a list of events in 2021 in Nigeria.
Incumbents
Federal government
Governors
Bello Matawalle PDP
Events
Ongoing – Boko Haram insurgency, COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria, Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria, Nigerian bandit conflict
January
February
- 3 February – A judge in Abuja orders the arrest of the head of ExxonMobil Nigeria after he ignores three summons to testify in a corruption investigation.[10]
- 4 February
- 5 February – After the South Korean trade minister drops out, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala becomes the leading candidate to head the World Trade Organization (WTO). If elected, Okonjo-Iweala will be the first woman and the first African to hold the post.[13]
- 7 February – Fourteen people are killed in Kutemeshi and five are killed in Kujeni, both in Kaduna State, in raids by armed bandits who looted shops and warehouses as well as burning houses and a church.[14]
- 11 February – Hussaini Abdullahi of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says that 4,000 Fulani herdsmen have fled from Yoruba and Igbo-speaking regions after being accused of rising crime rates.[15]
- 13 February – At least six protesters are beaten and 13 others are arrested at the site of the 2020 Lekki shooting in Lagos State.[16]
- 17 February
- One student is killed and 41 people (students, teachers, family members) are kidnapped by bandits in Kagara, Niger State.[17]
- Businessman Obinwanne Okeke, (″Invictus Obi″) is sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States for cyber fraud amounting to $11 million (£8 million).[18]
- 20 February – Boko Haram insurgents attacked the towns of Marte and Dikwa in Borno State.[19]
- 21 February – Seven are killed when a military plane crashes in Abuja.[20]
- 23 February – 2021 Maiduguri rocket attacks
- 24 February – Gunmen kill 36 people and burn down houses in attacks in Kaduna and Katsina States.[21]
- 26 February – Zamfara kidnapping of at least 317 schoolgirls.[22]
- 27 February – The 42 hostages kidnapped from a school in Kagara, Niger State, on 17 February are freed.[23]
March
- 2 March – Insurgents temporarily hold Dikwa, Borno State.[24]
- 6 March – President Buhari receives the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and calls for Nigerians to follow his lead. 3.92 million vaccines arrived on March 2, provided by the U.N. COVAX program. The country expects 84 million doses of vaccine this year and hopes to vaccinate 40% of the population this year and 30% in 2022. There have been 158,042 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,954 deaths.[25]
- 11 March – Thirty students are kidnapped from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, in Mando, Kaduna. The gunmen ran past the boys′ dormitory to capture the largest number of girls possible.[26] [27]
- 31 March – Critics of President Muhammadu Buhari including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decry his frequent trips to London for health care, calling it a drain on the treasury.[28]
April
May
June
- 2 June – Twitter removes one of his Muhammadu Buhari's tweets and temporarily suspends his account.[30] [31] [32]
- 3 June – 2021 Kebbi massacre
- 4 June – the Minister of Information and Culture announced that Twitter's operations in Nigeria would be "suspended" indefinitely, arguing that the company engages in activities that "are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence.[33] [34]
- 5 June – Under directives issued pursuant to the suspension, Twitter was blocked by all internet service providers in the country.
- 10–11 June – Bandits kill 53 people in Zamfara State.[35]
- 12 June – Police break up a peaceful Democracy Day protest in Lagos by firing tear gas and firing live ammunition into the air. Other protests were held in Ibadan, Osogbo, Abeokuta, Akure, and elsewhere.[36]
- 24 June – Kebbi kidnapping
July
- 5 July – Chikun kidnapping
- 7 July – Eighteen people are killed by suspected Islamic militants in Dabna, Hong, Adamawa State, with the gunmen reportedly attacking the nearby villages of Kwapre and Garka as well.[37]
- Military plane shot down by bandits, pilot escapes.[38]
September
October
- 25 October - Mazakuka mosque shooting
November
December
[Death of Sylvester oromoni.
The government has placed bullying inspectors all over schools in Nigeria,Lagos.to protect young children from being bullied.
Niger State mosque massacre kills dozen.
==Culture==
{{Further|2021 in African music|List of Nigerian films of 2021}}
*19 January – [[Burna Boy]]′s ″Destiny″ is included in the playlist at the Inauguration of Joe Biden.[39]
Deaths
January and February
- 3 January – Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, 71, academic administrator, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (2000–2007); COVID-19.[48]
- 6 January – Nsikak Eduok, 73, air force officer, Chief of the Air Staff (1993, 1996–1999).[49]
- 7 January – Adebayo Salami, politician, Senator (1999–2003).[50]
- 8 January – Folabi Olumide, 81, academic, Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (1983–1988).[51]
- 10 January – Aminu Isa Kontagora, 64, politician, Administrator of Benue State (1996–1998) and Kano State (1998–1999); complications from COVID-19.[52]
- 13 January – Ndubuisi Kanu, 77, rear admiral and politician, Military Governor of Imo State (1976–1977) and Lagos State (1977–1978).[53]
- 17 January – Jubril Martins-Kuye, 78, politician, Minister of Commerce and Industry (2010–2011).[54]
- 24 January – Abdullahi Ibrahim, 82, lawyer and politician, Minister of Justice (1997–1999); COVID-19.[55]
- 9 February – Yisa Sofoluwe, 53, footballer (Abiola Babes, national team); COVID-19.[56]
- 11 February – Lateef Jakande, 91, journalist and politician, Governor of Lagos State (1979–1983) and Minister of Works (1993–1998).[57]
- 16 February – Victor Decker, 72, actor (Lotanna, If I Am President).[58] (body discovered on this date)
- 18 February – Abdullahi Dikko, 60, government official.[59]
- 21 February – Haruna Gadzama and Henry Piyo, pilot and co-pilot of a military plane that crashed in Abuja.[60]
March
April
May
- 21 May – Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, 54, Nigerian Army's Chief of Army Staff; died in a plane crash, alongside his entourage of generals and aides. See main article below:
See main article: 2021 NAF Beechcraft B300 King Air 350i crash.
June
- 5 JuneT. B. Joshua, 57, televangelist and founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations.[71]
July
August
October
November
December
- 9 DecemberSylvester Oromoni, murder victim[81]
See also
Notes and References
- News: Nigeria: Military Airstrike Destroys New Boko Haram Settlement, Kill Scores in Borno . January 3, 2021 . allAfrica.com . Vanguard . 2 January 2021 . en.
- News: Nigeria arrests journalist and opposition leader Sowore . January 4, 2021 . msn.com . AFP . January 3, 2021.
- Web site: Change of Guard at Ogun-Oshun RBDA: Odumosu Completes Term, Olatunji Steps in as Acting MD. 8 January 2021.
- News: Armed group captures military base in northeast Nigeria . January 16, 2021 . aljazeera.com . AFP . Al Jazeera English . January 16, 2021 . en.
- News: Nigerian police working to rescue abducted orphans and staff . January 27, 2021 . AP NEWS . 25 January 2021.
- News: Nigerian President Buhari replaces top military commanders . January 26, 2021 . aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera English . January 26, 2021 . en.
- News: Eboh . Camillus . Achirga . Abraham . Nigeria repatriates hundreds of migrants from Saudi Arabia . January 28, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Reuters . January 28, 2021.
- News: Germanos . Andrea . "After 13 Years, Justice!" Dutch Court Orders Shell Oil to Pay for Harm Done to Nigerian Farmers . January 29, 2021 . Common Dreams . AFP . January 29, 2021 . en.
- News: Busari . Stephanie . McSweeney . Eoin . Nigeria sentences teenage boy to 10 years in prison for blasphemy, prompting outrage . January 31, 2021 . msn.com . CNN . January 30, 2021.
- News: Judge issues arrest warrant for ExxonMobil Nigeria chief . February 4, 2021 . Al Jazeera English . February 3, 2021.
- News: Nigerian separatist Nnamdi Kanu's Facebook account removed for hate speech . February 4, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . BBC News . February 4, 2021 . February 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210205002507/https://www.yahoo.com/news/nigerian-separatist-leader-nnamdi-kanus-170113174.html . dead .
- News: Abubakar . Aminu . Nigeria troops overrun jihadist camps in northeast . February 4, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . AFP . February 4, 2021.
- News: Path clears for Nigeria's Okonjo-Iweala to be first woman head of WTO . February 5, 2021 . msn.com . AFP . February 5, 2021.
- News: Gunmen raid villages in northwest Nigeria, killing 19 . February 8, 2021 . msn.com . Al Jazeera English . February 8, 2021.
- News: Thousands of herders flee southern Nigeria over ethnic attacks . February 12, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . AFP . February 11, 2021.
- News: Nigerian police beat, arrest protesters at site of Lekki shooting . February 13, 2021 . aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera English . February 13, 2021 . en.
- News: Gunmen kidnap dozens from school in central Nigeria . February 17, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . AFP . February 17, 2021 . February 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217130128/https://www.yahoo.com/news/gunmen-kidnap-hundreds-schoolboys-central-100957654.html . dead .
- News: Obinwanne Okeke: Nigerian email fraudster jailed for 10 years in US . February 18, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . BBC News . February 17, 2021 . February 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217213819/https://www.yahoo.com/news/obinwanne-okeke-nigerian-email-fraudster-132652000.html . dead .
- News: Boko Haram: Chief of Army Staff in Maiduguri over fresh attack on Borno Communities . February 20, 2021 . Sunday . Ochogwu . . The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, over an attack on two communities in the state by the Boko Haram insurgents on Friday night. [...] Boko Haram reportedly raided the central Borno towns of Marte and Dikwa, the same night..
- News: Seven die in Nigerian Air Force Abuja plane crash . February 22, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . BBC News . February 21, 2021 . February 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210222023137/https://www.yahoo.com/news/seven-die-nigerian-air-force-150020270.html . dead .
- News: Gunmen kill 36 in attacks on two northern Nigerian states . . February 25, 2021 . . The series of attacks by armed bandits occurred over the past 48 hours with 18 people killed each in villages of Kaduna and Katsina states and several others injured. The assailants burnt down houses, displacing the villagers..
- News: Nigeria's Zamfara school abduction: More than 300 Nigerian girls missing . February 26, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . BBC News . February 26, 2021 . February 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210227080930/https://www.yahoo.com/news/nigeria-school-attack-hundreds-schoolgirls-080216767.html . dead .
- News: Kidnappers release 42 abducted from school in Nigeria . February 28, 2021 . aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera English . February 27, 2021 . en.
- News: Insurgents seize, then leave government stronghold in northeast Nigeria . March 2, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Reuters . March 2, 2021.
- News: President Buhari calls for Nigerians to follow his vaccine lead . March 6, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Reuters . March 6, 2021.
- News: Lonas . Lexi . Students abducted by armed gunmen at Nigeria school . March 12, 2021 . TheHill . 12 March 2021 . en.
- News: Gunmen attack school and kidnap at least 30 students in Nigeria . March 12, 2021 . cbsnews.com . CBS News.
- News: AGOI . Joel Olatunde . Outrage in Nigeria over Buhari's London medical trips . April 1, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . AFP . March 31, 2021.
- News: Eleven soldiers killed in attack in Nigeria . . Wion Web Team . April 9, 2021 . One army officer was among the 11 armed forces personnel killed in an attack in Nigeria that was termed as unprovoked by a spokesperson on Thursday. The attack took place in Nigeria's Benue state..
- Web site: Omonobi. Kingsley. 5 April 2021. Imo JailBreak: IPOB, ESN behind attacks — IGP Mohammed. 5 June 2021. Vanguard. en-GB.
- Web site: Akinwotu. Emmanuel. 2 June 2021. Twitter deletes Nigerian president's 'abusive' Biafra tweet. live. 2 June 2021. The Guardian. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602181947/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/02/twitter-deletes-nigerian-presidents-abusive-biafra-tweet . 2021-06-02 .
- Web site: 2021-06-05. Malami orders prosecution of Twitter ban violators. 2021-06-06. TheCable. en-US.
- News: 2021-06-04. Nigeria to suspend Twitter 'indefinitely'. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-06-04.
- Web site: Nigeria suspends Twitter operations, says platform 'undermines its corporate existence'. 2021-06-04. TechCrunch. 4 June 2021. en-US. 2021-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210608161450/https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/04/nigeria-suspends-twitter-operations-says-platform-undermines-its-corporate-existence/. live.
- Web site: Gunmen storm villages, kill 53 in Nigeria's Zamfara state . www.aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera . June 12, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Police fire tear gas in Nigeria 'Democracy Day' protests . www.aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera . June 12, 2021 . en.
- News: 18 Nigerian villagers killed by suspected Islamist militants -officials. . July 7, 2021 .
- Web site: Bandits shoot down Nigerian military plane during operations against kidnappers. 20 July 2021.
- News: Augoye . Jayne . Nigeria: Burna Boy's Song Makes Joe Biden, Kamala Harris' Inauguration Playlist . January 21, 2021 . allAfrica.com . Premium Times . 20 January 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021-02-05. Femi/Made Kuti: Legacy+ review Ammar Kalia's global album of the month. 2021-07-21. The Guardian. en.
- News: Headies awards: Fireboy DML, Wizkid and Omah Lay win . February 22, 2021 . BBC News . 22 February 2021.
- News: Nigerian Idol Season 6 Premieres Sunday . March 11, 2021 . allAfrica.com . Vanguard . 11 March 2021 . en.
- News: 9 April 2021. Peruzzi Enlists Davido, Don Jazzy, Fireboy And More For Second Album "Rum & Boogie". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 23 April 2021.
- Web site: Alake. Motolani. 2021-04-30. Laycon delivers and shines on, '...Shall We Begin…' [Pulse Album Review]]. live. 2021-07-21. Pulse Nigeria. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510225801/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-laycon-shall-we-begin-album/lnz2q37 . 2021-05-10 .
- Web site: Alake. Motolani. 2021-06-18. Olamide visits the Caribbean and delivers timeless music for you on 'UY Scuti' [Pulse Album Review]]. live. 2021-07-21. Pulse Nigeria. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210619194140/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-olamide-uy-scuti-album/7472cys . 2021-06-19 .
- News: Wetin we know about BBNaija Season 6 wey don start. BBC News Pidgin. 2021-07-25.
- Web site: Nwogu. Precious. 2021-08-27. 'KOB: The Return of the King' [Pulse Movie Review]]. live. 2021-08-28. Pulse Nigeria. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828031935/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/kob-the-return-of-the-king-pulse-movie-review/wpqwpt2 . 2021-08-28 .
- Web site: Ex-UNILAG VC Professor Ibidapo-Obe Dies . 2021-01-06 . 2021-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210104151207/https://www.channelstv.com/2021/01/04/ex-unilag-vc-professor-ibidapo-obe-dies/ . live .
- Web site: Nsikak Eduok, Nigeria's former Chief of Air Staff, dies at 73 . 7 January 2021 . 2021-01-10 . 2021-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109112418/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/435308-nsikak-eduok-nigerias-former-chief-of-air-staff-dies-at-73.html . live .
- Web site: Ex-senator Bayo Salami dies in US . 7 January 2021 . 2021-01-10 . 2021-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109095229/https://punchng.com/ex-senator-bayo-salami-dies-in-us/ . live .
- Web site: LASU Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folabi Olumide Dies At 81 . 8 January 2021 . 2021-01-10 . 2021-01-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110113640/https://www.naijanews.com/2021/01/08/lasu-pioneer-vice-chancellor-prof-folabi-olumide-dies-at-81/ . live .
- Web site: Former Military Administrator Aminu Kontagora Dies Of COVID-19 . 2021-01-13 . 2021-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210111102331/https://www.channelstv.com/2021/01/11/former-military-administrator-aminu-kontagora-dies-of-covid-19/ . live .
- Web site: Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu dies at 77 . 13 January 2021 . 2021-01-18 . 2021-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118031816/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/breaking-rear-admiral-ndubuisi-kanu-dies-at-77/ . live .
- Web site: Ex-Minister, Martins-Kuye, dies at 78 . 17 January 2021 . 2021-01-18 . 2021-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210117112553/https://punchng.com/breaking-ex-minister-martins-kuye-dies-at-78/ . live .
- Web site: Former Buhari's minister, Abdullahi Ibrahim, dies of COVID-19 . 24 January 2021 . 2021-01-25 . 2021-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226201247/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/438391-just-in-former-buharis-minister-abdullahi-ibrahim-dies-of-covid-19.html . live .
- Web site: Ex-Super Eagles defender, Shofoluwe dies of COVID-19 . 10 February 2021 . 2021-02-11 . 2021-02-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210210053514/https://dailypost.ng/2021/02/10/ex-super-eagles-defender-shofoluwe-dies-of-covid-19/ . live .
- Web site: First Civilian Governor Of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande Dies At 91 . 2021-02-17 . 2021-02-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210211120350/https://www.channelstv.com/2021/02/11/former-lagos-governor-lateef-jakande-dies-at-91/ . live .
- Web site: Nollywood actor, Victor Decker, is dead . 16 February 2021 . 2021-02-17 . 2021-02-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217020603/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/443165-nollywood-actor-victor-decker-is-dead.html . live .
- Web site: Customs ex-CG Dikko dies at 61 . 19 February 2021 . 2021-02-22 . 2021-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210219085327/https://thenationonlineng.net/customs-ex-cg-dikko-dies-at-61/ . live .
- News: Obaji Jr. . Philip . Officials Probe 'Foul Play' After Crash of Military Plane Close to Finding Abducted Nigerian Schoolboys . February 24, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Daily Beast . February 24, 2021.
- Web site: Veteran actor Sadiq Daba is dead . 3 March 2021 . 2021-03-04 . 2021-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210304144657/https://punchng.com/veteran-actor-sadiq-daba-is-dead/ . live .
- Web site: Supreme Court Judge, Ngwuta dies . 7 March 2021 . 2021-03-07 . 2021-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210310205216/https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-supreme-court-judge-ngwuta-dies/ . live .
- News: Barnabas Imenger: Former Super Eagles Midfielder Dies After Brief Illness . Sportsbrief - Sport News . 22 March 2021 . 2021-03-26 . 2021-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210323151224/https://www.legit.ng/1408328-sad-day-football-another-former-super-eagles-player-dead.html . live . Orevba . Babajide .
- Web site: Sam Obi, ex-Delta acting governor is dead . 4 April 2021 . 2021-06-11 . 2021-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506085821/https://dailypost.ng/2021/04/04/sam-obi-ex-delta-acting-governor-is-dead/ . live .
- Web site: Afenifere spokesman, Odumakin dies at 54 . 3 April 2021 . 2021-06-11 . 2021-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507041056/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/453000-updated-afenifere-spokesman-odumakin-dies-at-54.html . live .
- Web site: Nollywood veteran Bruno Iwuoha is dead . 10 April 2021 . 2021-06-11 . 2021-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613060532/https://www.qed.ng/just-in-nollywood-veteran-bruno-iwuoha-is-dead/ . live .
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- Web site: Popular TV presenter Rachel Bakam dies at 38 . 13 April 2021 . 2021-04-15 . 2021-04-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415113419/https://punchng.com/popular-tv-presenter-rachel-bakam-dies-at-38/ . live .
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- Web site: July 11, 2021. Popular Nigerian music artist, Sound Sultan dies aged 44. July 11, 2021. Okay.ng.
- Web site: 2021-07-31. Rachel Oniga died of heart-related issue, not COVID-19 - Family. 2021-07-31. Punch Newspapers. en-US.
- Web site: 2021-08-11. Nollywood Actor Rich Oganiru Is Dead. 2021-08-16. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. en-US.
- Web site: Another Nollywood actor Stanley Okoro is dead - P.M. News. 2021-08-16. pmnewsnigeria.com.
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- Web site: 2021-10-27 . Cross River lawmaker, Elizabeth Ironbar is dead . 2022-06-09 . NEWS . en-GB.
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