Nigeria’s independence on 1 October 1960 was not only a political event but also the result of a long legal process. Independence means a nation has full sovereignty—the power to govern itself without control from another state. Nigeria achieved this status after decades of constitutional reforms, negotiations, and agreements between colonial authorities and Nigerian leaders.
The earliest step was the Clifford Constitution of 1922, which introduced a limited form of legislative council and gave a small number of Nigerians the right to vote. This was the first legal framework that hinted at political participation, though it excluded most of the population.
The Richards Constitution of 1946 expanded regional representation and marked the beginning of federal principles in Nigeria. Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority and regional units. By creating regional assemblies for the North, West, and East, it acknowledged Nigeria’s diversity while also setting up legal debates about unity and division.
The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 went further by giving Nigerians wider representation in both regional and central legislatures. It allowed political parties to grow and play an official role in governance. For the first time, Nigerians could see their voices translated into law through an elected House of Representatives.
The Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 legally entrenched federalism. It recognised Nigeria as a federation of regions and gave them significant autonomy. Autonomy means the right of a region to manage its own affairs without outside interference. This was a crucial step because it created the structure that continued after independence.
Between 1957 and 1959, a series of constitutional conferences were held in London and Lagos. Nigerian leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, and Tafawa Balewa negotiated with British officials. These conferences resulted in legal agreements on self-government for the regions, the framework for a federal constitution, and the timetable for independence.
The Independence Constitution of 1960 was enacted as an Act of the British Parliament and brought into force by Nigeria’s own legal system. This constitution declared Nigeria a sovereign state within the Commonwealth, under a parliamentary system of government. The Governor-General, as representative of the British monarch, held a largely ceremonial role, while real political power rested with elected Nigerian officials.
Therefore, independence was not granted suddenly or informally. It came through a clear chain of legal instruments—constitutions, legislative reforms, and negotiated acts—that transformed Nigeria from a colony into a self-governing nation. These legal underpinnings ensured that the change of status was internationally recognised and rooted in enforceable law.
Sources
British Documents on the End of Empire (BDEEP), Nigeria, Part II: Moving to Independence, 1953–1960 (PDF)
https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/6136/2/vB7_Nigeria_Part_II.pdf
United Nations General Assembly, Resolution 1492 (XV): Admission of the Federation of Nigeria to membership in the United Nations (PDF)
https://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGA/1960/35.pdf
United Nations Security Council, Resolution 160 (1960): Admission of Nigeria to the UN (UN Digital Library record)
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/280616
United Nations Security Council, Resolutions adopted in 1960 (index page listing S/RES/160)
https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/resolutions-adopted-security-council-1960
Government Gazette (Federation of Nigeria), The Constitution of the Federation Bill, 30 Sept 1960 (PDF)
https://gazettes.africa/akn/ng/officialGazette/government-gazette-supplement/1960-09-30/67-part-c/eng%401960-09-30/source.pdf
United Kingdom, Nigeria Independence Act 1960 (official statute PDF)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1960/55/pdfs/ukpga_19600055_en.pdf
The Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria (1960) — full text (PDF copy)
https://www.worldstatesmen.org/nigeria_const1960.pdf
Nigeria Reposit (National Library of Nigeria), Compilation incl. Nigeria Independence Acts (1960) & Constitution Order in Council
https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/items/f6a20176-06f4-459e-b97a-9d4c47b5e230
Elias, T. O. (1967). Nigeria: The Development of Its Laws and Constitution (Open-access library scan)
https://archive.org/details/nigeriadevelopme0014elia
Nwabueze, B. O. (1973). Constitutionalism in the Emergent States (National Library of Nigeria — PDF download page)
https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/handle/20.500.14186/459
Alternate access: Nwabueze, B. O. (1973). Constitutionalism in the Emergent States (Internet Archive record)
https://archive.org/details/constitutionalis0000nwab