History of State Creation in Nigeria and the Federal Capital

Subject: History
Class: Primary 4
Term: First Term
Week: Week 6
Age: 9-10 years

Topic: State Creation in Nigeria 1976

Sub-topic: The Federal Capital and State Creation in Nigeria

Duration: 40 minutes

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Behavioural Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the pupils should be able to:

1. Describe the federal capital of Nigeria.
2. Name the areas that have been named federal capitals before Abuja.
3. Explain why the states were created, particularly Abuja.
4. Identify the Federal Capital Territory and its significance.
5. Understand the process and reasons for moving the capital from Lagos to Abuja.

Keywords:

• Federal Capital
• Abuja
• Lagos
• State Creation
• Federal Capital Territory
• National Assembly
• Government

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Set Induction:

1. Ask: “Where do you think the capital of Nigeria is located?”
2. Ask: “What does the capital city of a country mean to you?”
3. Introduce the lesson by saying: “Today we are going to learn about the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja, and why it was chosen as the new capital.”

Entry Behaviour:

The pupils already know the 36 states and capitals of Nigeria.

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Learning Resources and Materials:

• Political map of Nigeria showing 36 states
• Photographs of various state governors and Nigerian Military Head of State who created these states
• Whiteboard, markers, overhead projector

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

The pupils already know the names and locations of Nigerian states and their capitals, so this lesson will expand on how and why Abuja became the capital.

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Embedded Core Skills:

• Digital Literacy
• Leadership and Personal Development
• Citizenship
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Learning Materials:

• Map of Nigeria
• Chart of the four regions
• Diagram showing Abuja as the Federal Capital

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum

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Instructional Materials:

• Political map of Nigeria showing Abuja and other major cities
• Photographs of Lagos, Abuja, and Calabar (previous capitals)

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Content:

1. Definition of Federal Capital:
   • The Federal Capital is the city where the national government of a country works.
   • It is the center of politics, where important government decisions are made.
2. Why Abuja Was Chosen:
   • Abuja was chosen as Nigeria’s capital in 1991.
   • Lagos, the former capital, became overcrowded and difficult to manage.
   • Abuja was seen as a more central location, making it easier for people from all parts of Nigeria to reach.
3. History of Capital Cities in Nigeria:
   • Lagos was Nigeria’s capital from 1914 to 1991.
   • Calabar was once considered a capital, but it was never officially chosen.
   • Abuja, as the new capital, symbolizes national unity and development.
4. Federal Capital Territory (FCT):
   • Abuja is located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), not part of any state.
   • The FCT is directly controlled by the federal government, not a state governor.
5. Importance of Abuja:
   • Abuja houses Nigeria’s most important government buildings, including the National Assembly and the Presidential Complex.
   • It plays a key role in the political, administrative, and economic development of Nigeria.

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Examples:

1. Before Abuja, Lagos was the capital from 1914 to 1991.
2. Abuja is located in the central part of Nigeria.
3. The National Assembly is located in Abuja.
4. The President of Nigeria works and lives in Abuja.
5. The Federal Government is responsible for running Abuja.

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Evaluation (Fill-in-the-Blank Questions):

1. Abuja became the federal capital of Nigeria in the year __________.
   a) 1991
   b) 1914
   c) 1976
   d) 1987
2. The federal capital of Nigeria was moved from Lagos to __________.
   a) Port Harcourt
   b) Abuja
   c) Kano
   d) Jos
3. Lagos was the federal capital of Nigeria for __________ years.
   a) 50
   b) 77
   c) 30
   d) 90
4. Abuja is located in the __________ part of Nigeria.
   a) Eastern
   b) Western
   c) Central
   d) Southern
5. The National Assembly is located in __________.
   a) Lagos
   b) Abuja
   c) Kano
   d) Jos
6. The reason for moving the capital from Lagos to Abuja was to have a __________ location.
   a) Central
   b) Coastal
   c) Remote
   d) Mountainous
7. Before Abuja, the capital of Nigeria was __________.
   a) Lagos
   b) Kano
   c) Calabar
   d) Jos
8. Abuja is part of __________.
   a) Lagos
   b) The Federal Capital Territory
   c) Kaduna State
   d) Ogun State
9. The government of Nigeria made Abuja the capital because Lagos became __________.
   a) Too small
   b) Too big
   c) Too far from other countries
   d) Too difficult to manage
10. The President of Nigeria works in __________.
    a) Lagos
    b) Kano
    c) Abuja
    d) Calabar

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Class Activity Discussion (FAQs with Answers):

1. What is the Federal Capital of Nigeria?
   • Answer: The Federal Capital of Nigeria is Abuja.
2. Why was Abuja chosen as the capital of Nigeria?
   • Answer: Abuja was chosen because it is in a central location and is easier for people from all parts of the country to access.
3. What was the previous capital of Nigeria?
   • Answer: The previous capital of Nigeria was Lagos.
4. Was Calabar ever the capital of Nigeria?
   • Answer: No, Calabar was considered, but it was never officially chosen as the capital.
5. What is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)?
   • Answer: The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is the area where Abuja is located. It is controlled by the federal government.
6. When was Abuja made the capital of Nigeria?
   • Answer: Abuja became the capital of Nigeria in 1991.
7. What important government buildings are located in Abuja?
   • Answer: Some important buildings in Abuja include the National Assembly and the Presidential Complex.
8. How long was Lagos the capital of Nigeria?
   • Answer: Lagos was the capital for 77 years (from 1914 to 1991).
9. How does Abuja contribute to national unity?
   • Answer: Abuja was chosen to help unite the people of Nigeria by being centrally located, making it accessible to everyone.
10. Is Abuja part of any state?
    • Answer: No, Abuja is not part of any state; it is a Federal Capital Territory.

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Presentation:

1. Teacher Revises the Previous Topic:
   • “In our last lesson, we discussed the 36 states and their capitals in Nigeria. Now we will talk about why Abuja became the capital.”
2. Teacher Introduces the New Topic:
   • “Today, we will learn about the Federal Capital of Nigeria, Abuja, and understand why it was chosen to replace Lagos.”
3. Teacher Allows Pupils to Contribute:
   • Teacher: “Who can tell me where the capital of Nigeria is?”
   • Students: (Pupils contribute, teacher corrects and guides discussion).

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Teacher’s Activities:

• Present information using visual aids (maps, photos).
• Facilitate discussion on why Abuja was chosen.
• Guide pupils in creating posters about Abuja.

Learners’ Activities:

• Participate in discussion.
• Create posters and share with the class.

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Evaluation Questions (Short Answer):

1. What year did Abuja become the capital of Nigeria?
2. Why was the capital moved from Lagos to Abuja?
3. How many years did Lagos serve as the capital?
4. What is the Federal Capital Territory?
5. Where are the National Assembly and the President’s office located?
6. What was the capital of Nigeria before Abuja?
7. What does the Federal Government control in Abuja?
8. What is the significance of Abuja’s central location?
9. What important decisions are made in Abuja?
10. What does Abuja symbolize for Nigeria?

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Conclusion:

• Summarize key points: Abuja became Nigeria’s capital in 1991, and it is located in the Federal Capital Territory.
• Provide feedback to students’ posters and contributions.

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