Nigeria, one of the most populous countries has weathered the storm of an unusual healthcare challenge occasioned by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic that is still ravaging the world.

In 2021, a lot of events (both positive and negative) have taken place with many lessons to learn from them.

Against the backdrop of these challenges, Quest Times takes a run-down of the notable events that shaped Nigeria in 2021.

January

On 25th January 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari shakes up the top military command. Leo Irabor was named Chief of Defence, Ibrahim Attahiru became commander of the Army, A. Z. Gambo became commander of the Navy, and I. O. Amao became commander of the Air Force.

February

After the South Korean trade minister drops out from the race, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the leading candidate for the post of the Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), and she was appointed WTO DG on 15th February 2021. The Nigerian became the first woman and the first African to hold the post.

March

March 11 saw the kidnap of thirty students 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.

April

Eleven armed forces personnel were killed in an attack in Benue on 8th of April.

May

On 19th May 2021, the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau allegedly committed suicide following heavy fight between ISWAP fighters and the Boko Haram troops. Shekau’s death was regarded a major event by outside observers, as he had been one of the driving forces in the Islamist insurgency which has affected Nigeria and neighboring countries since 2009.

June

Three notable events happened in June. They are as follows:

Twitter Ban

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on 4th June, 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”. Recall Twitter had earlier removed one of President Buhari’s tweets and temporarily suspends his account on 2nd June.

T.B. Joshua

On 5th of June, Nigerian preacher TB Joshua, one of Africa’s most influential evangelists, died at the age of 57, shortly after a live broadcast and just days before his birthday. His death was described as one of the major events that shook Nigeria and the entire world in 2021.

Nnamdi Kanu

On 28 June, Nigerians witnessed the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who has been on the run after jumping bail in 2017. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made the announcement in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital a day after the IPOB leader was intercepted in an African country by joint security operatives of the government and INTERPOL.

https://thequesttimes.com/top-14-events-that-shaped-nigeria-in-2021/