Known as the African Giant, Nigeria's story is complex and often contradictory. How, despite the ravages of colonialism, civil war, ongoing economic disappointment and most recently the Boko Haram insurgency, has the country managed to stay together for a hundred years? Why, despite an abundance of oil, mineral and agricultural wealth, have so many of its people remained in poverty? These are the key questions explored by Richard Bourne in this account of Nigeria's history, from its creation in 1914 to the historic 2015 elections and beyond. Featuring a wealth of original research and interviews, this is an insight into the shaping of a country where, despite the seemingly dashed optimism that was raised at independence, there remains hope 'the Nigeria project' may still succeed.

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?.