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Created page with "The '''Military Rule Period''' in Nigeria refers to the era during which political power was predominantly held by military governments following the collapse of the First Republic. This period is characterised by repeated military interventions, suspension or modification of constitutional frameworks, and centralised forms of governance. == Scope and conventions == Military rule in Nigeria was not a single continuous regime but a sequence of military governments separa..."

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The '''Military Rule Period''' in Nigeria refers to the era during which political power was predominantly held by military governments following the collapse of the First Republic. This period is characterised by repeated military interventions, suspension or modification of constitutional frameworks, and centralised forms of governance.

== Scope and conventions ==
Military rule in Nigeria was not a single continuous regime but a sequence of military governments separated by brief civilian interludes. The period is treated here as a unified analytical category to reflect the dominant role of the military in shaping political and institutional life during these decades.

== Overview ==
Military governments justified their interventions by citing political instability, corruption, and threats to national unity. Governance was typically conducted through decrees, with limited civilian participation and restricted political activity. Power became increasingly centralised at the federal level.

Despite authoritarian structures, the period also witnessed significant state-led projects, including infrastructure development, educational expansion, and administrative reform, alongside widespread political repression and economic challenges.

== Material culture and crafts ==
Military rule affected craft traditions largely through broader economic and institutional changes:
* '''State-controlled cultural institutions''', including museums and arts councils
* '''Reduced traditional patronage''', particularly where regional authorities lost autonomy
* '''Expansion of urban informal economies''', supporting small-scale craft production
* '''Use of crafts in state symbolism''', ceremonies, and national representation

Economic instability and fluctuating policy priorities often disrupted the transmission of craft knowledge.

== Cultural and social context ==
Cultural expression during this period operated within constraints imposed by censorship and political control. At the same time, artists and artisans developed alternative spaces for creativity, including informal markets, workshops, and community-based production.

== Sources and limitations ==
Sources include government decrees, official publications, newspapers, oral histories, and material culture collections. Access to archives and the political nature of documentation require careful critical analysis.

== See also ==
* [[:Category:First Republic Period]]
* [[:Category:Second Republic Period]]
* [[History of military rule in Nigeria]]

[[Category:Historical periods of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Nigerian history]]

Category:Military Rule Period - Revision history