The great caravan routes across the Sahara kept Nigeria in touch with historic civilisations in the North. Besides trade, the routes brought ideas, culture and religion from the Muslim civilisation in the North. Thus, Islam came to North Nigeria in the eight century A.D. after a visit by the Portuguese in 1486, Benin became the entrepot for trade between Yorubaland and Europe. In 1804, Usman dan Fodio, a Fulani Muslim scholar and Wali-ullah, author of the famous book, the 'Ihya-us-Sunnath' became the Sultan. His flag-bearers became the chiefs of Fulani states and their .descendants are so until this day

The British visit to Benin was in 1553 who also entered in slave trade until it was declared illegal in 1807. By 1861 British annexed the island of Lagos and missionary and commercial activities extended inland from Lagos and along the Niger. The British lured the Fulani Amirs to come under British protection in view of threats of Germans in East and the French in the West. On 1 January, 1900 the British proclaimed the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria and appointed a High Commissioner. Kano and Sokoto were occupied in 1903 and the control over Bronu was not established until 1906. The awakening of political consciousness among the people resulted in the abolition of the Advisory Council in 1922 and formation of Legislative Council. A Constitution was given in 1951 which provided a semi-responsible form of Government and regional autonomy but it failed in 1953. Another agreement of parties reached same year yielding to the demand for greater regional autonomy. Independence for Nigeria and quit British officers was demanded in 1959. As a result, Alhaji Abubaker Tafawa Balewa, was appointed Prime Minister with a national cabinet. Nigeria became an independent Dominion within Commonwealth on 1st October, 1960 and a Federal Republic on 1st October, 1963.