As Nigeria marked its 56th Independence Anniversary on Saturday, Daily Trust takes a look at some major events that shaped the nation's journey so far this year.
January: President Buhari's New Year speech
Nigeria's political year in 2016 started with a Presidential address on the 1st January where President Muhammadu Buhari in the spirit of his campaign promises, assured Nigerians of the commitment of his government to alleviate the problems confronting the nation on various fronts.READ MORE: Key milestones in President Muhammadu Buhari's first year in office
''The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people. One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war on terror'' the President said.
February: 2016 budget delay and padding scandal
The two arms of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives declared that the 2016 budget was full of errors, saying the document could no longer be passed on February 25 as earlier promised.
This sparked off the budget crisis between the Legislature and Executive which eventually metamorphosed into budget padding scandal that subsisted till September that eventually led to the suspension of the erstwhile chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin.
March: Fuel Crisis and 'Strategic Reserve & Magic Wand'
The month of March was characterised by acute shortage of fuel across the country with long queues of motorists being the common sight at major filling stations where the product was relatively available.
At the wake of this, the then Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, said oil produced in Nigeria's refineries would not be sold but kept in a "strategic reserve".
Kachikwu was later quoted as saying he had no "magic wand" to make fuel available overnight. The statement stirred up the polity across the nation.
"One of the trainings I did not receive is that of a magician, but I am working very hard to ensure some of these issues go away," said Mr. Kachikwu.
Ese Oruru and Yunusa ‘Yellow’
This March also featured the story of a teenage girl named Ese Oruru who was allegedly kidnap from Bayelsa state and taken to Kano by Yunusa Dahiru (a.k.a. Yunusa Yellow) who was said to have converted her to Islam, forced her into marriage and got her pregnant.
The issue became a national one when it was reported that her mother was denied access to her.
Yunusa 'Yellow' later faced trial and was granted bail.
April: 2016 budget passed
In the month of April, the two chambers of Nigeria's National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives after a long break passed the 2016 budget following the adoption of the conference report of their respective appropriations committees. It was finally sent to the Presidency.
May: Hike in fuel price from N98 to N145
After several meetings and heated debates between the federal government and union leaders of the NLC, TUC, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, the federal government capped fuel price at N145 per litre in mid-May despitethreats from the union leaders to resist the hike.
The increment, according to the then Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu would lead to improved supply and competition which would in turn boost the nation's foreign earnings.
The release of first Chibok girl
The escape of Amina Ali, one of the Chibok girls abducted by the Boko Haram for over two years heightened hope that the remaining girls are still alive.
According to the Nigerian Army's reports,Amina was found in a building at Bale villagebreastfeeding her daughter after a fierce fight between some Boko Haram insurgents and the youth vigilantes, known as Civilian JTF.
Amina, who underwent medical treatment, was later handed over to the Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima by the Nigerian Army.
Amina, her parents and husband Mohammed Hayado, were received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.
June: Alleged coup against President Muhammadu Buhari
The nation was thrown into pandemonium as the news of coup against President Muhammadu Buhari-led administrationspread across the nation like a wide fire.
The news, which was described as a weighty allegation against the Nigerian military broke out in the wake of compulsory retirement of about 38 senior Army officers and the on-going probe over misappropriation of public funds in the military.
The Nigerian Army in a swift response countered the allegation and defused its attendant effects on the nation's tranquillity.
September: Hon. Jibrin's suspension and Edo election
In September, the House of Representatives concluded the probe of the budget padding scandal which led to the suspension of Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin for one year (after whistle-blowing on budget padding in which he fingered the House’s Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
Edo governorship election was also conducted after it was shifted from the earlier date.
The poll saw the emergence of APC's Godwin Obaseki defeating PDP's Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
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