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JAMB History Past Questions

Real JAMB History past questions, each with the correct answer and a worked solution. Below are 8 to work through free — no account needed.

8 JAMB History questions with answers

Question 1

During the colonial era, both the British indirect rule in Northern Nigeria and the French policy of assimilation in Senegal were designed to govern through existing African institutions. Which of the following most accurately explains a key difference in how these two systems affected the status of traditional rulers?

  1. a.British indirect rule preserved the authority of local chiefs, while French assimilation tried to replace traditional rulers with appointed French officials.
  2. b.Both systems abolished traditional rulers, but only the British allowed chiefs to retain nominal titles.
  3. c.French assimilation strengthened the power of traditional rulers, whereas British indirect rule undermined them by introducing new taxes.
  4. d.British indirect rule required local chiefs to learn English, while French assimilation mandated that traditional rulers become citizens of France.

Solution

British indirect rule preserved and worked through existing chiefs to maintain local authority, while the French policy of assimilation attempted to erode traditional power by imposing French-appointed officials. Choice 1 is correct; choice 3 is tempting but inaccurate—the French generally reduced, not increased, traditional authority.

Question 2

In 1914, the British colonial administration amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria. What was the main reason for this amalgamation?

  1. a.To facilitate efficient administrative management and reduce the cost of governance
  2. b.To unify the diverse ethnic groups under one political structure
  3. c.To encourage rapid economic development across the colonies
  4. d.To grant immediate self-government to Nigeria

Solution

The correct answer is that the amalgamation aimed to facilitate efficient administrative management and reduce the cost of governance for the British. While unifying ethnic groups (option 1) is a tempting choice, the British were mainly motivated by administrative convenience and financial savings, not by a desire for national unity.

Question 3

In 1967, the Nigerian federal government decided to restructure the four existing regions following the declaration of Biafra’s secession. Which of the following was the PRIMARY aim of creating 12 states at that moment?

  1. a.To weaken the control of Biafran leaders by dividing the Eastern Region
  2. b.To implement the recommendations of the 1958 Willink Commission
  3. c.To advance the policy of indigenisation of the civil service
  4. d.To promote the growth of the Nigerian economy through regional competition

Solution

The immediate creation of 12 states in 1967 was aimed chiefly at breaking up the Eastern Region to undermine the Biafran secession effort. A common error is to choose the Willink Commission, but its recommendations in 1958 were concerned with minority rights, not state creation during a civil war.

Question 4

During the trans-Saharan trade era, the city of Timbuktu became famous for which of the following reasons?

  1. a.Its role as a major center of Islamic learning and scholarship
  2. b.Its production of gold and salt for export to Europe
  3. c.Its dominance as a military fortress in West Africa
  4. d.Its archaeological ruins from the ancient Ghana Empire

Solution

Timbuktu gained prominence as a center of Islamic learning, attracting scholars from across Africa due to its libraries and universities. While Timbuktu was involved in trade, it was not primarily famous for producing gold and salt itself (option 1), but rather for its educational significance.

Question 5

In the 1960 Nigerian independence negotiations, the leaders of major political parties disagreed on the structure of the post-independence government. Which proposal was most strongly supported by the Northern People's Congress (NPC) during these talks?

  1. a.federal system with strong regional governments
  2. b.unitary government controlled centrally
  3. c.Immediate creation of additional states
  4. d.Adoption of a confederation with weak central authority

Solution

The NPC favored a federal system with strong regional governments to ensure Northern autonomy within Nigeria. The most tempting distractor, 'A unitary government controlled centrally,' is incorrect because the NPC feared that a strong center would weaken the North’s political influence.

Question 6

In 1962, Nigeria experienced a significant political crisis when the Action Group split over its leadership and direction. Which outcome most directly resulted from this split, considering its impact on federal politics?

  1. a.It weakened opposition in the Western Region, enabling the Northern People's Congress to consolidate federal power.
  2. b.It led to the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and a new coalition government.
  3. c.It caused the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the Eastern Region to suppress unrest.
  4. d.It resulted in the complete dissolution of all regional governments by the federal authority.

Solution

The split of the Action Group undermined strong regional opposition to the NPC and allowed the NPC to dominate federal politics; this is why option 0 is correct. Option 1 is a tempting distractor because it mistakes the direction of political events—Balewa stayed in power and formed coalitions that benefited from the weakened opposition.

Question 7

In 1947, the Richards Constitution was replaced with the Macpherson Constitution after widespread consultations across Nigeria. What was the most significant change introduced by the Macpherson Constitution compared to its predecessor?

  1. a.It established a federal system with regions having their own legislatures.
  2. b.It abolished indirect rule in Northern Nigeria.
  3. c.It introduced universal adult suffrage for all Nigerians.
  4. d.It created a House of Chiefs in each of the three regions.

Solution

The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 introduced a federal structure with regional legislatures—this was a major shift from the more centralized Richards Constitution. The most tempting distractor is 'It abolished indirect rule in Northern Nigeria,' but indirect rule actually persisted; the constitutional change was about regional autonomy, not the local administrative system.

Question 8

The Kingdom of Benin became famous in West Africa for its bronze plaques and sculptures. What was the main purpose of these bronzes in Benin society?

  1. a.They were used as currency to facilitate trade between neighboring kingdoms.
  2. b.They decorated the palace of the Oba and recorded historical events of the kingdom.
  3. c.They served as religious idols for private family worship.
  4. d.They were distributed as rewards for bravery in battle by the military leaders.

Solution

The Benin bronzes mainly adorned the Oba's palace and served to commemorate important events and people, helping to record the kingdom’s history visually. A common mistake is to believe they functioned as currency (option 0), but trade in Benin used other objects like cowries, not bronzes.

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History in other exams

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