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WAEC History Past Questions

Real WAEC History past questions, each with the correct answer and a worked solution. NECO candidates sit the same paper, so these apply there too. Below are 8 to work through free — no account needed.

8 WAEC History questions with answers

Question 1

In February 1897, British forces invaded Benin City and removed Oba Ovonramwen from power. Which of the following was a major consequence of this event for the Benin Kingdom?

  1. a.The traditional monarchy was replaced with British colonial administration.
  2. b.Oba Ovonramwen was immediately reinstated as a puppet ruler.
  3. c.Benin's trade with Europeans increased significantly under indigenous control.
  4. d.Benin was merged with Oyo to form a new kingdom under British supervision.

Solution

The correct answer is that the traditional monarchy was replaced with British colonial administration, as British forces exiled the Oba and established direct colonial rule. The most tempting wrong option is that Oba Ovonramwen was reinstated as a puppet ruler, but in reality, he was exiled, not kept in power by the British.

Question 2

In 1897, after the British expedition to Benin, a significant consequence was the removal of many symbolic artefacts from the palace. What was the primary British motivation for seizing these Benin Bronzes?

  1. a.To punish the Oba for defying British authority and fund the expedition through their sale
  2. b.To preserve Benin culture in British museums for educational purposes
  3. c.To return the artefacts to their rightful Yoruba owners
  4. d.To prevent French colonial forces from acquiring them

Solution

The primary British motivation was to punish Benin for resistance, and to finance the costly expedition by selling the artefacts. The tempting wrong option is that the British intended preservation for educational purposes—in reality, their initial motive was punitive and economic, not preservation or cultural education.

Question 3

In 1947, a Nigerian political group organized a protest against the Native Authority system imposed by the British colonial government. Which of the following most accurately explains the significance of this protest for the development of nationalist movements in Nigeria?

  1. a.It united rural chiefs and British officials in support of indirect rule.
  2. b.It marked the first successful alliance between Northern and Southern nationalist groups.
  3. c.It exposed weaknesses in traditional authorities and increased support for representative institutions.
  4. d.It led to the immediate replacement of colonial administrators with Nigerian officials.

Solution

The protest revealed that traditional Native Authorities were losing legitimacy, prompting more Nigerians to demand representative governance. Option 1 is incorrect because the protest actually challenged, not supported, indirect rule; it did not immediately unite Northern and Southern groups (option 2); and the replacement of colonial officials did not occur immediately as stated in option 4.

Question 4

In the late 19th century, both the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kingdom of Benin faced increasing pressure from European colonial powers. Despite both being powerful entities, the outcomes of their encounters with the British differed. Which factor best explains why British colonization led to a quicker dismantling of Benin than Sokoto?

  1. a.Benin's centralized monarchy offered a single point of resistance, making it easier for the British to conquer by deposing the Oba.
  2. b.Sokoto Caliphate's reliance on cavalry made it vulnerable to British machine guns, leading to immediate defeat.
  3. c.Benin's reliance on trade with the British made it more cooperative and thus more swiftly colonized.
  4. d.Sokoto Caliphate's lack of internal unity allowed the British to take control rapidly through local alliances.

Solution

Benin's centralized system meant that defeating the Oba quickly collapsed resistance, whereas Sokoto's decentralized emirate structure made conquest slower. Option 3 is tempting but incorrect because Benin resisted British trade pressures, culminating in the punitive expedition, not cooperation.

Question 5

During British colonial rule in Nigeria, the policy of indirect rule was introduced. Which of the following best illustrates how indirect rule operated in the Northern Region of Nigeria?

  1. a.British officials governed directly without using local traditional authorities.
  2. b.Local emirs retained their positions but governed under the supervision of British officials.
  3. c.Elected councils replaced traditional rulers in all administrative matters.
  4. d.The British abolished all forms of local traditional institutions.

Solution

The correct answer is that local emirs retained their positions but governed under British supervision, as the British preferred to work through existing traditional rulers in the North. A tempting distractor is 'Elected councils replaced traditional rulers', but this is incorrect because indirect rule maintained, rather than replaced, traditional authorities.

Question 6

In 1962, during the political crisis in the Western Region of Nigeria, the federal government declared a state of emergency and suspended the regional legislature. Which action by the federal government best illustrates the principle of federal intervention in regional affairs during this period?

  1. a.Appointment of an administrator to govern the Western Region directly from Lagos
  2. b.Expulsion of the opposition party members from the regional assembly
  3. c.Enactment of new constitutional provisions curtailing freedom of association in all regions
  4. d.Creation of more states in the Western Region to reduce political tension

Solution

The direct appointment of an administrator by the federal government to govern the Western Region bypassed the elected regional government, exemplifying federal intervention. The expulsion of opposition members would have been an act of the regional legislature, not the federal government, so it does not capture the nature of federal intervention.

Question 7

In 1953, a constitutional crisis occurred in the Western Region of Nigeria when the Action Group government collapsed. Which of the following factors most directly led to the declaration of a State of Emergency there?

  1. a.Intense ethnic rivalry during the national census exercise
  2. b.bitter disagreement over the motion for self-government immediately for Nigeria
  3. c.Widespread electoral violence following a disputed regional election
  4. d.Resignation of the Premier and mass defection of members from the ruling party

Solution

The direct cause of the State of Emergency in the Western Region in 1962 was the breakdown of government after the Premier resigned and there were mass defections in parliament, leading to legislative paralysis. While disputes over self-government (option 2) caused earlier unrest, only political deadlock and resignations triggered federal intervention in this case.

Question 8

The Aba Women's Riot of 1929 was sparked when colonial authorities attempted to impose direct taxation on the women of Eastern Nigeria. Which of the following best explains the broader significance of this event for colonial administration in Nigeria?

  1. a.It led to the immediate withdrawal of all colonial taxation policies in Nigeria.
  2. b.It resulted in greater recognition of women's political influence and led to reforms in administrative practices.
  3. c.It caused the British to abandon indirect rule throughout Nigeria.
  4. d.It marked the end of all major resistance to colonial rule in the country.

Solution

The correct answer is that the riot demonstrated women's organizational power and forced the colonial administration to acknowledge their political influence, leading to reforms such as changes in the warrant chief system. The option about immediate withdrawal of all colonial taxation is a common misconception; taxation continued, though with some adjustments.

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WAEC History Past Questions · EasyPoint