Census controversy was one of the factors that contributed to the military intervention in

Analyze the question: The question asks which military intervention in Nigeria had the census controversy as one of its causes.

Explain the concept: Nigeria's military interventions (coups) were:

• January 1966: Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu's coup, which ended the First Republic and brought in General Aguiyi-Ironsi.
• July 1966: A counter-coup that brought in General Yakubu Gowon.
• 1975: Murtala Mohammed overthrew Gowon.
• 1983: Buhari overthrew Shagari.
• 1985: Babangida overthrew Buhari.

Show the solution: The causes of the January 1966 coup, which ended the First Republic, include:

1. The 1962 and 1963 census controversies, in which the figures were disputed along regional lines (North vs. East and West).
2. The rigged 1964 federal election and the political crisis that followed.
3. The Western Region crisis (the Akintola–Awolowo feud and the 1965 election violence).
4. Corruption and the perceived ethnic/regional domination of politics.

The census disputes of 1962-63 heightened regional tension and fed the political breakdown that led to the 1966 intervention.

By comparison:

• 1967 was the start of the Civil War, not a military intervention (coup).
• 1975 was driven by Gowon's failure to hand over power by 1976, corruption, and the delay in the return to civil rule.
• 1985 was driven by economic hardship, corruption, and the human rights abuses of the Buhari regime.

Identify the answer: The census controversy contributed to the military intervention of 1966, which is option A.

Tip: For Nigerian coup causes, link each date to its keywords:

• 1966 → census, election rigging, Western Region crisis
• 1975 → Gowon's broken transition promise
• 1983/1985 → economic mismanagement and corruption