Nigeria's first constitution after independence was the:

**The reasoning** When Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, it needed a constitution to govern itself as a sovereign nation. This was the **Independence Constitution of 1960** — the first constitution Nigeria had as an independent country. The key word here is "after independence." Before 1960, Nigeria was under British colonial rule and had colonial constitutions (like Clifford, Richards, and Macpherson) that the British imposed on us. **Why the wrong options tempt you** These are all real Nigerian constitutions, which is the trap! The **Clifford (1922)**, **Richards (1946)**, and **Macpherson (1951)** constitutions all came *before* independence — they were colonial-era constitutions when Britain still controlled Nigeria. Students often remember these names from history class and pick one without checking the timeline. The question specifically asks for "after independence," so any pre-1960 constitution is automatically wrong. **Quick takeaway** Draw a mental line at October 1, 1960: everything before = colonial constitutions (Clifford, Richards, Macpherson); everything after = Nigerian constitutions, starting with the Independence Constitution.