•The Chadic languages are spread between the Sudan border and western Nigeria.
•The two branches in Nigeria are West and Central
•The expansion of West Chadic was probably 2-3000 years ago, but certainly later than
Benue-Congo
•Hausa underwent a secondary expansion of (? 1000 years ago) further breaking up the Kainji and
Plateau populations and
pressing Adamawa languages southwards
•At the similar era there would have been a secondary expansion of Kanuri cluster languages from north
of Lake Chad
•Shuwa Arabs are
likely to begin incursions into NE Nigeria in the 13th century