List of heads of state of Nigeria facts for kids

This article tells you about the leaders of Nigeria, from when it became independent in 1960 until today. The leader of a country is often called the "head of state." In Nigeria, the President is currently both the head of state and the head of government.

When Nigeria first became independent in 1960, its head of state was Elizabeth II, who was also the Queen of the United Kingdom. She was represented in Nigeria by a special person called a Governor-General. Nigeria became a republic in 1963. This meant the Queen and the Governor-General were replaced by a President. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first Nigerian Governor-General and later the first President.

Since 1963, 14 different people have led Nigeria. The current President, Bola Tinubu, is the 16th head of state. Some leaders, like Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, served two times. They were leaders first as military officers and then later as elected civilians.

Some leaders had very short terms. Ernest Shonekan was in office for only 83 days. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi served for 194 days. Murtala Muhammed was leader for 199 days. On the other hand, Yakubu Gowon served for almost nine years straight. Olusegun Obasanjo served the longest in total, for over eleven years across his two terms.

Many changes in leadership happened because of military coups. Five heads of state were removed from power this way. Four leaders died while in office. Two were killed during military coups, and two died from natural causes. Three leaders resigned from their positions.

Nigeria's First Leaders: The Monarchy (1960–1963)

When Nigeria first gained independence, it was a monarchy. This meant the Queen of the United Kingdom was also Nigeria's Queen.

The Queen of Nigeria

The rules for who would become Queen were the same as for the British throne.

Queen			Time in Office			Royal Family	Prime Minister	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
1	Queen Elizabeth II, Nigeria's first head of state.	Elizabeth II (1926–2022)	1 October 1960	1 October 1963	3 years	Windsor	Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

The Governor-General

The Governor-General was the Queen's representative in Nigeria. This person had most of the Queen's powers. The Governor-General was chosen by the Nigerian government.

Governor-General			Time in Office			Monarch	Prime Minister	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
1		Sir James Robertson (1899–1983)	1 October 1960	16 November 1960	46 days	Elizabeth II	Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912–1966)
2	Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first Nigerian Governor-General.	Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996)	16 November 1960	1 October 1963	2 years, 319 days

Nigeria Becomes a Republic (1963–Present)

In 1963, Nigeria changed from a monarchy to a republic. This meant it would now have a President as its head of state.

The First Republic (1963–1966)

Under Nigeria's first republican constitution, the country had a parliamentary system. This meant there was a Prime Minister and a President. The President was the ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister led the government. The President was elected by the Parliament for five years.

President			Time in Office			Political Party	Prime Minister	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
1	Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first President.	Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996)	1 October 1963	16 January 1966	2 years, 107 days	National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons	Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912–1966)

Military Rule (1966–1979)

In 1966, a military coup led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu ended the First Republic. Military leaders then took charge of the country.

Head of State			Time in Office			Military Group	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
2		Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (1924–1966)	16 January 1966	29 July 1966 (killed.)	194 days	Central Military Government
3	General Yakubu Gowon.	General Yakubu Gowon (born 1934)	1 August 1966	29 July 1975 (removed from power.)	8 years, 362 days	Supreme Military Council
4	General Murtala Mohammed.	General Murtala Mohammed (1938–1976)	29 July 1975	13 February 1976 (killed.)	199 days
5	General Olusegun Obasanjo.	General Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937)	13 February 1976	1 October 1979 (stepped down.)	3 years, 230 days

The Second Republic (1979–1983)

In 1979, Nigeria returned to civilian rule with a new constitution. The President became both the head of state and the head of government. The President was elected for a four-year term.

President			Time in Office			Political Party	Cabinet	Elected	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
6	Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Nigeria's first elected executive President.	Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1925–2018)	1 October 1979	31 December 1983 (removed from power.)	4 years, 91 days	National Party of Nigeria	Shagari	1979 1983

Military Rule (1983–1993)

Another military coup in 1983 brought military rule back to Nigeria.

Head of State/ President			Time in Office			Military Group	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
7	Major General Muhammadu Buhari.	Major General Muhammadu Buhari (born 1942)	31 December 1983	27 August 1985 (removed from power.)	1 year, 239 days	Supreme Military Council
8	General Ibrahim Babangida.	General Ibrahim Babangida (born 1941)	27 August 1985	26 August 1993 (stepped down.)	7 years, 364 days	Armed Forces Ruling Council

Interim Government (1993)

After some political problems, an interim (temporary) government was set up.

Interim Head of State			Time in Office			Political Party	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
9	Chief Ernest Shonekan.	Chief Ernest Shonekan (1936–2022)	26 August 1993	17 November 1993 (removed from power.)	83 days	Independent

Military Rule (1993–1999)

Military rule returned again in late 1993.

Head of State			Time in Office			Military Group	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Started	Ended	How Long
10		General Sani Abacha (1943–1998)	17 November 1993	8 June 1998 (died in office.)	4 years, 203 days	Provisional Ruling Council
11	General Abdulsalami Abubakar.	General Abdulsalami Abubakar (born 1942)	9 June 1998	29 May 1999 (stepped down.)	354 days

The Fourth Republic (1999–Present)

Since 1999, Nigeria has been a democracy under its fourth constitution. The President is elected for a four-year term and leads both the country and the government.

President			Time in Office			Political Party	Cabinet	Elected	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name	Started	Ended	How Long
12	Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.	Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937)	29 May 1999	29 May 2007	8 years	People's Democratic Party	Obasanjo	1999 2003
13	Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.	Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (1951–2010)	29 May 2007	5 May 2010 (died in office)	2 years, 341 days	People's Democratic Party	Yar'Adua	2007
14	Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.	Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (born 1957)	6 May 2010	29 May 2015	5 years, 23 days	People's Democratic Party	Jonathan I–II	2011
15	Muhammadu Buhari.	Muhammadu Buhari (born 1942)	29 May 2015	29 May 2023	8 years	All Progressives Congress	Buhari I–II	2015 2019
16	Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's current President.	Bola Tinubu (born 1952)	29 May 2023	Incumbent	2 years, 17 days	All Progressives Congress	Tinubu	2023

Timeline of Nigerian Leaders

This timeline shows when each head of state served in Nigeria.

How Long Leaders Served

This table shows how long each head of state served. Remember that some leaders, like Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, served two separate times.

Images for kids

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  Governor-general's standard (1960–1963)

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  Presidential standard of Nigeria (1963–1966)

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  Presidential standard of Nigeria (Armed Forces)

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  Presidential standard of Nigeria