Nigeria has had several Heads of State and Presidents since its independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. Below is a list of Nigeria’s past Heads of State and Presidents in chronological order:
Head of State:
1. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Oct. 1, 1960 – Oct. 1, 1963)
2. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Oct. 1, 1963 – Jan. 15, 1966)
3. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (Jan. 16, 1966 – Jul. 29, 1966)
4. General Yakubu Gowon (Jul. 29, 1966 – Jul. 29, 1975)
5. General Murtala Mohammed (Jul. 29, 1975 – Feb. 13, 1976)
6. General Olusegun Obasanjo (Feb. 13, 1976 – Oct. 1, 1979)
7. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Dec. 31, 1983 – Aug. 27, 1985)
8. General Ibrahim Babangida (Aug. 27, 1985 – Aug. 26, 1993)
9. Chief Ernest Shonekan (Aug. 26, 1993 – Nov. 17, 1993)
10. General Sani Abacha (Nov. 17, 1993 – June 8, 1998)
11. General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Jun. 8, 1998 – May 29, 1999)
Presidents:
1. Olusegun Obasanjo (May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007)
2. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (May 29, 2007 – May 5, 2010)
3. Goodluck Jonathan (May 6, 2010 – May 29, 2015)
4. Muhammadu Buhari (May 29, 2015 – present)
