List of Nigeria Presidents from 1960 till Date [ Updated ]

Here is a list of Nigeria’s presidents in chronological order:

Nnamdi Azikiwe (1963-1966)

Azikiwe was the first president of Nigeria after it gained independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

He served as the ceremonial head of state from 1963 until the first military coup in 1966.

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (1966)

Aguiyi-Ironsi was the first military head of state in Nigeria, taking power after a coup in 1966 that overthrew the civilian government.

He was in power for only six months before he was overthrown and killed in another coup.

Yakubu Gowon (1966-1975)

Gowon was the second military head of state in Nigeria, and his regime oversaw the country’s civil war from 1967 to 1970.

He ruled until he was overthrown in a coup in 1975.

Murtala Mohammed (1975-1976)

Mohammed was a military general who overthrew Gowon in a coup in 1975.

He served as head of state for only six months before he was assassinated.

Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979)

Obasanjo was a military general who took over as head of state after Mohammed’s assassination.

He oversaw the transition of Nigeria from military to civilian rule in 1979.

Shehu Shagari (1979-1983)

Shagari was Nigeria’s first civilian president after the country’s return to democracy in 1979.

His government was overthrown in a coup in 1983.

Muhammadu Buhari (1983-1985)

Buhari was a military general who led the coup that overthrew Shagari in 1983.

He served as head of state until he was overthrown in another coup in 1985.

Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993)

Babangida was a military general who took over from Buhari in 1985.

His regime was known for its corruption and human rights abuses, and he was eventually forced to resign in 1993.

Ernest Shonekan (1993)

Shonekan was appointed as interim president by Babangida after he resigned in 1993.

His government was short-lived and was overthrown by another military coup later that year.

Sani Abacha (1993-1998)

Abacha was a military general who took over as head of state after Shonekan’s government was overthrown.

His regime was known for its brutal repression of political opposition, and he died suddenly in 1998.

Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999)

Abubakar was a military general who took over after Abacha’s death.

He oversaw the transition of Nigeria to civilian rule and handed power over to an elected civilian government in 1999.

Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007)

Obasanjo returned to power in 1999 as Nigeria’s first democratically elected president since the 1980s. He served two terms in office.

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007-2010)

Goodluck Jonathan (2009-2015)Jonathan, who had been Yar’Adua’s vice president, took over as president after his death.

Muhamma Buhari (2015-2023)

Muhammad Buhari return to power as 4th Civilian president of Nigeria after democracy.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Present)

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is elected president of Nigeria in 2023 general election, he will resume to office in may 29, 2023 after president muhammadu buhari.

How many elected presidents has Nigeria had?

Nigeria has had six elected presidents since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. Here is a list of Nigeria’s elected presidents:

Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007)
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007-2010)
Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015)
Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2019)
Muhammadu Buhari (2019-2023)
Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023-present)

Who was the first civilian president

The first civilian president of Nigeria was Shehu Shagari, who was elected in 1979 after the military handed over power to civilian rule. He served as president until he was overthrown in a military coup in 1983.

List of military rulers in Nigeria

Here is a list of military rulers in Nigeria in chronological order:

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (1966)
Yakubu Gowon (1966-1975)
Murtala Mohammed (1975-1976)
Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979)
Muhammadu Buhari (1983-1985)
Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993)
Sani Abacha (1993-1998)
Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999)