Nigeria: Heads of State: 1963-2023 President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1 Oct 1963 - 16 Jan 1966 Nnamdi Chukwuemeka Azikiwe (x) [1] Head of the Federal Military Government, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces [2] 16 Jan 1966 - 24 May 1966 Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi [3] Head of the National Military Government, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces 24 May 1966 - 29 Jul 1966 Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (x) 29 Jul 1966 - 1 Aug 1966 office vacant 1 Aug 1966 - 1 Sep 1966 Yakubu Cinwa Dan-Yumma Gowon Head of the Federal Military Government, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces [4] 1 Sep 1966 - 29 Jul 1975 Yakubu Cinwa Dan-Yumma Gowon (x) 29 Jul 1975 - 13 Feb 1976 Murtala Ramat Mohammed 14 Feb 1976 - 1 Oct 1979 Oluṣẹgun Fajinmi Okikiọlakan Arẹmu Ọbasanjọ [5] President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation 1 Oct 1979 - 31 Dec 1983 Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari Head of the Federal Military Government, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces 31 Dec 1983 - 27 Aug 1985 Muhammadu Buhari President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 27 Aug 1985 - 26 Aug 1993 Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Head of the Interim National Government 26 Aug 1993 - 17 Nov 1993 Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan Head of State and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces 17 Nov 1993 - 8 Jun 1998 Sani Abacha 9 Jun 1998 - 29 May 1999 Abdulsalam Abubakar President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 29 May 1999 - 29 May 2007 Oluṣẹgun Fajinmi Okikiọlakan Arẹmu Ọbasanjọ (x) 29 May 2007 - 5 May 2010 Umaru Musa Yar'Adua 5 May 2010 - 29 May 2015 Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan 29 May 2015 - Muhammadu Buhari (x) [1] Original name: Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwuemeka Azikiwe [2] In earliest documents: Head of the Federation Military Government [3] Original name: Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi. [4] From 17 Mar 1967: Head of the Federal Military Government, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [5] Original name: Matthew Oluṣẹgun Fajinmi Okikiọlakan Arẹmu Ọbasanjọ Last updated on: 07 Jun 2023 07:32:52
