Nigeria: Heads of State: 1963-2024 - Archontology
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Nigeria: Heads of State: 1963-2024

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1 Oct 1963 - 16 Jan 1966 Nnamdi Chukwuemeka Azikiwe  [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 
29 Jul 1966 - 1 Aug 1966 office vacant
1 Aug 1966 - 31 Aug 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 
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 
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 

[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