Nigeria: Heads of State: 1963-2018
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1 Oct 1963 – 16 Jan 1966 Nnamdi Chukwuemeka Azikiwe
Head of the Federal Military Government
16 Jan 1966 – 24 May 1966 Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi
Head of the National Military Government
24 May 1966 – 29 Jul 1966 Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi
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
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
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1 Oct 1979 – 31 Dec 1983 Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari
Head of the Federal Military Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
31 Dec 1983 – 27 Aug 1985 Muhammadu Buhari
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
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
17 Nov 1993 – 8 Jun 1998 Sani Abacha
9 Jun 1998 – 29 May 1999 Abdulsalam Abubakar
President 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