Nnamdi Azikiwe
Served: 1963–1966
First president of Nigeria, a ceremonial head of state in the First Republic after serving as Governor-General from 1960; removed in the January 1966 military coup.
List of Presidents of Nigeria: Past and Present
Last updated
This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Nigeria from 1963 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Nigeria, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.
Current president of Nigeria: Bola Tinubu (in office since 2023).
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Presidents of Nigeria in order, with years in office
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Served: 1966
Became head of state on 16 January 1966 after a coup and was assassinated six months later, on 29 July 1966, after 194 days.
Yakubu Gowon
Served: 1966–1975
Took over on 1 August 1966 at age 31, Nigeria's youngest head of state, and led the federal side in the civil war; overthrown on 29 July 1975.
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Murtala Muhammed
Served: 1975–1976
Took power in a bloodless coup on 29 July 1975 and was assassinated on 13 February 1976 after 199 days.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Served: 1976–1979, 1999–2007
Became military head of state in 1976 after Murtala Muhammed's assassination and handed power to civilians in 1979; returned as elected president in 1999.
Shehu Shagari
Served: 1979–1983
First elected executive president of Nigeria; ousted in the coup of 31 December 1983.
Muhammadu Buhari
Served: 1983–1985, 2015–2023
Military head of state from 1983 until he was deposed in 1985; later elected president for two terms. He died in 2025.
Ibrahim Babangida
Served: 1985–1993
Military president who annulled the June 1993 election and then stepped down in August 1993.
Ernest Shonekan
Served: 1993
Led the interim government for just 83 days before being deposed by Sani Abacha.
Sani Abacha
Served: 1993–1998
Military ruler who seized power in November 1993; died in office in June 1998.
Abdulsalami Abubakar
Served: 1998–1999
Took over after Abacha's death and oversaw the handover to civilian rule on 29 May 1999.
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Served: 2007–2010
Elected in 2007; died in office on 5 May 2010.
Goodluck Jonathan
Served: 2010–2015
Vice president who succeeded Yar'Adua, then won the 2011 election and served until May 2015.
Bola Tinubu
Served: 2023–present
Took office on 29 May 2023 and is the current president of Nigeria.
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Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Nigeria
Who is the current president of Nigeria?
The current president of Nigeria is Bola Tinubu, in office since 2023.
Who were the previous presidents of Nigeria?
The presidents and heads of state of Nigeria listed on this page, in order, are: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Bola Tinubu.
Who was the first president of Nigeria?
Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first president of Nigeria, in office 1963–1966.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Nigeria; Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation lists; Nigerian news reports (checked Nov 2026). Complete list of Nigeria's 14 heads of state since 1963; Obasanjo and Buhari each served in two separate periods.. Last reviewed November 2026.
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