List of Nigerian Presidents since Independence till date

Here is a list of Nigerian presidents since 1960:

Nnamdi Azikiwe (October 1, 1960 - January 15, 1966)

 Nnamdi Azikiwe served as the first President of Nigeria after it gained independence from British colonial rule. He was the ceremonial head of state and held the position of Governor-General from 1960 to 1963 when Nigeria became a republic.

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (January 1, 1963 - January 15, 1966) 

 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa served as the first Prime Minister of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963. When Nigeria became a republic, he became its first and only Prime Minister.

General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (January 16, 1966 - July 29, 1966) 

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi came into power through a military coup. He abolished the federal system of government and centralized power in the federal government. However, his regime was short-lived as he was overthrown in another military coup.

General Yakubu Gowon (August 1, 1966 - July 29, 1975) 

 Yakubu Gowon took over as the head of state following the coup that ousted Aguiyi-Ironsi. He led Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) and was in power until he was overthrown in a bloodless coup.

General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (July 29, 1975 - February 13, 1976) 

 Murtala Ramat Mohammed came to power through a military coup that ousted Gowon. His tenure was focused on addressing corruption and restoring the economy. However, his time in office was cut short by his assassination in a failed coup attempt. 

Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979) 

Obasanjo was a military head of state, serving as Nigeria's leader from 1976 to 1979. He handed over power to a civilian government and became Nigeria's first executive president in 1999.

Shehu Shagari (1979-1983): 

Shagari was Nigeria's first democratically elected president after the military relinquished power in 1979. 

He served as president until December 1983 when a military coup led by Muhammadu Buhari removed him from office. 

Muhammadu Buhari (1983-1985): 

Buhari, a military general, became Nigeria's head of state after the coup in December 1983. He served as the military ruler until August 1985 when he was also overthrown in a coup led by Ibrahim Babangida.

Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993): 

 Babangida, another military general, assumed power after overthrowing Buhari in August 1985. He ruled as Nigeria's military president until he stepped down in 1993 amidst widespread political unrest and protests. 

Ernest Shonekan (1993): 

Shonekan served as the interim president of Nigeria for a brief period from August to November 1993. He was appointed by Babangida but was eventually forced to resign by General Sani Abacha. 

Sani Abacha (1993-1998): 

Abacha, a military general, took over power after Shonekan's resignation. 

He ruled as a military dictator until his sudden death in June 1998.

Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999): 

Abubakar, also a military general, assumed power after the death of Abacha. He served as the head of state and oversaw the transition from military to civilian rule. 

In May 1999, he handed over power to the elected civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, marking the return of democracy to Nigeria.

It is important to note that during this period, Nigeria experienced periods of military rule and civilian administrations.

General Olusegun Obasanjo (May 29, 1999 - May 29, 2007) 

 Olusegun Obasanjo was elected as the President of Nigeria in the country's first democratic elections after a period of military rule. He served two terms and was known for his economic reforms and anti-corruption efforts.

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (May 29, 2007 - May 5, 2010)

 Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was elected as the President of Nigeria in 2007. His presidency was marked by efforts to combat corruption and improve the country's infrastructure. However, he passed away while in office.

Goodluck Jonathan (May 6, 2010 - May 29, 2015)

 Goodluck Jonathan assumed the presidency following the death of Yar'Adua. He was elected for a full term in 2011. His presidency saw various challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency, but also witnessed improvements in the electoral process.

Muhammadu Buhari (May 29, 2015 - 2023) 

Muhammadu Buhari, a retired general, was elected as the President of Nigeria in 2015 and re-elected for a second term in 2019. His administration has focused on tackling corruption, improving security, and diversifying the economy.

Please note that this list includes both ceremonial and executive heads of state. Nigeria has transitioned between different political systems over the years, including parliamentary and presidential systems, as well as periods of military rule.