Provinces and Regions of Nigeria

Note: Regions since 1914 are given with Lagos Federal District formed in 1954. The regions gained self-rule on 1 Oct 1954. Military governors were installed after the coup of 15 Jan 1966. During the abolition of federalism 24 May - 31 Aug 1966, the regions were redesignated "groups of provinces," and the governors continued in office under the new designations. In 27 May 1967 the regions were dissolved and 12 states created instead.

Party abbreviations: AG = Action Group (Yoruba dominated); NCNC = National Council of Nigerian Citizens (Igbo dominated); NNDP = Nigerian National Democratic Party (AG successor);
NPC = Northern People's Congress (Hausa/Fulani dominated); UPC = United People's Party;
Mil = Military;

Lieutenant governors
 1 Jan 1914 - 1917         Charles Lindsay Temple             (b. 1871 - d. 1929)
1917 - 1921                Herbert Symonds Goldsmith          (b. 1873 - d. 1945)
1921 - 1925                William Frederick Gowers           (b. 1875 - d. 1954)
1925 - 1930                Sir Herbert Richard Palmer         (b. 1877 - d. 1958)
1930 - 1932                Cyril Wilson Alexander             (b. 1879 - d. 1947)
Chief Commissioners
1932 - 1936                George Sinclair Browne
1936 - 1943                Sir Theodore Samuel Adams          (b. 1885 - d. 1961)
1943 - 1947                Sir John Robert Patterson          (b. 1892 - d. 1976)
1947 - 1951                Eric Westbury Thompstone           (b. 1897 - d. 1974)
Lieutenant governors
1951 - 1952                Sir Eric Westbury Thompstone       (s.a.)
1952 - 1 Oct 1954          Bryan Sharwood-Smith               (b. 1899 - d. 1983)
                            (from 1953, Sir Bryan Sharwood-Smith)
Governors
 1 Oct 1954 -  2 Dec 1957  Sir Bryan Sharwood-Smith           (s.a.)
 2 Dec 1957 - 1962         Sir Gawain Westray Bell            (b. 1909 - d. 1995)
1962 - 16 Jan 1966         Alhaji Sir Kashim Ibrahim          (b. 1910 - d. 1990)
19 Jan 1966 - 27 May 1967  Hassan Usman Katsina               (b. 1933 - d. 1995)

Leader of Government Business
1953 -  1 Oct 1954         Alhaji Ahmadu Bello                (b. 1909 - d. 1966)  NPC    
Premier
 1 Oct 1954 - 15 Jan 1966  Alhaji Ahmadu Bello                (s.a.)               NPC
                            (from 1959, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello) 

 1 Jan 1914                Southern Protectorate part of British Nigeria Colony
                             as southern provinces.
1939                       Southern provinces divided into Eastern and Western Regions.
 1 Oct 1960                Eastern and Western regions incorporated into Nigeria.

Lieutenant governors
 1 Jan 1914 - 1920         Alexander George Boyle             (b. 1872 - d. 1943)
1921 - 1925                Harry Claude Moorhouse             (b. 1872 - d. 1934)
1925 - 1929                Upton Fitzherbert Ruxton           (b. 1873 - d. 1954)
1929 - 1930                Cyril Wilson Alexander             (b. 1879 - d. 1947)
1930 - 1935                Walter Buchanan-Smith              (b. 1879 - d. 1944)
Chief Commissioner
1935 - 1939                William Edgar Hunt                 (b. 1883 - d. 1969)

Chief Commissioners
1939 - 1946                Gerald Charles Whiteley            (b. 1891 - d. 1958)
1946 - 1951                Theo Chandos Hoskyns-Abrahall      (b. 1896 - d. 1975)
                            (from 24 Feb 1950, Sir Theo Chandos Hoskyns-Abrahall)
Lieutenant governors
1951                       Sir Theo Chandos Hoskyns-Abrahall  (s.a.) 
1951 -  1 Oct 1954         Sir Hugo F. Marshall               (b. 1905 - d. 1986)
Governors
 1 Oct 1954 - Jul 1960     Sir John Dalzell Rankine           (b. 1907 - d. 1987)
Jul 1960 - Dec 1962        Sir Adesoji Aderemi                (b. 1889 - d. 1980)
Dec 1962 - 16 Jan 1966     Joseph Odeleye Fadahunsi           (b. 1901 - d. 1986)
                             (from 20 Mar 1963, Sir Joseph Odeleye Fadahunsi)
19 Jan 1966 - 29 Jul 1966  Adekunle Fajuyi                    (b. 1926 - d. 1966)
Aug 1966 - 27 May 1967     Robert Adeyinka Adebayo            (b. 1928)

Leader of Government Business
1951 -  1 Oct 1954         Obafemi Awolowo                    (b. 1909 - d. 1987)  AG
Premiers
 1 Oct 1954 - 15 Dec 1959  Obafemi Awolowo                    (s.a.)               AG
15 Dec 1959 - 21 May 1962  Samuel Akintola (1st time)         (b. 1910 - d. 1966)  AG
21 May 1962 - 29 May 1962  Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro      (b. 1909 - d. 1975)  NNDP
29 May 1962 - Dec 1962     Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi        (b. 1916)
                             (administrator)
 1 Jan 1963 - 15 Jan 1966  Samuel Akintola (2nd time)         (s.a.)               UPC

                        19 May 1964 - 1967

 8 Aug 1963                Midwest Region created from part of Western Region.
 9 Aug 1967                Occupied by Biafra.
19 Sep 1967                Republic of Benin declared.
20 Sep 1967                Retaken by Nigeria.

Administrator
12 Aug 1963 -  8 Feb 1964  Dennis Osadebay                    (b. 1911 - d. 1994)
Governors
 8 Feb 1964 - 16 Jan 1966? Samuel Jereton Mariere             (b. 1907 - d. 1971)
19 Jan 1966 -  9 Aug 1967  David Akpode Ejoor                 (b. 1932)
17 Aug 1967 - 20 Sep 1967  Albert Nwazu Okonkwo               (d. ....)
                           (Biafran military administrator;
                            19-20 Sep 1967 governor of "Republic of Benin")

Premier
 8 Feb 1964 - 16 Jan 1966  Dennis Osadebay                    (s.a.)                NCNC

                              1960 - 1967

Chief Commissioners
1939 - 1943                Geoffrey Gay Shute                 (b. 1892 - d. 1951)
1943 - 1948                Frederick Bernard Carr             (b. 1893 - d. 1981)
1948 - 1951                James Grenville Pyke-Nott          (b. 1897 - d. 19..)
Lieutenant governors
1951 - 1952                James Grenville Pyke-Nott          (s.a.)
1952 -  1 Oct 1954         Clement John Pleass                (b. 1901 - d. 1988) 
                             (from 1953, Sir Clement John Pleass)
Governors
 1 Oct 1954 - Nov 1956     Sir Clement John Pleass            (s.a.)
1956 - May 1960            Sir Robert Stapledon               (b. 1909 - d. 1975)
15 Dec 1960 - 16 Jan 1966  Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam            (b. 1906 - d. 1995)
19 Jan 1966 - 27 May 1967  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu        (b. 1933 - d. 2011)

Leaders of Government Business
1951 - 1953                Eyo Ita                            (b. 1904 - d. ....)  NCNC
1953 -  1 Oct 1954         Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe            (b. 1904 - d. 1996)  NCNC
Premiers
 1 Oct 1954 - Dec 1959     Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe            (s.a.)               NCNC
Jan 1960 - 16 Jan 1966     Michael Okpara                     (b. 1920 - d. 1984)  NCNC

                         1960 - 1967

 7 Jul 1954                Federal Territory of Lagos (a 70 sq. km area of Lagos Island,
                             including the city of Lagos).
27 May 1967                Part of Lagos state.

Administrators
 7 Jul 1954 - 1956         ....
Chief Administrative Officer
1956 - 1957?               T.F. Barker                        (b. 1912)
Ministers of Lagos Affairs
1957 - 1960                Muhammadu Ribadu                   (b. 1910 - d. 1966)  NPC
1960 - 1966                Mallam Musa Yar'Adua               (d. 19..)            NPC