Provinces and Regions of Nigeria

Note: Regions since 1914 are given along with Lagos Federal Territory formed in 1954. The Eastern and Western regions gained self-rule in 1957 as did the Northern region in 1959. Military governors were installed after the coup of 15 Jan 1966. During the abolition of federalism 24 May - 31 Aug 1966, the regions were re-designated "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, left-leaning, 1950-1966); NCNC = National Council of Nigerian Citizens (Igbo dominated, until 1959 named National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, 1944-1966); NNDP = Nigerian National Democratic Party (conservative, Lagos based, 1923-1966); NPC = Northern People's Congress (Northern autonomist, Hausa/Fulani dominated, 1951-1966); UPP = United People's Party (split from AG, 1962-1966); 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)
11 Sep 1925 - 12 Apr 1930  Herbert Richmond Palmer            (b. 1877 - d. 1958)
1930 - 1932                Cyril Wilson Alexander             (b. 1879 - d. 1947)
Chief Commissioners
1932 - 1936                George Sinclair Browne             (b. 1880 - d. 1946)
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)
                             (from 2 Jan 1950, Sir Eric Westbury Thompstone)
Lieutenant governors
1951 - 1952                Sir Eric Westbury Thompstone       (s.a.)
1952 - 1 Oct 1954          Bryan Sharwood-Smith               (b. 1899 - d. 1983)
                             (from 1 Jan 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 Shettima Kashim Ibrahim     (b. 1910 - d. 1990)
                             (from 27 Nov 1962, Alhaji Sir Shettima Kashim Ibrahim)
19 Jan 1966 - 27 May 1967  Hassan Usman Katsina               (b. 1933 - d. 1995)
                             (military governor)

Leader of Government Business
1951 -  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 1 Jan 1959, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello)

 1 Jan 1914                Southern Provinces (former Southern Nigeria Protectorate).
 1 Apr 1939                Divided into Eastern and Western provinces. 

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

 1 Apr 1939                Western Provinces (split from Southern Provinces). 
 1 Jan 1947                Western Region, created from former Western provinces.
29 Jun 1951                Granted semi-responsible government.
 8 Aug 1957                Self-government granted.
 1 Oct 1960                Incorporated into independent Nigeria.
27 May 1967                Divided into Western and Lagos states
                             (see under Nigeria federal states).

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 Frank 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 Tadeniawo 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 - d. 2017)
                             (military governor)

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)  AG
29 May 1962 - 31 Dec 1962  Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi        (b. 1916 - d. 2012)  Non-party
                             (administrator)
 1 Jan 1963 - 15 Jan 1966  Samuel Akintola (2nd time)         (s.a.)               UPP

 8 Aug 1963                Mid-Western Region, split from Western Region.
27 May 1967                Becomes Mid-Western state (see Edo under Nigeria federal states).

Administrator
19 Aug 1963 -  8 Feb 1964  Dennis Chukude Osadebay            (b. 1911 - d. 1994)
Governors
 8 Feb 1964 - 16 Jan 1966  Samuel Jereton Mariere             (b. 1906 - d. 1971)
19 Jan 1966 - 29 May 1967  David Akpode Ejoor                 (b. 1932 - d. 2019)
                             (military governor)

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

 1 Apr 1939                Eastern Provinces, split from Southern Provinces.
 1 Jan 1947                Eastern Region
29 Jun 1951                Granted semi-responsible government.
 8 Aug 1957                Self-government granted.
 1 Oct 1960                Incorporated into independent Nigeria.
27 May 1967                Divided into East-Central, South-Eastern and Rivers states
                             (see under Nigeria federal states).
30 May 1967 -  9 Jan 1970  Secession of the Eastern region of Nigeria as Biafra
                             (see Biafra under Nigeria)

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. 1972)
Lieutenant governors
1951 - 1952                James Grenville Pyke-Nott          (s.a.)
                             (from 1 Jan 1952, Sir ames Grenville Pyke-Nott)
1952 -  1 Oct 1954         Clement John Pleass                (b. 1901 - d. 1988) 
                             (from 1 Jun 1953, Sir Clement John Pleass)
Governors
 1 Oct 1954 - Nov 1956     Sir Clement John Pleass            (s.a.)
1956 - May 1960            Sir Robert de Stapledon 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)
                             (military governor)

Leader of Government Business
1951 - 1953                Eyo Ita                            (b. 1904 - d. 1972)  NCNC
Chief minister
1953 -  1 Oct 1954         Nnamdi Azikiwe                     (b. 1904 - d. 1996)  NCNC
Premiers
 1 Oct 1954 - 19 Dec 1959  Nnamdi Azikiwe                     (s.a.)               NCNC
19 Dec 1959 - 16 Jan 1966  Michael Okpara                     (b. 1920 - d. 1984)  NCNC

29 Jun 1951                Lagos merged into Western Region.
 1 Oct 1954                Federal Territory of Lagos (a 70 sq. km area of Lagos Island,
                             including the city of Lagos), separated from Western region.
27 May 1967                Federal Territory (Lagos) created; administered by the Federal
                             Ministry of Lagos Affairs (see under Nigeria states).

Chief Secretary to the Government, Lagos
1955 - 1957                Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey         (b. 1910 - d. 1999)  Non-party
Chief Administrative Officer
1956 - 1957?               Thomas Fellowes Barker             (b. 1912 - d. 1989)  Non-party
Minister of Lagos Affairs, Mines and Power
1957 - 1959                Muhammadu Ribadu                   (b. 1909 - d. 1965)  NPC
Ministers of Lagos Affairs
1959 - 1960                Muhammadu Ribadu                   (s.a.)               NPC
1960 - Jan 1966            Mallam Musa Yar'Adua               (b. 1912 - d. 1993)  NPC
Jan 1966 - May 1967        Mobolaji Ohofunso Johnson          (b. 1935 - d. 2019)  Mil
                             (military administrator)