Nigerian military juntas

Military governments ruled Nigeria in several periods from 1966 to 1999, following coups and suspending or restricting civilian political institutions.

1966 Nigerian coup d'état: Two coups in 1966 toppled Nigeria’s civilian government and brought military officers to power. The January coup began military rule; the July counter-coup reshaped its leadership.
Supreme Military Council: The Supreme Military Council was Nigeria’s highest governing body under several military regimes. It concentrated national authority in senior officers during much of the junta era.
Aguiyi-Ironsi: Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was Nigeria’s head of state from January until his assassination in July 1966. He led the first military government after the January coup.
Nigerian state creation: Nigerian state creation is the division of the country into progressively more constituent states. Military rulers used state creation to alter regional balance and federal administration.
Nigerian First Republic: Nigeria’s parliamentary civilian government lasted from independence in 1960 until the January 1966 coup. Its political crises preceded the first military takeover.
Federal Military Government of Nigeria: The Federal Military Government of Nigeria was the central executive authority during periods of military rule. It governed through military leadership rather than an elected federal cabinet.
Yakubu Gowon: Yakubu Gowon was Nigeria’s head of state from 1966 to 1975 and led the federal government during the civil war. His long rule followed the July 1966 counter-coup and included the Biafran war.
Nigerian Constitution of 1979: The 1979 Constitution established Nigeria’s Second Republic and a presidential system of government. It framed the civilian transition prepared under military rule.
Nigerian Civil War: A war from 1967 to 1970 pitted Nigeria’s federal government against the secessionist Republic of Biafra. The Gowon government’s prosecution of the war defined its rule and strengthened federal authority.
Military decree: A military decree is a law or order issued by a military government, often overriding ordinary legislation. Decrees let juntas change laws and institutions without parliamentary approval.

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