 NIGERIA AT 60: 1960-2020 Homepage Accessibility links Skip to content Accessibility Help News Sport Weather Radio Arts Menu Search Search the BBCSearch the BBC TwitterFacebook NIGERIA AT 60: 1960-2020 Di way wey dem take create di 36 States. By Nkechi Ogbonna By Nkechi Ogbonna To mark di 60th Independence anniversary of Africa most populous nation, make we go back in history to trace di geographical division and formation of states for Nigeria. Di marriage of di Northern and Southern protectorate by Lord Fredrick Lugard, Governor-General of di protectorate under di British crown, give birth to di kontri Nigeria for 1914. Lady Flora Louise Shaw wey be journalist and wife of Lord Lugard na she name di kontri Nigeria. Governor General of Nigeria, Lord Fredrick Lugard and his wife Lady Flora Shaw Lugard Governor General of Nigeria, Lord Fredrick Lugard and his wife Lady Flora Shaw Lugard Afta di decree of Richard constitution for 1949, di kontri come divide into three regions namely: Northern, Western and Eastern, with Hausa-Fulani for North, Igbo for East and Yoruba for West. Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello- Premiere of Northern Nigeria and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor General of Nigeria at Nigerias Independence celebration on October 1, 1960 in Lagos. Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello- Premiere of Northern Nigeria and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor General of Nigeria at Nigerias Independence celebration on October 1, 1960 in Lagos. For 1963, dem carv out di mid-western region from di western region to make di total number of administrative regions for di kontri increase to four. Premiere of Northern Nigeria Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Nigeria and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria from 1963-1966. Premiere of Northern Nigeria Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Nigeria and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria from 1963-1966. Map of Nigeria showing three regions Map of Nigeria showing three regions Map of Nigeria showing four regions Map of Nigeria showing four regions Map of Nigeria showing twelve states Map of Nigeria showing twelve states Map of Nigeria showing nineteen states Map of Nigeria showing nineteen states Seven years afta, ethnic minorities begin call for di division of dis regions wey bin dey politically dominated by di major ethnic groups. Dis come lead to di creation of twelve states by Nigeria second military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon on May 27, 1967. General Yakubu Gowon, Head of State and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces 1966-1975 General Yakubu Gowon, Head of State and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces 1966-1975 Im carve out six states from di former Northern region wey include; di North-Western, North-Eastern, Kano, North-Central alias Kaduna State, Benue-Plateau and Kwara States. Dem split di former Western region into two states namely; Western State and Lagos State. Di former Mid-Western region come become; Bendel State while di former Eastern region bin get three new states wey dem carve out from am namely; East-Central, Rivers and Cross River States. On February 3, 1976, afta successful takeover, General Murtala Muhammed create seven additional states namely; Imo and Old Anambra from di East-Central State. General Murtala Mohammed was the fourth Head of State of Nigeria from 1975-1976. General Murtala Mohammed was the fourth Head of State of Nigeria from 1975-1976. Dem divide di North-Eastern State into Bauchi State, Gongola State and Borno State. Dem divide Benue-Plateau State into Plateau State and Benue State. Also, dem separate di Western state into three, wey be Ondo, Ogun, and Oyo States. North-Western State divide into Niger State and Sokoto State. Dis come make di total number of states for Nigeria increase to nineteen. Although dem create di Federal Capital Territory 