Ranking: Best president in Nigeria from 1960 till date

You must be looking at me with a side eye and asking, “who is the best president in Nigeria?” It’s no news that Nigeria is corrupt, thanks to bad leaders and their mismanagement of the nation’s resources. However, some Nigerian presidents have tried their best to develop the country.

Some of these presidents are retired military generals and former Heads of State. Oh yes, did I forget to mention we’re only looking at civilian presidents, not Heads of State? That’s right. So without further ado, Skabash presents the best president in Nigeria from 1960 until date.

Table of Content hide 1Best presidents in Nigeria and their achievements 1.17. Shehu Shagari (1979 to 1983) 1.26. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1963-1966) 1.35. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1960 to 1966) 1.44. Muhammadu Buhari (2015 till date) 1.53. Goodluck Jonathan (2010 to 2015) 1.62. Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 to 2007) 1.71. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007 to 2010)

Best presidents in Nigeria and their achievements

Here are the top 7 elected presidents in Nigeria and their achievements in reverse order.

7. Shehu Shagari (1979 to 1983)

Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari GCFR was the first democratically-elected President of Nigeria after then-military Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo transferred power to civilian rule. Shagari first joined politics in 1951 and became the secretary of the Northern People’s Congress in Sokoto State. In 1954, he was elected into his first public office as a member of the federal House of Representatives for Sokoto West.

He was also appointed as parliamentary secretary to the Nigerian Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1958 and served as the Federal Minister for Commerce and Industries the same year. When he was elected President, Shagari, titled Turakin Sokoto, built housing estates, launched the Green Revolution to support agriculture and conceived the Ajaokuta Steel Company. However, his government was dubbed weak and corrupt with mismanagement of funds and overthrown by the military in 1983.

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6. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1963-1966)

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was Nigeria’s first President from 1963 to 1966. He was the first Nigerian to be named to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the Governor-General on the same day. A nationalist and pan-Africanist which gave him the popular title, “Zik of Africa”. However, his roles as Governor-General and President lacked executive powers in the Parliamentary system of government that Nigeria operated at the time.

5. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1960 to 1966)

Although not a president, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa KBE PC was the first and only elected Prime Minister of Nigeria after independence so he deserves a mention. Born in Bauchi State, Balewa was first elected in 1946 to the Northern House of Assembly, and to the Legislative Council in 1947. He was a very vocal advocate for the Northern people’s rights. On the national level, he entered the government in 1952 as Minister of Works, and later served as Minister of Transport during a time Nigeria was moving towards self-government. In 1957, he became the Chief Minister and designated Prime Minister in the Federal House of Representatives.

His position was consolidated when Nigeria became independent and he was reelected in 1964. Balewa was instrumental in the formation of the African Union and was very vocal on the international scene. However, his government was accused of rigging elections and taming opponents. There was also economic crisis and riots which led to the ill-fated first military coup in Nigeria led by Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuma Nzeogwu. Balewa was assassinated in the coup in 1966.

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4. Muhammadu Buhari (2015 till date)

President Muhammadu Buhari is the current president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He first came into power as a civilian president on May 29, 2015. Before then, he was the military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 after overthrowing Shehu Shagari’s administration. Buhari served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), a body created by the government of General Sani Abacha.

He has been widely credited for PTF’s success and transparency under his watch. The former military Head of State contested in the presidential elections four times (2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015) before becoming president. He is currently serving his second tenure which will end in 2023. Under his administration, Buhari has completed or initiated major projects in roads, railways, aviation and power, as well as agriculture and extractive sectors. However, he has also been accused of nepotism, selective anti-graft war and inability to tackle economic and security problems.

3. Goodluck Jonathan (2010 to 2015)

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan GCFR, GCON was Nigeria’s President from 2010 to 2015. Before then, he was the Governor of Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria from 2005 to 2007. He also served as Vice President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 under the administration of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. When he became president, he started and completed projects in roads, aviation, railways and power.

He also introduced almajiri and girl-child education initiatives, and reformed the justice system. However, his government was marred by terrorism which saw the kidnapping of Chibok girls and killing of civilians in the north. Jonathan was accused of running a corrupt government and inability to tackle security issues. He lost the 2015 presidential elections to Buhari and became the first incumbent president in Nigerian history to be defeated in an election.

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2. Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 to 2007)

Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, GCFR served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1976 to 1979 before becoming the civilian president from 1999 to 2007. As a Head of State, Obasanjo successfully transferred power to civilian rule in 1979. This singular selfless act earned him a good reputation at a time when Nigerian Heads of State were notorious for failing in their promises to return power to a civilian government.

Obasanjo’s reputation later helped him win the presidential elections in 1999. Under his administration, he launched GSM service, reformed telecoms, pensions and banking, privatised public entities, paid off Nigeria’s foreign debts and left healthy savings. However, his government was accused of corruption and political witch-hunt. In addition, his bid for a third tenure tainted his reputation. 

1. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007 to 2010)

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua GCFR was the President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. Prior to that, he was the Governor of Katsina State from 1999 to 2007. Although his term in office was cut short by death, he has been widely regarded as the best president Nigeria has ever had so far. Here are his remarkable achievements during his administration:

• Yar’Adua was the first president to declare his assets, pushing his drive for transparency and an integrity government.
• He launched the Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme which ended the agitations in the region that was marred with bombing oil wells, kidnappings and killings of oil expatriates.
• He began the dredging of the Niger River which hasn’t been done for over 30 years.
• Maintained a non-interference in judicial activities stance which facilitated the independence of the judiciary.
• Completed more than 15 major federal roadways he inherited from Obasanjo’s administration.

However, Yar’Adua’s government wasn’t perfect. His coming into office was questionable as the 2007 presidential elections was said to be widely rigged. He was also accused of reversing Obasanjo’s policies and slowing down the nation’s progress.

Who is your best Nigerian President in history?

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