1996 in Nigeria

Incumbents

• Head of State – Sani Abacha
• Chief of General Staff – Oladipo Diya

Births

• 20 January – Ese Brume, athlete
• 29 January – Junior Ajayi, footballer
• 28 February – Stanley Amuzie, footballer
• 3 May – Alex Iwobi, footballer
• 17 May – Abbas Abubakar Abbas, Bahraini athlete
• 22 August – Saviour Godwin, footballer
• 3 October – Kelechi Iheanacho, footballer
• 7 October – Divine Oduduru, athlete
• 17 October – Ayomide Folorunso, Italian athlete
• 12 November – Rafiatu Lawal, weightlifter
• 16 December – Wilfred Ndidi, footballer