Timeline of Lagos

Prior to 19th century

• 1472 - Ruy de Sequeira of Portugal names area "Lago de Curamo."
• 1600 - Ashipa becomes Oba.
• 1630
• * King Ado in power.
• * Iga Idunganran built.
• 1669 - King Gabaro in power.
• 1704 - King Akinsemoyin in power.
• 1749
• * Eletu Kekere becomes Oba.
• * King Ologun Kutere in power.
• 1775 - Adele Ajosun becomes Oba.
• 1780 - Eshilokun becomes Oba.

19th century

• 1829 - Oba Idewu Ojulari in power.
• 1837 - Oba Oluwole in power.
• 1841 - Akitoye becomes Oba.
• 1845 - Oba Kosoko in power.
• 1851 - British bombardment of Lagos.
• 1852 - British consulate established.
• 1853 - King Dosunmu in power.
• 1859- The CMS Grammar School in Bariga, a suburb of Lagos in Lagos State, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria, founded on 6 June 1859 by the Church Missionary Society
• 1860 - Catholic church established.
• 1861 - Lagos annexed by the British.
• 1862 - Lagos becomes a British colony.
• 1866 - Population: 25,083.
• 1878 - Methodist Boys' High School, Lagos founded.
• 1881 - Population: 37,452.
• 1885 - Oba Oyekan I in power.
• 1886 - Telephone cables connect Lagos to London.
• 1888 - Lagos Chamber of Commerce established.
• 1889 - Court House built.
• 1894
• * Lagos Echo and Lagos Standard newspapers begin publication.
• * Bank of British West Africa established.
• 1898 - Electric street lighting commences operation.
• 1899
• * Anglo-African Bank established.
• * Briton William MacGregor becomes governor of Lagos Colony.
• 1900 - Ibadan-Lagos railway begins operating.

20th century

1901–1959

• 1901
• * Oba Eshugbayi Eleko in power.
• * Carter Bridge built.
• * Lagos Institute founded.
• * Population: 41,487.
• 1903 - Artist Aina Onabolu active.
• 1905 - first Orange Lodge in Nigeria, named "Lagos Fine Blues Loyal Orange Lodge No 801".
• 1908 - Lagos Municipal Board of Health and People's Union established.
• 1909 - King's College, Lagos founded.
• 1911
• * Kano-Lagos railway begins operating.
• * Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society chapter established.
• * Population: 73,766.
• 1913 - Apapa wharf built.
• 1914
• * Lagos becomes capital of the British Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
• * Lagos Central Times newspaper begins publication.
• * Anfani Bus Service begins operating.
• 1917 - Lagos Town Council and Colonial Bank established.
• 1920s - Lagos Market Women's Association founded.
• 1921 - Population: 98,303.
• 1923
• * Ansar Ud Deen and Lagos Women's League established.
• * Nigerian National Democratic Party founded in Lagos.
• 1925
• * Oba Ibikunle Akitoye in power.
• * Lagos Daily News newspaper begins publication.
• 1926
• * Nigerian Daily Times newspaper begins publication.
• * Industrial Army Home built in Yaba.
• 1927 - Queen's College, Lagos and Lagos Executive Development Board established.
• 1928
• * Oba Sanusi Olusi in power.
• * St Gregory's College, Lagos and Lagos Book Club founded.
• 1930 - Stadium built.
• 1931
• * Tom Jones Library opens.
• * Population: 126,474.
• 1932
• * Oba Falolu in power.
• * Igbobi College and Yaba Higher College founded.
• 1939 - Yaba Estate built.
• 1943 - Art Exhibition Centre and Lagos Museum open.
• 1944 - Nigerian Women's Party organized in Lagos.
• 1945 - Holy Child College Obalende established.
• 1946
• * Anglican Cathedral built.
• * Nigerian Breweries incorporated.
• 1947 - Yaba College of Technology founded.
• 1949
• * "Rent control committee" organized.
• * Oba Adeniji Adele in power.
• 1950
• * Mayoral council established; Abubakar Ibiyinka Olorun-Nimbe elected mayor.
• * Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos active.
• 1951 - Lagos becomes part of the Western Region.
• 1952 - Population: 267,407.
• 1957
• * Nigerian National Museum founded.
• * Irohin Imole Yoruba-language newspaper begins publication.
• 1958 - Stationery Stores Football Club founded.

1960–1999

• 1960 - Lagos Stock Exchange and Nigeria Acceptances Limited.
• 1961 - Nigerian Institute of International Affairs founded.
• 1962 - University of Lagos established.
• 1963
• * Independence House built.
• * Population: 655,246.
• 1964
• * National Library of Nigeria built.
• * Bagatelle restaurant in business.
• * Lebanese Community School established.
• 1965 - Adeyinka Oyekan II becomes Oba.
• 1967
• * Lagos State created.
• * Mobolaji Johnson becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1972 - Lagos National Stadium built.
• 1973 - 2nd All-Africa Games held.
• 1975
• * Eko Bridge built.
• * Federal Government College Lagos and Bridge Boys Football Club founded.
• * Adekunle Lawal becomes governor of Lagos State.
• * Population: 1,060,848 city; 1,476,837 urban agglomeration.
• 1976 - National Arts Theatre built.
• 1977
• * Second World African Festival of Arts and Culture held in Festac Town.
• * Fela Kuti's Kalakuta Republic compound in Mushin burns down.
• * Nigerian Institute of Medical Research established in Yaba.
• * Ndubuisi Kanu becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1978 - Ebitu Ukiwe becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1979
• * Murtala Muhammed International Airport opens.
• * Lateef Jakande becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1980
• * Badagry-Lagos highway constructed.
• * Lagos Plan of Action drafted.
• * Apata Memorial High School founded.
• * Wonder Baking Company in business.
• 1981
• * International School Lagos established.
• * Winners' Chapel megachurch begins.
• 1982 - Indian Language School established.
• 1983
• * Vanguard newspaper begins publication.
• * Mama Cass restaurant in business.
• 1984 - Gbolahan Mudasiru becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1985 - Newswatch magazine begins publication.
• 1986 - Mike Akhigbe becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1988 - Raji Rasaki becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1989
• * African Championships in Athletics held.
• * Intercontinental Bank founded.
• 1990
• * Third Mainland Bridge opens.
• * Lagos City Polytechnic and Equitorial Trust Bank established.
• * Population: 4,764,000.
• 1991
• * Federal government relocates from Lagos to Abuja.
• * Tell Magazine begins publication.
• * Diamond Bank opens.
• * Lagos Business School established.
• 1992
• * Pepsi Football Academy founded, Agege.
• * Nigerian Air Force C-130 crash.
• * Michael Otedola becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1993
• * Jhalobia Gardens opens.
• * Olagunsoye Oyinlola becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1994
• * Chocolat Royal in business.
• * P.M. News newspaper begins publication.
• 1995
• * Thisday newspaper begins publication.
• * Population: 5,966,000.
• 1996
• * Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary established.
• * Tastee Fried Chicken opens in Surulere.
• * Mohammed Buba Marwa becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 1997
• * Redeemer's International Secondary School founded in Maryland.
• * Tantalizers restaurant opens in Festac Town.
• 1999
• * 20 February: Nigerian parliamentary election, 1999 held.
• * Bola Tinubu becomes governor of Lagos State.
• 2000 - **Population: 7,233,000.

21st century

• 2001 - The Daily Independent newspaper begins publication.
• 2002
• * City divided "into 57 local council areas."
• * Pan-African University, Lagos established.
• * Lagos armoury explosion.
• 2003
• * Oba Rilwan Akiolu in power.
• * The Sun newspaper begins publication.
• 2004
• * Spring Bank founded.
• * Silverbird Cinema in business.
• 2005
• * Business Day newspaper begins publication.
• * SunRise Sixth Form College established.
• * Population: 8,767,000.
• * 16 November: Fire at Ebute Metta.
• 2006
• * 2006 Lagos building collapses
• * The Nation newspaper begins publication.
• * Tin Can Island Port Complex formed.
• * FinBank founded.
• * Palms Shopping Mall opens.
• * May - Atlas Creek pipeline explosion.
• * December - Abule Egba pipeline explosion.
• * Moments with Mo talk show begins broadcasting.
• 2007
• * April: State election held; Babatunde Fashola becomes governor of Lagos State.
• * Teslim Balogun Stadium built.
• * Centre for Contemporary Art founded.
• 2008
• * Next newspaper begins publication.
• * My People Football Club founded.
• * Ijegun pipeline explosion.
• 2009 - Nike Centre for Art and Culture opens.
• 2010
• * Lagos Photo festival begins.
• * Whitespace cultural venue active.
• 2011
• * Lagos Fashion Week begins.
• * Enterprise Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, and Mainstreet Bank Limited formed.
• * Ikeja City Mall, L'Espace, and Google office in business.
• 2012
• * Makoko slum razed.
• * Lagos Countdown begins.
• 2013
• * Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge opens.
• * Makoko Floating School built.
• * Eko Atlantic development construction begins.
• 2014
• * Ebola virus outbreak.
• * 12 September: Synagogue Church building collapse occurs in nearby Ikotun-Egbe.
• 2015 – 12 August: Helicopter crash in Oworonshoki.
• 2016 - Building collapse.
• 2018 - African Championships in Athletics.
• 2019 - School collapse.
• 2020 - End SARS protests.
• 2021 - High-rise collapse
• 2022 - End SARS protests 2nd anniversary botched protests
• 2023 - 2023 National and State elections

Published in 19th-20th centuries

Published in 21st century

2000s

• +

2010s