The creation of states began in the year 1967 with General Yakubu Gowon coming to power via a coup d’état. He dissolved the regions there were and created twelve states out of them.

Here is a list of the first twelve states that were created by the then military head of states, Gen. Yakubu Gowon

1. North-Western State
2. Kaduna State
3. Kano State
4. North-Eastern State
5. Kwara state
6. Benue-Plateau State
7. Western State
8. East-Central state
9. Lagos State
10. Mid-Western (Bendel) State
11. Cross River State
12. Rivers State

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General Yakubu “Jack” Dan-Yumma Gowon is the former head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d’état and was overthrown in another. During his rule, the Nigerian government successfully prevented Biafran secession during the 1967–70 Nigerian Civil War.