List of Sultans in Nigeria

Sultan Attahiru, Sultan Maccido & Sultan Sa'adu Abubakar. Photo Credit : www.en.wikipedia.org

Past rulers of the Sokoto dynasty were known as the sultans. Sultans were the ones who ruled the ancient Sokoto caliphate. The position of the sultan was a very powerful one that was headed only by a trusted Muslim spiritual leader mostly from the northern part of Nigeria. The first sultan to rule the Sokoto caliphate was the great Shaihu Usman Dan Fodio. The Sokoto Caliphate was founded in 1809 at the middle of the famous Fulani war. During the 18th century the Sokoto caliphate was among the powerful empire in Nigeria. The British in 1903 abrogated this famous empire and put it in under the Nigerian Northern Protectorate. The list below shows the name
of the first to the current sultan who ruled the caliphate from 1804 to present (2014) headed by sa’adu Abubakar.

Usman Dan Fodio was the first sultan in Nigeria. He was born in 1754 and died in 1817 at the age of 63 years. He ruled as sultan from 1804 to 1815.

Muhanned Bello was the second sultan in Nigeria. His date of birth was not recorded in history but was known to die in 1837 at the age of 58 years. He started his reign in 1817 to 1837.

Abu Bakr Atiku was the third sultan to rule the sokoto caliphate. His birthday was not recorded in history. He started to rule in 1837 and ended in 1842.

Ali Babba bin Bello was the fourth sultan in Nigeria. He was born in 1808 and died in 1859 at the age of 51 years. He ruled as a sultan from 1842 to 1859.

Ahmadu Atiku was the fifth sultan in Nigeria. He ruled from1859 to 1866.

The sixth sultan in Nigeria was Aliu Karami. He began his reign from 1866 to 1867.

Ahamadu Rufai was the seventh sultan to rule Nigeria. He ruled from 1867 to 1873.

Abubeker Atiku na Raba was the eight sultan to ever rule Nigeria. He ruled from 1873 to 1877.

Muazu was the ninth sultan in Nigeria. He ruled from 1877-1881.

Umru Bin Ali was the tenth sultan in Nigeria. He reigned from 1881 to 1891.

Abderrahman dan Abi Bakar was the 11th sultan in Nigeria. He reigned from 1891 to 1902.

Muhammadu Attahiru 1 was the twelfth Nigerian sultan. He ruled from 1902 – 1903.

Mahammadu Attahiru 2 was the thirteen Sultan to rule the sokoto caliphate. He ruled from 1903 to 1915.

Muhammadu Dan Ahmadu was the fourteen Sultan to ever rule Nigeria. He ruled from the year 1915 to 1924.

Muhammadu Dan Ahmadu was also the fifteenth sultan to rule the sokoto caliphate in Nigeria. He ruled from 1924 to 1931.

Muhammadu Hasan Dan Mu’azu Ahmadu was the sixteenth sultan in Nigeria. He reigned from 1931 to 1938.

Siddiq Abubakar III was the seventh sultan to rule. He reigned from 1938 to 1988.

Ibrahim Dasuki was the eighteenth sultan in Nigeria. He reigned from 1988 to 1996.

Muhammadu Maccido was the nineteenth sultan in Nigeria. He reigned from 1996 to 2006.

Sa’adu Abubakar is the present sultan and is the twenth sultan in Nigeria. He ruled from 2006 till date.