Lagos State came into existence on May 27, 1967, following the promulgation of the States (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 14 of 1967 by the Federal Military Government. This landmark decree restructured Nigeria’s federal system, replacing the old regional arrangement with a federation of twelve newly created states.

Before this reform, the Lagos Municipality functioned as a Federal Territory under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Lagos Affairs, which served as the regional authority. The Lagos City Council managed local governance within the city limits, while nearby metropolitan areas—including Ikeja, Agege, Mushin, Ojo, Ikorodu, Epe, and Badagry—fell under the administration of the Western Region Government and were collectively known as the Colony Province.

The establishment of Lagos State unified these separate jurisdictions into one administrative body. The state formally began operations on April 11, 1968, with Lagos Island serving a dual purpose as both the State Capital and the Federal Capital of Nigeria.

This dual status remained until 1976, when the Federal Government created the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Consequently, the state capital was moved from Lagos Island to Ikeja, though Lagos continued to function as Nigeria’s federal capital until the government officially relocated to Abuja on December 12, 1991.

Even after losing its political capital status, Lagos maintained, and indeed expanded, its influence as Nigeria’s economic, commercial, and cultural powerhouse. Today, Lagos stands as the most populous state in the country and remains a leading force in national growth, innovation, and global engagement. As noted in Historical records, “Lagos is to the people of Nigeria what the head is to the body of an individual.”