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 (approximate date).

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.

183 - 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 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.

1900–59

1900 - Ibadan-Lagos railway begins operating.

1901

Oba Eshugbayi Eleko in power.

Carter Bridge built.

Lagos Institute founded.

Population: 41,487.

1903 - Artist Aina Onabolu active.

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 (approximate date).

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 (religious group) 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 (reformatory) 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.

Population: 230,256.

1951 - Lagos becomes part of the Western Region.

1957

Nigerian National Museum founded.

Irohin Imole Yoruba-language newspaper begins publication.

1958 - Stationery Stores Football Club founded.

1960–99

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

Bagatelle restaurant in business (approximate date).

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.

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 (approximate date).

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

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 (urban agglomeration).

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 (urban agglomeration).

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 (approximate date).

1999

20 February: Nigerian parliamentary election, 1999 held.

Bola Tinubu becomes governor of Lagos State.

21st century

2000 - Population: 7,233,000 (urban agglomeration).

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 (urban agglomeration).

16 November: Fire at Ebute Metta.

2006

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.

Ikeja City Mall, L'Espace (shop), and Google office in business.

Enterprise Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, and Mainstreet Bank Limited formed.

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: 2014 Synagogue Church building collapse occurs in nearby Ikotun-Egbe.

2015 - 12 August: Helicopter crash in Oworonshoki.