The Murtala/Obasanjo regime in Nigeria increased the number of states from....

1. Analyze the question You are asked how many states Nigeria had before and after the Murtala/Obasanjo regime (1975-1979) created new states.

2. Explain the concept Nigeria's states have been created in stages:

• 1963: 4 regions (Northern, Western, Eastern, Mid-Western)
• 1967: General Yakubu Gowon created 12 states
• 1976: General Murtala Muhammed (and later Obasanjo, after Murtala's assassination) created 7 more states, raising the total to 19
• 1987: Babangida created 2 more states (21)
• 1991: Babangida created 9 more (30)
• 1996: Abacha created 6 more (36)

3. Step-by-step solution

• Before the Murtala/Obasanjo regime, Nigeria had 12 states (Gowon's creation).
• The regime created 7 new states in 1976, including Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gongola, Niger, Ogun, and Ondo.
• 12 + 7 = 19 states.

Checking the options:

• A. 30 to 36 was Abacha (1991 to 1996 range).
• B. 19 to 20 does not match any regime (Abacha-era numbers don't fit, and the 1976 figure was 19, not the starting point).
• C. 12 to 19 matches the Murtala/Obasanjo creation.
• D. 4 to 12 was Gowon in 1967.

4. Answer The correct option is C. 12 to 19.

5. Exam tip Remember the sequence of numbers with the leaders: Gowon 12, Murtala/Obasanjo 19, Babangida 21 then 30, Abacha 36. A quick rhyme: "Go-12, Mur-19, Baba-21/30, Aba-36." JAMB loves asking which leader created how many states!