In 1870, after 10 years of existence, the Vicariate of Dahomey became the Vicariate of the Bight of Benin (Orae Benin). From the Original Vicariate, the following jurisdictions were created: the Prefecture of Dahomey (1883), the Prefecture of Upper Niger (1884), the Vicariates of Ondo-llorin (1943), the Prefecture of Oyo (1949), and the Prefecture of Ibadan (1952). The remainder of the Vicariate of the Bight of Benin was raised to the status of an Archdiocese on the 8th of April, 1950, with the name Archdiocese of Lagos. in 1969, the Ijebu-Ode district was created a Diocese, in 1997, the Yewa district was created as the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta.
The total geographical coverage is 3,345sq.km. It comprises mainly of the Lagos State. The population of Lagos is 9,200,000 with approximately 2,760,000 numbers of Catholics.
Historical details
1860.08.28: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey from the Apostolic Vicariate of Two Guineas and Senegambia in Gabon
1870.08.24: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast
1943.01.12: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Lagos
1950.04.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos
Past Vicars Apostolic
Jean-Baptiste Chausse, S.M.A. 1891 - 1894
Paul Pellet, S.M.A. 1895 - 1901
Joseph Lang S.M.A. 1902 - 1912
Ferdinand Terrien, S.M.A. 1912 - 1929
Francis O’ Rourke, S.M.A. 1930 - 1938
Leo Hale Taylor, S.M.A. 1939 - 1950
Past Archbishops
Leo Hale Taylor 1950 - 1965
John Kwao Aggey 1965 - 1972
Anthony Cardinal Okogie 1973 – 2012
Alfred Adewale Martins 2012 - ??