Lagos (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop
Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 April 1950
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 3,345 (1,292 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.lagosarchdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Secretariat, P.O. Box 8, 19 Catholic Mission St., Lagos, Nigeria
Telephone: (0803)32.22.081
Fax: (01)84.48.669

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey
- Erected: 28 August 1860
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin
- Latin Name: Orae Benini
- Name Changed: 24 August 1870
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Lagos
- Latin Name: Lagosensis
- Name Changed: 12 January 1943
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Baptiste Chausse, S.M.A. † (12 May 1891 Appointed - 17 Jan 1894 Died)
Paul Pellet, S.M.A. † (15 Jul 1895 Appointed - 2 Jun 1902 Resigned)
Joseph-Antoine Lang, S.M.A. † (23 Jul 1902 Appointed - 2 Jan 1912 Died)
Ferdinand Terrien, S.M.A. † (1 Mar 1912 Appointed - 3 Aug 1929 Died)
Francis O’Rourke, S.M.A. † (27 Mar 1930 Appointed - 28 Oct 1938 Died)
Leo Hale Taylor, S.M.A. † (13 Jun 1939 Appointed - 6 Jul 1965 Retired)
John Kwao Amuzu Aggey † (6 Jul 1965 Appointed - 13 Mar 1972 Died)
Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (13 Apr 1973 Appointed - 25 May 2012 Retired)
Alfred Adewale Martins (25 May 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey
28 August 1860	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Two Guineas and Senegambia {Guinea Superiore e Inferiore e di Sierra Leone}	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin
24 August 1870	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin
26 June 1883	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin	Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey (erected)
25 July 1889	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin	Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore} (erected)
10 March 1926	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} (Boundaries adjusted)
12 January 1943	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Ondo-Ilorin (erected) (Ondo and Llorín)
Vicariate Apostolic of Lagos
12 January 1943	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin	Vicariate Apostolic of Lagos
3 March 1949	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Lagos (Northern part (Oyo and Ife Ilesha and Oshogbo))	Prefecture Apostolic of Oyo (erected)
Archdiocese of Lagos
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Lagos	Archdiocese of Lagos
13 March 1952	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lagos (Ibadan and part of Oshogbo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ibadan (erected)
29 May 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lagos (Ijebu)	Diocese of Ijebu-Ode (erected)
24 October 1997	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lagos (Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ado/Odo/Otas, Egbado North, Egbado South, Ifo, Obafemi/Owose, and Odeda)	Diocese of Abeokuta (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Lagos

1950 59,511 1,044,000 5.7% 9 9 6,612 5 49 ap1951

1970 110,000 2,600,000 4.2% 14 46 60 1,833 53 80 4 ap1971

1980 250,000 4,000,000 6.3% 15 40 55 4,545 43 50 3 ap1981

1990 1,200,000 5,761,000 20.8% 43 51 94 12,765 56 70 4 ap1991

1999 1,687,520 7,628,664 22.1% 67 66 133 12,688 68 240 52 ap2000

2000 1,721,270 7,781,237 22.1% 74 53 127 13,553 55 239 53 ap2001

2001 1,981,000 9,124,000 21.7% 82 59 141 14,049 61 110 55 ap2002

2002 2,020,620 4,306,480 46.9% 74 57 131 15,424 59 116 58 ap2003

2003 2,061,032 4,392,609 46.9% 73 74 147 14,020 78 115 58 ap2004

2004 2,164,083 4,524,387 47.8% 100 84 184 11,761 88 123 61 ap2005

2013 3,127,330 11,500,000 27.2% 150 145 295 10,601 150 292 111 ap2014

2016 3,274,000 12,276,000 26.7% 185 162 347 9,435 166 311 173 ap2017

2019 3,528,000 13,440,300 26.2% 265 224 489 7,214 224 336 185 ap2020

2021 3,343,675 13,075,000 25.6% 269 229 498 6,714 229 340 184 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Lagos
1950	59,511	1,044,000	5.7%	9		9	6,612	5	49		ap1951
1970	110,000	2,600,000	4.2%	14	46	60	1,833	53	80	4	ap1971
1980	250,000	4,000,000	6.3%	15	40	55	4,545	43	50	3	ap1981
1990	1,200,000	5,761,000	20.8%	43	51	94	12,765	56	70	4	ap1991
1999	1,687,520	7,628,664	22.1%	67	66	133	12,688	68	240	52	ap2000
2000	1,721,270	7,781,237	22.1%	74	53	127	13,553	55	239	53	ap2001
2001	1,981,000	9,124,000	21.7%	82	59	141	14,049	61	110	55	ap2002
2002	2,020,620	4,306,480	46.9%	74	57	131	15,424	59	116	58	ap2003
2003	2,061,032	4,392,609	46.9%	73	74	147	14,020	78	115	58	ap2004
2004	2,164,083	4,524,387	47.8%	100	84	184	11,761	88	123	61	ap2005
2013	3,127,330	11,500,000	27.2%	150	145	295	10,601	150	292	111	ap2014
2016	3,274,000	12,276,000	26.7%	185	162	347	9,435	166	311	173	ap2017
2019	3,528,000	13,440,300	26.2%	265	224	489	7,214	224	336	185	ap2020
2021	3,343,675	13,075,000	25.6%	269	229	498	6,714	229	340	184	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John Kwao Amuzu Aggey † (Priest: 16 Apr 1944; Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jan 1957; Archbishop: 6 Jul 1965 to 13 Mar 1972)
Jean-Baptiste Chausse, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 May 1891 to 17 Jan 1894)
Joseph-Antoine Lang, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Jul 1902 to 2 Jan 1912)
Francis O’Rourke, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Mar 1930 to 28 Oct 1938)
Paul Pellet, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jul 1895 to 2 Jun 1902)
Anthony Saliu Sanusi † (Priest: 17 Dec 1944 to 29 May 1969)
Leo Hale Taylor, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jun 1939; Archbishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 6 Jul 1965)
Ferdinand Terrien, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Mar 1912 to 3 Aug 1929)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 369, and Page 370
Vicariate Apostolic of Lagos
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 35, Page 81, and Page 82
Archdiocese of Lagos
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 615, to Page 619

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Archdiocese of Lagos

Archidioecesis Lagosensis