General Yakubu Gowon’s rule (1966–1975) was one of the most decisive eras in Nigeria’s post-independence history. His government steered the nation through the traumatic civil war of 1967–1970, a conflict that claimed over one million lives and devastated the eastern region, particularly Biafra. The war’s end in January 1970 brought national relief but posed enormous challenges of reconstruction, reconciliation, and reintegration.
This difficult moment coincided with a global shift in energy markets that transformed Nigeria’s fortunes. Between 1970 and 1974, the oil price surge dramatically altered the country’s economic profile. Petroleum replaced agriculture as the backbone of the economy, providing the federal government with resources it had never commanded before.
Yet, instead of building sustainable development, the Gowon era entrenched a political culture of waste, rent-seeking, and weak accountability that would cast a long shadow over Nigeria’s governance.
Military Rule and Centralisation.
Like other military governments of the time, Gowon’s regime suspended democratic institutions. State assemblies were dissolved, and military governors were appointed directly by the head of state. These governors exercised near-absolute authority within their states, often with little oversight.
Decision-making was highly centralised within the Supreme Military Council. Without legislative scrutiny, robust judicial independence, or a strong free press, officials operated with minimal checks. This environment allowed corruption and abuse of office to spread widely.
The Oil Boom and Mismanagement.
Oil revenues rose steeply during Gowon’s tenure. In 1970, Nigeria earned less than $200 million from crude exports. By 1974, earnings had increased to about $3.7 billion annually, driven by the Arab-Israeli war and the global oil crisis. Some sources exaggerate this figure to over $5 billion by 1974, but evidence shows such levels were only reached later in the decade, particularly during Obasanjo’s rule.
The government embarked on ambitious projects: highways, housing estates, schools, and monumental structures. The National Theatre in Lagos is often linked to Gowon’s government, but while conceived during his rule, it was actually built and completed under Obasanjo for FESTAC ’77. Many projects, although visionary, were plagued by inflated contracts, poor execution, or outright abandonment.
The Cement Armada.
One of the most infamous examples of waste was the Cement Armada scandal of 1975. Seeking to accelerate post-war reconstruction, Nigeria placed massive cement orders that far exceeded the capacity of its ports. Records suggest about 16–20 million tonnes were ordered, while Lagos ports could handle only a fraction.
As ships queued for months outside the harbour, demurrage charges skyrocketed. A significant portion of the cement never reached construction sites, and Nigeria lost hundreds of millions of dollars. The scandal epitomised the inefficiency of Gowon’s procurement system and the corrosive effects of sudden oil wealth.
The Fall of Gowon.
By the mid-1970s, discontent with Gowon’s government had grown. Despite record oil earnings, ordinary Nigerians saw little improvement in their daily lives. Infrastructure lagged behind expectations, public services remained weak, and corruption became more visible.
On 29 July 1975, Gowon was removed in a bloodless coup led by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed. The coup leaders accused Gowon of presiding over corruption, lack of accountability, and reneging on his promise to return the country to civilian rule by 1976.
The Murtala Purge.
Murtala Mohammed’s short but energetic administration sought to break with Gowon’s legacy. One of his first acts was to launch a sweeping purge of the civil service and military. Tribunals investigated governors, ministers, and senior civil servants, exposing widespread abuse of office.
One prominent figure was Joseph Gomwalk, governor of Benue-Plateau State. While he faced allegations of misconduct, his execution in 1976 stemmed from alleged involvement in Colonel Bukar Dimka’s coup attempt, not from corruption charges.
Another key figure was Mobolaji Johnson, governor of Lagos State. Though retired during the purge and some properties seized, his reputation for integrity endured. In later years, Johnson was celebrated as one of the few military governors remembered positively.
The purge revealed the extent of corruption under Gowon but also showed the political selectivity of such investigations. The lack of enduring institutional reforms meant corruption remained entrenched in subsequent regimes.
Enduring Legacy.
The Gowon years left behind a contradictory legacy. On the one hand, Nigeria’s unity was preserved after the civil war. The federal government introduced a new revenue allocation system based on oil income, which strengthened the federal centre and underpinned later political arrangements.
On the other hand, the period magnified corruption to unprecedented levels within the military system. Contracts were inflated far beyond real value, projects abandoned, and accountability mechanisms weakened. Agriculture, once the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy, was sidelined, and a culture of dependence on oil was entrenched.
More damaging still was the erosion of public trust. Nigerians watched as officials enriched themselves during a period of supposed national reconstruction. This cynicism undermined later reform efforts and created patterns of governance failure that persist into the present.
Author’s Note.
The Gowon years (1966–1975) were a turning point in Nigeria’s history. They embodied both the hope of national rebuilding after civil war and the tragedy of squandered opportunity during the oil boom. The era demonstrated how sudden wealth, when combined with weak institutions and centralised power, can entrench corruption rather than foster development.
By creating a template of inflated contracts, abandoned projects, and elite enrichment, Gowon’s Nigeria set the stage for many of the governance failures that subsequent administrations, military and civilian alike, would replicate. To understand Nigeria’s enduring challenges with corruption and resource mismanagement, the Gowon era remains a critical case study.
References:
Toyin Falola & Matthew Heaton, A History of Nigeria (Cambridge University Press, 2008).
Max Siollun, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture 1966–1976 (Algora Publishing, 2009).
Richard Joseph, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria (Cambridge University Press, 1987).
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