Nigeria’s independence in October 1960 did not simply raise a new flag. It created an urgent question that every new state must answer quickly, who controls the armed forces, how are officers trained, and what foreign defence ties are acceptable without weakening sovereignty. In the First Republic, that responsibility sat with Muhammadu Ribadu, Nigeria’s first post independence Minister of Defence, serving from 1960 until his death on 1 May 1965.
The early 1960s were decisive years. Nigeria had to professionalise its military leadership pipeline, begin laying an industrial foundation for defence supply, and navigate a defence relationship with Britain that sparked national controversy. Ribadu’s tenure unfolded at the centre of these developments.
The challenge of defence after independence
At independence, Nigeria inherited a military structure shaped by colonial priorities. The federal government now had to define defence policy within a sovereign and democratic framework. Defence decisions required parliamentary approval, public explanation, and political consensus across regions and parties.
The defence ministry therefore became more than an administrative office. It was central to shaping how independence would function in practice. Every agreement, every reform, and every institutional decision carried weight beyond the barracks.
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The Anglo Nigerian Defence Agreement crisis
One of the most consequential early defence decisions was the Anglo Nigerian Defence Agreement. The agreement passed through Nigeria’s political process in late 1960. It soon faced mounting opposition, demonstrations, and criticism from politicians and segments of the public who believed it undermined Nigeria’s non alignment and independence. Under growing political pressure, the agreement was abrogated in early 1962.
The episode became a defining moment in the First Republic. It demonstrated how defence policy could ignite public debate and how sovereignty was not an abstract concept but a lived political struggle. The crisis shaped how future governments approached military cooperation with foreign powers.
The Nigerian Defence Academy, 5 February 1964
On 5 February 1964, the Nigerian Defence Academy was formally established in Kaduna to train officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The institution evolved from earlier training structures, including the Royal Military Forces Training College and later the Nigerian Military Training College after independence.
The creation of the NDA marked a turning point in officer training. A sovereign state requires a national system for educating and commissioning its military leadership. The academy provided a structured, domestic pathway for officer development and helped shape the professional culture of the armed forces.
The NDA’s establishment signalled Nigeria’s commitment to institutional continuity and long term defence planning. By investing in a national academy, the government reinforced civilian oversight and professional standards within the military structure.
Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, 1964
In 1964, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, was established by an Act of Parliament. The West German manufacturing firm Fritz Werner was assigned to provide technical expertise and set up the ordnance factory in Kaduna.
DICON’s creation reflected an ambition to develop domestic capacity in defence production and maintenance. Although Nigeria continued to rely on foreign suppliers, the legal foundation for a defence industries corporation showed a strategic desire for greater self reliance.
The establishment of DICON in the same year as the NDA underscored a broader direction in defence policy, professional training and industrial planning were both essential to strengthening national security.
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Defence development in the early 1960s
During Ribadu’s years in office, Nigeria pursued defence development through institutional reform, professional training, and industrial groundwork. These steps unfolded within a politically sensitive environment shaped by regional tensions and public scrutiny.
The armed forces of the early 1960s were still evolving. Reforms and expansions were tied to the realities of a new federation balancing internal stability and external diplomacy. The defence ministry’s role was to steer these changes while maintaining confidence in civilian authority.
Ribadu’s place in Nigeria’s defence history
Muhammadu Ribadu’s tenure coincided with formative milestones in Nigeria’s defence history. Between 1960 and 1965, the country formalised its national officer training academy, established a statutory defence industries corporation, and navigated a major controversy over foreign military cooperation.
These developments occurred at a time when Nigeria was defining the practical meaning of sovereignty. Defence policy became one of the arenas where independence was tested and expressed through law, institutions, and public debate.
Ribadu’s years in office form part of the foundation upon which later defence structures were built. The institutions established during this period continue to shape Nigeria’s armed forces and strategic planning.
Author’s Note
Nigeria’s early defence years show that sovereignty is built through institutions and decisions that endure beyond political seasons. Between 1960 and 1965, the country laid the foundations of its officer training system, established the legal basis for defence industry, and confronted the political meaning of foreign military ties. That era remains central to understanding how Nigeria defined its defence identity after independence.
References
Federal Ministry of Defence, Nigeria, Nigerian Defence Academy, Our History, establishment date 5 February 1964, and institutional lineage.
Nigerian Defence Academy, Our History, establishment date 5 February 1964, purpose, and historical evolution from earlier training colleges.
Federal Ministry of Defence, Nigeria, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, statutory establishment by Act of Parliament in 1964, and Fritz Werner technical role.
Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, official website, statutory establishment in 1964 and early technical partnership statement.
Marco Wyss, Postcolonial Security, Britain, France, and West Africa’s Cold War, Oxford University Press, chapter on the Anglo Nigerian Defence Agreement, timeline of passage in late 1960 and abrogation in early 1962.
Marco Wyss, The Anglo Nigerian Defence Agreement 1958 to 1962, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History working paper version hosted by Lancaster University ePrints.
