Brigadier General Murtala Ramat Mohammed’s emergence as Nigeria’s Head of State on 29 July 1975 marked a defining moment in the country’s post-civil war history. His administration was characterised by bold reforms, anti-corruption campaigns, and a renewed drive toward returning Nigeria to civilian rule. Despite ruling for barely 200 days, Murtala Mohammed left a legacy that continues to influence Nigeria’s governance and political consciousness.
Early Life and Military Career
Murtala Mohammed was born on 8 November 1938 in Kano, northern Nigeria, into a devout Muslim family. He attended Barewa College in Zaria, an institution that produced several of Nigeria’s future leaders, before training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024).
He began his military career in the Nigerian Army Signals and later participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Congo between 1960 and 1961. During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), Murtala commanded the 2nd Division, a major fighting force in the Midwest region. His performance established his reputation for courage and discipline, though his leadership style was considered stern and uncompromising (Country Studies, 2023).
By 1971, Murtala had been promoted to Brigadier, becoming one of the youngest senior officers in Nigeria’s military hierarchy.
The 1975 Coup and Assumption of Power
By mid-1975, growing dissatisfaction within the military had reached a tipping point. General Yakubu Gowon, who had ruled since 1966, had postponed a promised transition to civilian rule and was perceived as indecisive and tolerant of corruption. On 29 July 1975, while Gowon was attending an Organisation of African Unity summit in Uganda, officers led by Murtala Mohammed and supported by Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo executed a bloodless coup.
The Supreme Military Council installed Murtala as Head of State and Obasanjo as his deputy. His regime inherited an over-centralised, inefficient, and corrupt public administration, which Murtala immediately sought to overhaul (Central Bank of Nigeria Archives, 2020).
Administrative and Institutional Reforms
Civil Service Purge
One of Murtala’s most controversial yet defining acts was the mass purge of the civil service and public institutions. Thousands of officials, ranging from ministers to clerks, were summarily retired or dismissed. The justification, according to official statements, was to eliminate inefficiency, indiscipline, and corruption (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024).
While the purge restored a sense of urgency to governance, critics noted that many dismissals lacked due process, resulting in hardship for some innocent officials.
Creation of New States and Decentralisation
In February 1976, following the recommendations of the Irikefe Panel, Murtala’s government created seven new states, bringing the total to nineteen. The new entities; Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Imo, were intended to enhance administrative efficiency and address ethnic imbalances (Country Studies, 2023).
Federal Reorganisation and the Abuja Project
To address congestion and ethnic tensions in Lagos, Murtala set up the Justice Akinola Aguda Panel to examine relocating the federal capital. The commission recommended Abuja—a more central and neutral site. Though the relocation occurred decades later, it remains one of Murtala’s most enduring legacies (Central Bank of Nigeria Archives, 2020).
Transition to Civilian Rule
Murtala announced a five-stage transition programme toward civilian rule by 1 October 1979, including the establishment of a Constitution Drafting Committee, a Constituent Assembly, and subsequent elections. The programme was later implemented under General Obasanjo after Murtala’s death (Country Studies, 2023).
Foreign Policy and Africa-Centred Diplomacy
Under Murtala, Nigeria’s foreign policy took a bold and assertive turn. He placed Africa at the centre of Nigeria’s diplomacy, openly supporting liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa.
His government recognised the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) during the Angolan Civil War, defying Western pressure and earning Nigeria respect across Africa (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024). His stance marked Nigeria’s transition into a Pan-African leadership role, projecting the country as a voice of anti-colonial solidarity and continental independence.
Governance Style and Public Image
Murtala Mohammed was known for his frugal, austere lifestyle and “low-profile policy” for public officers, discouraging excessive displays of wealth and luxury. He often travelled with minimal security, preferring to appear approachable to the public. This populist posture strengthened his image as a man of action and integrity.
However, his impatience with bureaucracy and tendency toward unilateral decision-making sometimes strained relations within the military hierarchy.
The Assassination of 13 February 1976
On 13 February 1976, Murtala’s convoy was ambushed at a traffic junction near the Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, Lagos, by soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka. His car was riddled with bullets, killing Murtala instantly along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, and driver, Sergeant Adamu Michika (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024).
The coup attempt was quickly suppressed by loyal troops under Obasanjo’s command. Dimka fled but was captured weeks later near Abakaliki and executed by firing squad on 15 May 1976. Power subsequently passed peacefully to Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who pledged to continue Murtala’s policies.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Although his administration lasted barely seven months, Murtala Mohammed reshaped Nigeria’s political direction. His emphasis on discipline, efficiency, and accountability reinvigorated governance after years of inertia. The creation of new states, reform of the civil service, and foundation for civilian transition remain significant milestones in Nigeria’s political development.
His vision for Abuja as the new federal capital was eventually realised in 1991, a lasting symbol of his administrative foresight. Moreover, his assertive foreign policy established Nigeria’s reputation as a regional power and moral authority in Africa.
Murtala’s face appears on the ₦20 banknote, and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos bears his name, a tribute to his national impact.
While many Nigerians revere Murtala Mohammed as a hero of reform, some historians note that his methods were authoritarian and his dismissals overly sweeping. His short tenure left several reforms incomplete, and questions linger about whether his approach could have sustained democratic stability.
Nonetheless, his courage, decisiveness, and sense of urgency set a leadership benchmark rarely matched in subsequent administrations.
Author’s Note
Murtala Mohammed’s era represented a rare intersection of military authority and reformist intent. His government demonstrated that even under military rule, decisive leadership and moral clarity could redirect a nation’s path. Though his assassination halted his mission prematurely, his ideas lived on through institutional legacies that continue to define Nigeria’s federal structure and political identity.
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024). “Murtala Mohammed – Biography and Leadership.”
- U.S. Library of Congress – Nigeria Country Studies (2023). “Military Rule and the Transition to Civilian Government.”
Central Bank of Nigeria Archives (2020). “Murtala Mohammed’s Reforms and the Nigerian Economy.”
