Murtala Ramat Muhammed remains one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s post independence history. He became Head of State on 29 July 1975 after the overthrow of General Yakubu Gowon, and he was assassinated on 13 February 1976 during an attempted coup. In those few months, his government launched a sweeping restructuring of the public service, placed Nigeria firmly on a transition path toward civilian rule, and took decisive legal steps that began the movement of the federal capital from Lagos to what would become Abuja. His tenure was brief, yet its consequences have endured for generations.
Early Life, Education, and Military Formation
Muhammed was born on 8 November 1938 in Kano. He received his early education in Kano before attending Government College in Zaria, now known as Barewa College. In 1958, shortly after completing secondary school, he joined the Nigerian Army. His professional military education included officer training in England at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, as well as specialist signals and staff training. These formative experiences shaped a command style defined by clarity, decisiveness, and strong authority.
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Congo and the Emergence of a National Figure
In the early 1960s, Muhammed served as part of Nigeria’s contingent to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Congo. The mission exposed Nigerian officers to multinational military operations and post colonial African conflicts. It also strengthened Nigeria’s confidence in regional engagement, laying foundations for the country’s increasingly assertive African diplomacy in the mid 1970s.
Civil War Command
During the Nigerian Civil War, Muhammed served as General Officer Commanding of the Second Infantry Division. The division played a central role in operations in the Mid Western and Eastern theatres of the conflict. The war itself was intense and destructive, and the operations conducted by all sides left deep marks on the country’s political and social landscape. Muhammed’s wartime leadership contributed significantly to his national prominence in the years that followed.
The July 1975 Change of Government
On 29 July 1975, while Gowon was outside Nigeria, senior officers announced a change of government. Muhammed emerged as Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The new administration declared its intention to accelerate national development, restore discipline in public life, and provide a clear direction for the country’s political future.
The Civil Service Restructuring
One of the defining actions of his government was a sweeping restructuring of the civil service and public institutions. Thousands of officials were dismissed, retired, or removed from office in one of the most extensive administrative overhauls in Nigeria’s history. The exercise aimed to reduce inefficiency and enforce higher standards of accountability within government structures. The speed and scale of the reform immediately marked his administration as decisive and uncompromising.
The Transition to Civilian Rule
Muhammed’s government announced a structured transition programme that set Nigeria on a defined path back to civilian governance, targeting 1 October 1979 for the handover. The timetable introduced a clear national expectation for democratic restoration. After his death, the programme continued under his successor and culminated in the transfer of power to a civilian government in 1979.
Abuja, The Legal Foundation of a New Capital
A lasting institutional legacy of Muhammed’s administration was the formal initiation of the move from Lagos as the federal capital. On 4 February 1976, the Federal Capital Territory was created by law, establishing the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This legal step laid the foundation for the eventual development of Abuja as Nigeria’s new capital city, a centrally located seat of government intended to serve the entire federation.
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Foreign Policy, Africa at the Centre
Muhammed’s administration projected a confident African centred foreign policy. Nigeria played a prominent diplomatic role during the 1975 Angolan crisis and extended recognition to the MPLA government in Angola. The government also strengthened Nigeria’s stance against apartheid in Southern Africa, reinforcing the country’s position as a leading voice in continental affairs.
13 February 1976, The Assassination
On 13 February 1976, Muhammed was assassinated in Lagos during an attempted coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka. The attack occurred while he was travelling to his office. The coup failed, but the Head of State was killed. Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded him and continued the transition programme that eventually restored civilian rule.
Legacy
Muhammed’s tenure lasted just over six months, yet it produced structural changes that reshaped Nigeria’s political trajectory. His restructuring of the public service, the establishment of a civilian transition timetable, the legal creation of the Federal Capital Territory, and a more assertive African foreign policy all remain central to discussions of Nigeria’s modern history. His leadership style, marked by speed and firmness, continues to influence how Nigerians evaluate political authority and reform.
Author’s Note
Murtala Muhammed’s story shows how decisive leadership can compress major change into a short period of time. His reforms altered institutions, his timetable shaped Nigeria’s democratic return, and his assassination fixed his name permanently in national memory as a leader whose urgency and impact outlived his brief time in office.
References
Central Bank of Nigeria, General Murtala Mohammed, biographical note.
Federal Capital Territory Act, 1976 No. 6, dated 4 February 1976.
The Guardian Nigeria, Murtala Muhammed: The Corruption Fighter, 8 November 2018.
Punch Nigeria, Angola to honour ex Nigerian ruler Murtala at 50th independence, 6 November 2025.
