In 1976, Nigeria’s Federal Military Government created Sokoto State out of the former North‑Western State as part of a nationwide administrative reorganisation. Brigadier Umaru Mohammed was appointed the first Military Governor of Sokoto State, serving from March 1976 until July 1978, and his leadership marked the beginning of formal state governance. His tenure was a period of institutional establishment under military rule, shaping the early administrative structure of Sokoto State.
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Historical Context
In the mid‑1970s, Nigeria was governed by military regimes following a series of coups that ended the First Republic. General Murtala Ramat Mohammed assumed national leadership in July 1975, initiating an ambitious programme of state creation to decentralise governance. On 3 February 1976, North‑Western State was divided to form Sokoto State and Niger State, a change intended to bring government closer to local populations and improve administrative efficiency. This reorganisation was continued by General Olusegun Obasanjo after General Murtala Mohammed’s assassination in February 1976, and laid the foundation for institutions that would persist through subsequent administrations. Brigadier Umaru Mohammed’s term as Military Governor began in this context of national reorganisation and centralised military administration.
Early Life and Military Career
Brigadier Umaru Mohammed was born in Hadejia, in what is now Jigawa State, Nigeria. He was a career officer in the Nigerian Army who rose through military ranks, culminating in his appointment as Military Governor of North‑Western State in July 1975 during the regime of General Murtala Mohammed. When North‑Western State was divided in 1976, he continued as Governor of the newly formed Sokoto State, retaining executive authority until July 1978. Mohammed’s career reflected the broader pattern of military officers being assigned to govern states during prolonged military rule in Nigeria. His experience as a senior officer was a key factor in his selection to lead Sokoto State through its formative phase.
Creation of Sokoto State and Administrative Transition
Sokoto State was formed on 3 February 1976 from part of North‑Western State as part of the Federal Military Government’s policy of administrative restructuring. The creation of new states aimed to reduce the size of existing administrative units, promote local governance, and support national unity by recognising ethnic and regional identities. Sokoto State’s capital was designated as Sokoto, and it comprised a largely rural region with significant agricultural activity.
As the first governor of the new state, Brigadier Umaru Mohammed’s primary task was to establish basic governance structures, including the organisation of ministries, staffing of top administrative posts, and laying the groundwork for future public service operations. His role was administrative, consistent with the military governance style of the period, and linked closely to directives from the federal military government. The emphasis was on continuity of public services, order, and the gradual establishment of institutional frameworks rather than on substantive public policy changes.
Governance During Military Rule
During Brigadier Umaru Mohammed’s tenure from March 1976 to July 1978, Nigeria remained under military control, with state governors appointed by the supreme military leadership. State administrations were expected to maintain stability, enforce federal policies, and manage day‑to‑day governance without participating in democratic electoral processes. This mode of governance was uniform across Nigeria at the time, and Sokoto State’s administration aligned with that model.
Brigadier Mohammed worked within a centralised chain of command, reporting to federal military authorities, and his responsibilities included overseeing the adoption of federal programmes at the state level and ensuring compliance with national policies that shaped economic planning, security, and public administration. There is limited evidence of public records detailing specific development projects or major reforms directly attributed to his administration, and the focus remained on establishing the state’s basic governance machinery.
Succession and Transition
In July 1978, Brigadier Umaru Mohammed handed over governance of Sokoto State to Lieutenant Colonel Gado Nasko, another military officer appointed by the national leadership. Nasko continued as Military Governor until October 1979, presiding over the state during a period that led up to the transition to civilian rule. Nigeria’s Second Republic began later in 1979, with the election of civilian governors nationwide, including Sokoto State. This change marked the first time Sokoto State would be led by an elected civilian governor, Shehu Kangiwa, following the end of direct military administration at the state level.
Legacy of Early State Administration
Brigadier Umaru Mohammed’s governance of Sokoto State set the stage for subsequent administrations. His tenure was mainly concerned with establishing the initial organisational and administrative frameworks necessary for a functioning state government. This foundational work, while not widely documented in detailed policy records, created continuity in civil service operations and a platform for future leaders to build on, both military and civilian.
The early phase of state development in Nigeria’s Sokoto State reflected broader national patterns of military governance, where appointed governors implemented central government directives and provided stable public administration during a time of political transition. Sokoto State’s political and administrative evolution in later decades continued to draw on the institutional structures established during this formative period.
Brigadier Umaru Mohammed’s role as the first Military Governor of Sokoto State was historically significant in that he oversaw the initial establishment of the state’s governance structures following its creation in 1976. His leadership was characterised by administrative continuity, alignment with federal military governance, and institution‑building under centralised authority. The transition from his tenure to subsequent military and civilian governors reflected wider national developments that eventually led to the return of democratic governance.
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Author’s Note
This article provides an accurate, historically grounded account of Brigadier Umaru Mohammed’s leadership of Sokoto State from its creation in 1976 to 1978. It emphasises his role in establishing governance structures and situates his tenure within the broader context of Nigeria’s military administration, without speculation or unfounded detail. It highlights the governance legacy that laid the foundation for later civilian rule and institutional continuity in Sokoto State.
References
- Nigerian States historical list of governors and administrators, Nigerian States (WorldStatesmen)
- Past and present governors of Sokoto State list, NigeriaZipCodes
- Sokoto State history and governor sequence, InfomediaNG
