IBB: Former Military Head of State – Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Turns 74

 

IBB AT 74

Former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), was Nigeria’s Eight Head Of Slate and Government since Independence; he assumed office on 27th August, 1985 as Nigeria’s first soldier-President. Born on 1 7th August, 1941 to Muhammadu and Aishatu Babangida in Minna, Capital of Niger State, he attended Government College, Bida in 1956; passed his West Africa School Certificate Examination in 1962.

On 10th December 1962, he enrolled at the Nigerian Military Training College, passed out on 20th April 1963, was commissioned in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He then proceeded to the Indian Military Academy and graduated in 1964.

In 1968, he was appointed Commander, 44 Infantry Battalion (The Rangers) and was elevated to the rank of Captain in August of ‘68

As a result of his good record of service, he was nominated for the Company Commander’s Course at Westminster in the United Kingdom between October and November, 1970. Between 1972 and 1973, he attended the Advanced Armoured Officers’ course at the Army Armoured School in the United State.

On his return, he was appointed Commander, A Reconnaissance Regiment and was promoted Lieutenanl – Colonel in 1974, He came to limeligth in Feb. 1976, following his courageous role in foiling the aborted coup in which the then incumbent Head of State, Genera! Murtala Mohammed lost his life. In 1977 he proceeded on the Senior Officers’ Course at the Command Staff College, Jaji. In 1979 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier.

On Jan 5, 1981, he was appointed   Director, Army Staff duties and   Plans and was promoted a Major-General on March   1, 1983. He became the Chief of Army Staff on 31st December, 1983, following the Military take-over of government and the sacking of the Shagari administration. On 27th August 1985, he became President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) which was established as the country’s highest law and decision making body. He became a full General on 1st October, 1987.

One can say the General has reached the peak of his career and definately has left his footprint in the sand of rims, bur then the question remains what does one measure success with? During his tenure, he brought major changes to Nigeria as a whole, he watched and new where the shoe pinche an average Nigeria man, he already had a planned programme for the nation since inception of office, to reverse the deterioration of the country’s standard of living and suffering of the niasses left behind by his predecessors.

His administration placed greater emphasis on reduced importation of goods and encouraged the people to be internationally competitive by exporting non-oil commodities and services.

In 1986, he identified the serious economic problem facing Nigeria: huge foreign and domestic debts, a rapidly declining per capital income, high rale of unemployment amongst others. He did not only identify the problem but programmes were put in place for restructuring the entire economy, warning his countrymen of challenges and sacrifices they must make towards a better country.

The people were encouraged to look inward for solution and be proud of the nation technological capabilities as well as discouraging them from excessive importation of goods and services.

In 1986, he increased rural employment with the boost in gainful you Hi farm employment opportunities that included both skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour. He also created a conducive clirnate for more fruitful dialogue on debt relief and the rescheduling of Nigeria’s foreign debt.

In 1985, he inaugurated a political bureau de changed with the conduct of a national debate on the country’s political future and the production of the blueprint of new political models for the consideration of the Armed Forces Ruling Council.

The political objective of the General was to bequeath to the nation a political order that could endure the stress as well as contain the competitive demands of Nigeria’s national life; establishment of a National Electoral Commission, Constitution Review Committee and Constituent Assembly as well as the Promulgation of a new National Constitution.

His administration also decreed that the number of political parties in the country be limited to two, He was of the view that the decision oiVes practical expression to the widely accepted need to avoid the noise, clamour, confusion and violence which have been the bane of Nigeria s past political experience, as well as to put an end to inter-ethnic and inter-personal feuds.

In October 1989, he ordered immediate dissolution of numerous political parties – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) were subsequently established under a novel and unique “Grassroots Democratic System”.

He has reached a landmark in stabilising the economy and political structure of the nation, though his administration could not be said not have suffered any shortcomings but he was able to ride on them; it was the reason the former president wanted to come back as President again in 2011 to rectify some of the perceived anomalies suffered in his tenure; one of them was “to put all records straight. So that we would all know that, those that called themselves Saints are the bad things, that have happened to this nation” as said by Otunba Olusegun Ibrahim, a retired Colonel who worked closely with the General during his administration.

The rtd. Colonel reminded people about the June 12 issue, saying that IBB cannot singularly annul an election, “it was a collection of people in government that were responsible for that decision”. He described IBB as a man of principle, intelligence and eloquence. The former President has come thus, far, with so much record of successes, at 73, he has indeed taken giant strides to reach the hallmark of success. This is because he bestrides the Nigeria political space like a colossus.

His achievements include:

1. Situating the ECOWAS Headquarters Secretariats in Abuja

2. International Conference Centre Abuja
3. Constr. FHA Estates Nationwide
4. Constr. High Court Building in the state
5. Constr. Federal Secretariat in all the state including Abuja
6. Constr. 2political Party Office in all the states
7. Constructed the 4 divisional headquarters of Nigerian Army
8. Constructed the Military barracks in Abuja
9. Constructed the Nigerian Army School of Amour Bauchi
10. Constructed the Nigerian Army Amphibious school Calabar
11. Constructed the Quarters for the 4 GOCs
12. Constructed the Nigerian Navy dockyard
13. Constructed the Nigerian Dockyard Snack Island logos
14. Construction Estate for worker of Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMWH) Nationwide including FCT & Gwagwalada
15. 15. Construction site & SVCc Satellite Towns of Isheri, Lagos, Gwagwalada, Abuja and Prototype Housing Schemes
16. Constructed Headquarters Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA) Abuja
17. Constructed Headquarters Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA) Zonal Offices Nationwide and Central Laboratory, Yaba, Lagos
18. Construction National Eye Centre, Kaduna
19. Constructed Aluminum Smelter company Ikot Abasi
20. Constructed the Federal Supreme Court Abuja
21. Constructed the Ajaokuta Steel Project Engineering Works
22. Constructed the Abuja International Airport Phrase I & II
23. Constructed the National Assembly Abuja
24. Constructed the Presidential Villa Abuja
25. Constructed the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Headquarters Abufa
26. Constructed State Security Service (SSS) Abuja
27. Constructed Headquarters Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)Lagos
28. Constructed Headquarters Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Abuja
29. Constructed the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Branches Nationwide
30. Constructed the Central Bank Headquarters Abuja
31. Constructed some Branches of Central Bank In the state
32. Constructed the Security & Minting Headquarters Abuja
33. Constructed Jabi District Abuja
34. Constructed Abuja Central Area Phase I & II
35. Constructed Asokoro Area
36. Constructed Gorki Phases I, II & III
37. Constructed Gadu District
38. Constructed Asokoro and Asokoro South West Extension I & II
39. Constructed Secretariat Building for each of the state created in 1991
40. Constructed the House of Assembly Complex for each of the states created in 1991
41. Constructed the judiciary building for each of the states created in 1991
42. Constructed Maitama General Hospital, Abuja
43. Constructed Wuse General Hospital, Abuja
44. Constructed Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja
45. Constructed State House Hospital, Abuja
46. Constructed National Hospital in the states
47. Gusau Water Supply Scheme
48. Asokoro Water Supply
49. Kubwa Water Supply
50. Abuja Municipal Water Supply
51. Gboko-Yandav Water Works
52. Boreholes for 1004 Housing Estate
53. Kaf in Zakl Dam
54. Challawa Dam
55. Lower Usman Dam
56. Padam Darn
57. Shiroro Hydroelectric
58. Egbin Power Thermal Station
59. Constructed Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos
60. Constructed the Bridge over River Niger at Tuga Village-Kebbi state
61. Constructed the Bridge over Mbo River, Akwa-lbom State
62. Constructed the 2 bridges in Kaura Namoda, Zamf ara State
63. Constructed the bridges over Chanchaga river
64. Constructed the bridges over river Zungeru at Kaduna
65. Constructed the bridges over river Imo river
66. Major rehabilitation Eko bridge, Lagos State
67. Constructed Road Nembe-Brass, Bayelsa State
68. Constructed Road Kolo-Nembe, Bayelsa State
69. Constructed Road Yenogoa-Kolo, Bayelsa State
70. Constructed Road Bonny, Rivers State
71. Constructed Road Port-Harcourt-Degema, Bugama, Rivers State
72. Constructed Road Otukpo-Oju, Benue State
73. Constructed Bali-Jamtari Road, Taraba State
74. Constructed Mokwa-Tegina Road, Niger State
75. Constructed Road Lafia Doma, Nasarawa State
76. Constructed the Access Road to Gembu-Mambila Plateau, Taraba State
77. Constructed Road Asokoro, Nyanyan Karu, Abuja
78. Constructed Major Roads into Abuja from Suleja, Gwagalada, Aiport, Keffi
79. Constructed Major & Secondary Roads within the FCT
80. Dualization of Ibadan-lfe Road, Oyo/Osun State
81. Dualization of Kaduna-Abuja Road, Kaduna, Niger State and FCT
82. Dualization of Warri-Benin Road, Delta State
83. Dualization of Kaduna Zaria-Kano Road, Kaduna/Kano State
84. Rehabilitation of Kaduna-Tegina Road, Kaduna/Niger State
85. Rehabilitation of Calabar Ikang-Abang Road, Cross River
86. Rehabilitation of llorin-Kabba Road, Kogi State
87. Rehabilitation of Mayo-Belwa-Jado Road, Adamawa State
88. Rehabilitation of Pampam-Panshin-Langtang Road, Plateau State
89. Rehabilitation of Mokwa-New Bussa Road, Niger State
90. Rehabilitation of Kaima-Kishi Road, Kwara/Oyo State
91. Rehabilitation of Oyo Iseyin Road, Oyo State
92. Rehabilitation of Ibeto Wara Road, Niger State
93. Rehabilitation of Zungeru-Bida Road, Niger State
94. Rehabilitation of Owo-lkare Road, Ondo State
95. Rehabilitation of Ikot Epkene Oron Jamestown Road, Akwa-lbom State
96. Construction of Hakpe-A|aokuta-Warri-ORE Rail line
97. Replacement of the Last rail Road Bridge in the Country
98. Construction of Toll Plaza Nation Wide for Revenue
99. Construction of Flour Mills Nationwide
100. Rehabilitation of Military Barracks Nationwide
101. Physical improvement and Academic Upgrading of Federal School of Survey, Oyo State
102. Additional Construction of Housing Units at 1004 Housing Estate at Transit Village, V/Island Lagos
103. Construction of Imo Airport
104. Construction of NNPC Headquarters & Staff Housing Abuja
105. NNPC Fuel Storage Depots various location Nationwide
106. Turn Around maintenance (TAM) of refineries regularly conducted on schedules
107. NAFCON one full capacity production
108. Establishment of National Housing Production
109. Promulgated National Housing Policy for Nigeria
110. Establishment of Federal Environment Protection Agency
111. Promulgation of National Environment policy For Nigeria
112. Directorate for Food, Roads & Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) was established Nationwide
113. Community Banks established Nationwide
114. Mass mobilization for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER)

I I5.      ECOMOG- Established and Pioneering the Sub-Regional Peace and Enforcement

116. Civil Service Reform
117. Established 2 Party System
118. Established Option A4
119. NIGERIA Foreign Policy was redefined from Africa Focus to a Global Projection of Nigeria not to only as a Continental Power but Active Global Power Configuration
120. Guarantee of Free Press
121. Established IBB International Golf & Country Club
122. Established/Constructed National Women Centre
123. Established/Constructed NASDMU- Nigerian Army Small Scale Drug Manufacturing Unit Lagos
124. Constructed Post Offices in all the Local Government Nationwide
125. Constructed the Ajiwa Water Project, Katsina
126. Constructed Ikpoba Dam, Benin City
127. Constructed the Nkalagu Cement Company, Ebonyi State
128. Constructed Silos for Grain Storage Nationwide
129. Created 11 States
130. Employment rate was at 88%
131. Salaries, Allowances and Contracts were paid when due
132. Light & Water Supply at 95% Capacity Nationwide
133. All textiles & industries were working at full capacity nationwide
134. There was security nationwide, free movement and peace was enjoyed

1 35.    Established the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

136. Established Nigerian Broadcasting Commission along with
137. Nigerian Telecommunication Commission which has powers to give private license
138. Established University of Yola
139. Established Foreign Aid Crops
140. Established consent of Medium Powers of 8 Countries- Nigeria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan etc.
141. Established more diplomatic missions with nations
142. Constructed Eagle Square, Abuja
143. Constructed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
144. Constructed National Military Cemetery, Abuja
145. Constructed Katsina Airport
146. ASCON, Academic Staff College of Nigeria, Badagry
147. Police College, Kano
148. Peoples Bank (Tai Solarin)
149. FRSC – Federal Rood Safety Commission (Wole Soyinka)
150. Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
151. Ecumenical Centre, Abuja
152. Abuja Central Mosque
153. VON – Volkswagen Of Nigeria, Ojo
154. STEYR – Vehicle Company, Bauchi
155. Established the Budget Ministry
156. Over 200 laws in Nigerian Legal System operating now
157. RMA & FC — Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission
158. NDIC — Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation
159. Established NCC — National Communication Commission
160. Established NWC – National War College
161. Established NDI – National Democratic Institutes
162. Established the Portharcourt-Warri Refineries & Kaduna Refinery
163. Constructed and Commissioned Shiroro Dam
164. Created 8 Federal Universities of Technology and Colleges of Agriculture
165. Created 200 Local Government Areas and 11 States
166. Established a security reform which curved out from National Security Organisation (NSO), the followings:

(a)     NIA — National Intelligence Agency

(b)   SSS — State Security Service

(c)     DIA – Defence Intelligence Agency

167. Established a security reform that created five (5) additional zones for the Nigerian Police
168. Construction of Toagh Bridge on the Tuga-Kaoje Road
169. Construction of Jameson and Ethiope River Brdges, Bendel State
170. Construction of Potiskum-Bulkachuwa Road, Bauchi State
171. Construction of Bridge for Steam Boats in Nembe, Rivers State
172. Re-construction of Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State
173. Establishment of Council on Environment at Federal and State Levels
174. Construction of Army Officers Quarters, Minna, Makurdi and Kontagora
175. Construction of Soldiers Quarters at Bonny Camp, Portharcourt
176. Construction of NACA Headquarters and school at Kontagora
177. Construction of and Roads Rehabilitation of roads and drainages at Dalet Barracks, Ribadu, Kontagora and many other Barracks
178. Water Supply improvement scheme at Army Barracks nationwide
179. Electrical rehabilitation works at Kakuri Barraks, Kaduna State 1 80. BuiH 1 63 Housing units of 3 & 2 bedrooms in Sharctda, Kano State
180. Built 1 86 housing units in Omo State
181. Construction of Roads in Ganye, Adamawa State
182. Construction of Road in Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State
183. Built 499 housing units in Abuja
184. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Yola, Adamawa State
185. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Minna, Niger State
186. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Oshogbo, Osun State 1 88. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Festac Town, Lagos State
187. Established Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
188. Established Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON)
189. Introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) for Nigeria’s Economic Growth
190. Upgrading the Infrastructure in the Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC)
191. Established Nigerian Maritime Authority
192. Development of National Health Policy
193. Launching of the Primary Health Care Scheme (PHC)
194. Upgrading the project of the Expended Programme on Immunization (EPI)
195. Technical assistance to states in the rural water supply and sanitation programme
196. Financial assistance to Federal Teaching Hospitals for rural and urban comprehensive health centres
197. Direct importation of drugs to ease shortages in the hospitals
198. Completion and Commissioning of the abandoned Teaching Hospital Project in Sokoto, Enugu and Zaria
199. Establishment of four Technical Colleges of Education at Asaba, Bichi, Omoku and Potiskum
200. Establishment of Specialized National Mathematical Centre, Abuja
201. Established University of Abuja
202. Established the Universities of Agriculture in Makurdi and Abeokuta
203. Established the University of Technology in Bauchi and Yola
204. Establishment of 22 Women Model Center’s in every State and Abuja
205. Introduction of the Expedited Mail Service (EMS) in 1986
206. Built and Commissioned the Nnamdi Azikwe National Press Centre at Dordan Barracks, Lagos
207. Built the Essential Infrastructure in Abuja and successfully moved the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja
208. Built Garki General Hospital, Abuja
209. Built and Transformed the former Anambra State University of Technology into a Federal Institution and renamed it Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka
210. He gave car refurbishing and motorcycle advances to the armed forces
211. He also gave car loans /refurbishing and motorcycle advances to the armed forces
212. He built the Police Forensic Laboratories in Kano and Lagos
213. He built the Police Staff Colleges in Shanono, Kano and Jos
214. He built me Police Secondary School in Calabar
215. He built the State Police Headquarters in Uyo, Akwa-lbom and Kano State
216. He built the police Academy Phases I & II in Kano
217. He reconstructed NNPC into a Corporate Headquarter with three functional divisions and twelve subsidiaries such as:

(a)   The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC)

(b)   Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL)

(c)   Warri Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (WRPC)

(d)   Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited

(e)   Pormarcourt Refinery Company Limited (PHRC)

(f)     Nigeria Gas Development Company Limited

(g)   Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (EPCL)

(h)   Engineering Company of Nigeria Limited (ECNL)

(i)     Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG)

(j)     Calson (Bermuda) Limited

(k)   Hyson Nigeria Limited (HNL)

220. He initiated and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
221. He initiated and signed Joint Operating Agreement in Nigeria’s petroleum sector
222. He increased the petroleum exploration activities in Nigeria with the target of achieving 2.4 million barrels per day by me year 1994
223. His petroleum sector reforms admitted indigenous oil companies to invest in exploration
224. He increased the known oil reserves by 4 billion barrels
225. He abolished the third-party marketing of Nigerian Crude Oil
226. He expanded the refining company from 300,000 to 445,000 barrels per day
227. He developed and commissioned the Portharcourt Export Refinery
228. He accelerated work on me LNG Project
229. He introduced Butanization Programme in the petroleum sector in Nigeria
230. He secured overseas market for Nigeria’s LNG
231. He acquired 4 (four) vessels for LNG transportation

232      . He developed the Oso Condensate Field

233. He initiated work on new products pipelines linking all refineries In the country
234. He completed and commissioned the ESCRAVOS to Lagos Pipeline
235. He achieved a successful experiment on the Gas-Power car
236. He completed Phase I of the Petrochemical Programme
237. He completed the development of the National Oil Policy
238. He strengthened Nigeria’s position in OPEC and a Nigerian, Alh. Rilwan Lukman emerged as OPEC’s Secretary General
239. He increased revenue allocation from the Federation Account to oil producing areas as well as institutionalization of organs for encouraging rapid community development in these areas
240. He conducted the most successful headcount that the country ever achieved since 1963
241. He introduced Bureau de Change in the Foreign Exchange Regime
242. Established National Wages Commission
243. Established National Planning Commission
244. Established National Women Commission
245. Established Urban Development Bank
246. Established Public Utilities Commission
247. Established Nigerian Pilgrims Board (one for Muslims and one for Christians)
248. Established National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)
249. Established National Boundary Commission
250. Established National Population Commission
251. Established National Energy Commission
252. Established the technical committee on Privatization and Commercialization
253. Established Federal Urban Mass Transit Programme
254. He built Bida-Kamba-Jade Road
255. He reconstructed Chiyako bridge in Kano State
256. He dualized Onitsha-Oba Road
257. He built 218 Housing Units in Benue State
258. He built 180 Housing Units in Sokoto State
259. He built 207 Housing Units in Rivers State
260. Established the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)
261. Established National Maritime Authority
262. Established Nigerian Dockyard Company
263. His foreign policy initiatives made Nigeria to overtake the leadership of Commonwealth Secretariat with Chief Emeka Anyaoku emerging as the Secretary General
264. He built the Ikayo-Selbe-Namatori Road
265. He built the Giate-Heffe-Namarawo Road
266. He built the Calabar-lkom Road
267. He built the Kette-Awaga Road
268. He built the llorin-Bida Sa’adu Road
269. He built the lyere-lfara Road
270. He built the Bokona-Tegina Road
271. He built the River Ayangba-Erudu Bridge
272. He built the River Eralia-Ankpa Bridge
273. He built the Oron-Ebigha Road
274. He built the Afikpo-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road
275. He built the Kaima-Keshi Road
276. He built the Ebonger-Oshogbo Road

277.     He built the Ado-Ekiti-Ikare Road