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

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IBB-Picture-136

 

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.

Ibb2One 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.

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His achievements include:

1. Situating the ECOWAS Headquarters Secretariats in Abuja

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

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

  1. Civil Service Reform
  2. Established 2 Party System
  3. Established Option A4
  4. 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
  5. Guarantee of Free Press
  6. Established IBB International Golf & Country Club
  7. Established/Constructed National Women Centre
  8. Established/Constructed NASDMU- Nigerian Army Small Scale Drug Manufacturing Unit Lagos
  9. Constructed Post Offices in all the Local Government Nationwide
  10. Constructed the Ajiwa Water Project, Katsina
  11. Constructed Ikpoba Dam, Benin City
  12. Constructed the Nkalagu Cement Company, Ebonyi State
  13. Constructed Silos for Grain Storage Nationwide
  14. Created 11 States
  15. Employment rate was at 88%
  16. Salaries, Allowances and Contracts were paid when due
  17. Light & Water Supply at 95% Capacity Nationwide
  18. All textiles & industries were working at full capacity nationwide
  19. There was security nationwide, free movement and peace was enjoyed

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

  1. Established Nigerian Broadcasting Commission along with
  2. Nigerian Telecommunication Commission which has powers to give private license
  3. Established University of Yola
  4. Established Foreign Aid Crops
  5. Established consent of Medium Powers of 8 Countries- Nigeria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan etc.
  6. Established more diplomatic missions with nations
  7. Constructed Eagle Square, Abuja
  8. Constructed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  9. Constructed National Military Cemetery, Abuja
  10. Constructed Katsina Airport
  11. ASCON, Academic Staff College of Nigeria, Badagry
  12. Police College, Kano
  13. Peoples Bank (Tai Solarin)
  14. FRSC – Federal Rood Safety Commission (Wole Soyinka)
  15. Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
  16. Ecumenical Centre, Abuja
  17. Abuja Central Mosque
  18. VON – Volkswagen Of Nigeria, Ojo
  19. STEYR – Vehicle Company, Bauchi
  20. Established the Budget Ministry
  21. Over 200 laws in Nigerian Legal System operating now
  22. RMA & FC — Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission
  23. NDIC — Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation
  24. Established NCC — National Communication Commission
  25. Established NWC – National War College
  26. Established NDI – National Democratic Institutes
  27. Established the Portharcourt-Warri Refineries & Kaduna Refinery
  28. Constructed and Commissioned Shiroro Dam
  29. Created 8 Federal Universities of Technology and Colleges of Agriculture
  30. Created 200 Local Government Areas and 11 States
  31. 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

  1. Established a security reform that created five (5) additional zones for the Nigerian Police
  2. Construction of Toagh Bridge on the Tuga-Kaoje Road
  3. Construction of Jameson and Ethiope River Brdges, Bendel State
  4. Construction of Potiskum-Bulkachuwa Road, Bauchi State
  5. Construction of Bridge for Steam Boats in Nembe, Rivers State
  6. Re-construction of Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State
  7. Establishment of Council on Environment at Federal and State Levels
  8. Construction of Army Officers Quarters, Minna, Makurdi and Kontagora
  9. Construction of Soldiers Quarters at Bonny Camp, Portharcourt
  10. Construction of NACA Headquarters and school at Kontagora
  11. Construction of and Roads Rehabilitation of roads and drainages at Dalet Barracks, Ribadu, Kontagora and many other Barracks
  12. Water Supply improvement scheme at Army Barracks nationwide
  13. Electrical rehabilitation works at Kakuri Barraks, Kaduna State 1 80. BuiH 1 63 Housing units of 3 & 2 bedrooms in Sharctda, Kano State
  14. Built 1 86 housing units in Omo State
  15. Construction of Roads in Ganye, Adamawa State
  16. Construction of Road in Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State
  17. Built 499 housing units in Abuja
  18. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Yola, Adamawa State
  19. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Minna, Niger State
  20. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Oshogbo, Osun State 1 88. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Festac Town, Lagos State
  21. Established Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
  22. Established Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON)
  23. Introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) for Nigeria’s Economic Growth
  24. Upgrading the Infrastructure in the Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC)
  25. Established Nigerian Maritime Authority
  26. Development of National Health Policy
  27. Launching of the Primary Health Care Scheme (PHC)
  28. Upgrading the project of the Expended Programme on Immunization (EPI)
  29. Technical assistance to states in the rural water supply and sanitation programme
  30. Financial assistance to Federal Teaching Hospitals for rural and urban comprehensive health centres
  31. Direct importation of drugs to ease shortages in the hospitals
  32. Completion and Commissioning of the abandoned Teaching Hospital Project in Sokoto, Enugu and Zaria
  33. Establishment of four Technical Colleges of Education at Asaba, Bichi, Omoku and Potiskum
  34. Establishment of Specialized National Mathematical Centre, Abuja
  35. Established University of Abuja
  36. Established the Universities of Agriculture in Makurdi and Abeokuta
  37. Established the University of Technology in Bauchi and Yola
  38. Establishment of 22 Women Model Center’s in every State and Abuja
  39. Introduction of the Expedited Mail Service (EMS) in 1986
  40. Built and Commissioned the Nnamdi Azikwe National Press Centre at Dordan Barracks, Lagos
  41. Built the Essential Infrastructure in Abuja and successfully moved the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja
  42. Built Garki General Hospital, Abuja
  43. Built and Transformed the former Anambra State University of Technology into a Federal Institution and renamed it Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka
  44. He gave car refurbishing and motorcycle advances to the armed forces
  45. He also gave car loans /refurbishing and motorcycle advances to the armed forces
  46. He built the Police Forensic Laboratories in Kano and Lagos
  47. He built the Police Staff Colleges in Shanono, Kano and Jos
  48. He built me Police Secondary School in Calabar
  49. He built the State Police Headquarters in Uyo, Akwa-lbom and Kano State
  50. He built the police Academy Phases I & II in Kano
  51. 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)

  1. He initiated and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
  2. He initiated and signed Joint Operating Agreement in Nigeria’s petroleum sector
  3. He increased the petroleum exploration activities in Nigeria with the target of achieving 2.4 million barrels per day by me year 1994
  4. His petroleum sector reforms admitted indigenous oil companies to invest in exploration
  5. He increased the known oil reserves by 4 billion barrels
  6. He abolished the third-party marketing of Nigerian Crude Oil
  7. He expanded the refining company from 300,000 to 445,000 barrels per day
  8. He developed and commissioned the Portharcourt Export Refinery
  9. He accelerated work on me LNG Project
  10. He introduced Butanization Programme in the petroleum sector in Nigeria
  11. He secured overseas market for Nigeria’s LNG
  12. He acquired 4 (four) vessels for LNG transportation

232      . He developed the Oso Condensate Field

  1. He initiated work on new products pipelines linking all refineries In the country
  2. He completed and commissioned the ESCRAVOS to Lagos Pipeline
  3. He achieved a successful experiment on the Gas-Power car
  4. He completed Phase I of the Petrochemical Programme
  5. He completed the development of the National Oil Policy
  6. He strengthened Nigeria’s position in OPEC and a Nigerian, Alh. Rilwan Lukman emerged as OPEC’s Secretary General
  7. 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
  8. He conducted the most successful headcount that the country ever achieved since 1963
  9. He introduced Bureau de Change in the Foreign Exchange Regime
  10. Established National Wages Commission
  11. Established National Planning Commission
  12. Established National Women Commission
  13. Established Urban Development Bank
  14. Established Public Utilities Commission
  15. Established Nigerian Pilgrims Board (one for Muslims and one for Christians)
  16. Established National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)
  17. Established National Boundary Commission
  18. Established National Population Commission
  19. Established National Energy Commission
  20. Established the technical committee on Privatization and Commercialization
  21. Established Federal Urban Mass Transit Programme
  22. He built Bida-Kamba-Jade Road
  23. He reconstructed Chiyako bridge in Kano State
  24. He dualized Onitsha-Oba Road
  25. He built 218 Housing Units in Benue State
  26. He built 180 Housing Units in Sokoto State
  27. He built 207 Housing Units in Rivers State
  28. Established the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)
  29. Established National Maritime Authority
  30. Established Nigerian Dockyard Company
  31. His foreign policy initiatives made Nigeria to overtake the leadership of Commonwealth Secretariat with Chief Emeka Anyaoku emerging as the Secretary General
  32. He built the Ikayo-Selbe-Namatori Road
  33. He built the Giate-Heffe-Namarawo Road
  34. He built the Calabar-lkom Road
  35. He built the Kette-Awaga Road
  36. He built the llorin-Bida Sa’adu Road
  37. He built the lyere-lfara Road
  38. He built the Bokona-Tegina Road
  39. He built the River Ayangba-Erudu Bridge
  40. He built the River Eralia-Ankpa Bridge
  41. He built the Oron-Ebigha Road
  42. He built the Afikpo-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road
  43. He built the Kaima-Keshi Road
  44. He built the Ebonger-Oshogbo Road

277.     He built the Ado-Ekiti-Ikare Road

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