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
- International Conference Centre Abuja
- Constr. FHA Estates Nationwide
- Constr. High Court Building in the state
- Constr. Federal Secretariat in all the state including Abuja
- Constr. 2political Party Office in all the states
- Constructed the 4 divisional headquarters of Nigerian Army
- Constructed the Military barracks in Abuja
- Constructed the Nigerian Army School of Amour Bauchi
- Constructed the Nigerian Army Amphibious school Calabar
- Constructed the Quarters for the 4 GOCs
- Constructed the Nigerian Navy dockyard
- Constructed the Nigerian Dockyard Snack Island logos
- Construction Estate for worker of Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMWH) Nationwide including FCT & Gwagwalada
- 15. Construction site & SVCc Satellite Towns of Isheri, Lagos, Gwagwalada, Abuja and Prototype Housing Schemes
- Constructed Headquarters Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA) Abuja
- Constructed Headquarters Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA) Zonal Offices Nationwide and Central Laboratory, Yaba, Lagos
- Construction National Eye Centre, Kaduna
- Constructed Aluminum Smelter company Ikot Abasi
- Constructed the Federal Supreme Court Abuja
- Constructed the Ajaokuta Steel Project Engineering Works
- Constructed the Abuja International Airport Phrase I & II
- Constructed the National Assembly Abuja
- Constructed the Presidential Villa Abuja
- Constructed the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Headquarters Abufa
- Constructed State Security Service (SSS) Abuja
- Constructed Headquarters Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)Lagos
- Constructed Headquarters Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Abuja
- Constructed the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Branches Nationwide
- Constructed the Central Bank Headquarters Abuja
- Constructed some Branches of Central Bank In the state
- Constructed the Security & Minting Headquarters Abuja
- Constructed Jabi District Abuja
- Constructed Abuja Central Area Phase I & II
- Constructed Asokoro Area
- Constructed Gorki Phases I, II & III
- Constructed Gadu District
- Constructed Asokoro and Asokoro South West Extension I & II
- Constructed Secretariat Building for each of the state created in 1991
- Constructed the House of Assembly Complex for each of the states created in 1991
- Constructed the judiciary building for each of the states created in 1991
- Constructed Maitama General Hospital, Abuja
- Constructed Wuse General Hospital, Abuja
- Constructed Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja
- Constructed State House Hospital, Abuja
- Constructed National Hospital in the states
- Gusau Water Supply Scheme
- Asokoro Water Supply
- Kubwa Water Supply
- Abuja Municipal Water Supply
- Gboko-Yandav Water Works
- Boreholes for 1004 Housing Estate
- Kaf in Zakl Dam
- Challawa Dam
- Lower Usman Dam
- Padam Darn
- Shiroro Hydroelectric
- Egbin Power Thermal Station
- Constructed Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos
- Constructed the Bridge over River Niger at Tuga Village-Kebbi state
- Constructed the Bridge over Mbo River, Akwa-lbom State
- Constructed the 2 bridges in Kaura Namoda, Zamf ara State
- Constructed the bridges over Chanchaga river
- Constructed the bridges over river Zungeru at Kaduna
- Constructed the bridges over river Imo river
- Major rehabilitation Eko bridge, Lagos State
- Constructed Road Nembe-Brass, Bayelsa State
- Constructed Road Kolo-Nembe, Bayelsa State
- Constructed Road Yenogoa-Kolo, Bayelsa State
- Constructed Road Bonny, Rivers State
- Constructed Road Port-Harcourt-Degema, Bugama, Rivers State
- Constructed Road Otukpo-Oju, Benue State
- Constructed Bali-Jamtari Road, Taraba State
- Constructed Mokwa-Tegina Road, Niger State
- Constructed Road Lafia Doma, Nasarawa State
- Constructed the Access Road to Gembu-Mambila Plateau, Taraba State
- Constructed Road Asokoro, Nyanyan Karu, Abuja
- Constructed Major Roads into Abuja from Suleja, Gwagalada, Aiport, Keffi
- Constructed Major & Secondary Roads within the FCT
- Dualization of Ibadan-lfe Road, Oyo/Osun State
- Dualization of Kaduna-Abuja Road, Kaduna, Niger State and FCT
- Dualization of Warri-Benin Road, Delta State
- Dualization of Kaduna Zaria-Kano Road, Kaduna/Kano State
- Rehabilitation of Kaduna-Tegina Road, Kaduna/Niger State
- Rehabilitation of Calabar Ikang-Abang Road, Cross River
- Rehabilitation of llorin-Kabba Road, Kogi State
- Rehabilitation of Mayo-Belwa-Jado Road, Adamawa State
- Rehabilitation of Pampam-Panshin-Langtang Road, Plateau State
- Rehabilitation of Mokwa-New Bussa Road, Niger State
- Rehabilitation of Kaima-Kishi Road, Kwara/Oyo State
- Rehabilitation of Oyo Iseyin Road, Oyo State
- Rehabilitation of Ibeto Wara Road, Niger State
- Rehabilitation of Zungeru-Bida Road, Niger State
- Rehabilitation of Owo-lkare Road, Ondo State
- Rehabilitation of Ikot Epkene Oron Jamestown Road, Akwa-lbom State
- Construction of Hakpe-A|aokuta-Warri-ORE Rail line
- Replacement of the Last rail Road Bridge in the Country
- Construction of Toll Plaza Nation Wide for Revenue
- Construction of Flour Mills Nationwide
- Rehabilitation of Military Barracks Nationwide
- Physical improvement and Academic Upgrading of Federal School of Survey, Oyo State
- Additional Construction of Housing Units at 1004 Housing Estate at Transit Village, V/Island Lagos
- Construction of Imo Airport
- Construction of NNPC Headquarters & Staff Housing Abuja
- NNPC Fuel Storage Depots various location Nationwide
- Turn Around maintenance (TAM) of refineries regularly conducted on schedules
- NAFCON one full capacity production
- Establishment of National Housing Production
- Promulgated National Housing Policy for Nigeria
- Establishment of Federal Environment Protection Agency
- Promulgation of National Environment policy For Nigeria
- Directorate for Food, Roads & Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) was established Nationwide
- Community Banks established Nationwide
- Mass mobilization for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER)
I I5. ECOMOG- Established and Pioneering the Sub-Regional Peace and Enforcement
- Civil Service Reform
- Established 2 Party System
- Established Option A4
- 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
- Guarantee of Free Press
- Established IBB International Golf & Country Club
- Established/Constructed National Women Centre
- Established/Constructed NASDMU- Nigerian Army Small Scale Drug Manufacturing Unit Lagos
- Constructed Post Offices in all the Local Government Nationwide
- Constructed the Ajiwa Water Project, Katsina
- Constructed Ikpoba Dam, Benin City
- Constructed the Nkalagu Cement Company, Ebonyi State
- Constructed Silos for Grain Storage Nationwide
- Created 11 States
- Employment rate was at 88%
- Salaries, Allowances and Contracts were paid when due
- Light & Water Supply at 95% Capacity Nationwide
- All textiles & industries were working at full capacity nationwide
- There was security nationwide, free movement and peace was enjoyed
1 35. Established the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
- Established Nigerian Broadcasting Commission along with
- Nigerian Telecommunication Commission which has powers to give private license
- Established University of Yola
- Established Foreign Aid Crops
- Established consent of Medium Powers of 8 Countries- Nigeria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan etc.
- Established more diplomatic missions with nations
- Constructed Eagle Square, Abuja
- Constructed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Constructed National Military Cemetery, Abuja
- Constructed Katsina Airport
- ASCON, Academic Staff College of Nigeria, Badagry
- Police College, Kano
- Peoples Bank (Tai Solarin)
- FRSC – Federal Rood Safety Commission (Wole Soyinka)
- Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
- Ecumenical Centre, Abuja
- Abuja Central Mosque
- VON – Volkswagen Of Nigeria, Ojo
- STEYR – Vehicle Company, Bauchi
- Established the Budget Ministry
- Over 200 laws in Nigerian Legal System operating now
- RMA & FC — Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission
- NDIC — Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Established NCC — National Communication Commission
- Established NWC – National War College
- Established NDI – National Democratic Institutes
- Established the Portharcourt-Warri Refineries & Kaduna Refinery
- Constructed and Commissioned Shiroro Dam
- Created 8 Federal Universities of Technology and Colleges of Agriculture
- Created 200 Local Government Areas and 11 States
- 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
- Established a security reform that created five (5) additional zones for the Nigerian Police
- Construction of Toagh Bridge on the Tuga-Kaoje Road
- Construction of Jameson and Ethiope River Brdges, Bendel State
- Construction of Potiskum-Bulkachuwa Road, Bauchi State
- Construction of Bridge for Steam Boats in Nembe, Rivers State
- Re-construction of Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State
- Establishment of Council on Environment at Federal and State Levels
- Construction of Army Officers Quarters, Minna, Makurdi and Kontagora
- Construction of Soldiers Quarters at Bonny Camp, Portharcourt
- Construction of NACA Headquarters and school at Kontagora
- Construction of and Roads Rehabilitation of roads and drainages at Dalet Barracks, Ribadu, Kontagora and many other Barracks
- Water Supply improvement scheme at Army Barracks nationwide
- Electrical rehabilitation works at Kakuri Barraks, Kaduna State 1 80. BuiH 1 63 Housing units of 3 & 2 bedrooms in Sharctda, Kano State
- Built 1 86 housing units in Omo State
- Construction of Roads in Ganye, Adamawa State
- Construction of Road in Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State
- Built 499 housing units in Abuja
- Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Yola, Adamawa State
- Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Minna, Niger State
- Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Oshogbo, Osun State 1 88. Built Federal Housing Authority Estate at Festac Town, Lagos State
- Established Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
- Established Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON)
- Introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) for Nigeria’s Economic Growth
- Upgrading the Infrastructure in the Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC)
- Established Nigerian Maritime Authority
- Development of National Health Policy
- Launching of the Primary Health Care Scheme (PHC)
- Upgrading the project of the Expended Programme on Immunization (EPI)
- Technical assistance to states in the rural water supply and sanitation programme
- Financial assistance to Federal Teaching Hospitals for rural and urban comprehensive health centres
- Direct importation of drugs to ease shortages in the hospitals
- Completion and Commissioning of the abandoned Teaching Hospital Project in Sokoto, Enugu and Zaria
- Establishment of four Technical Colleges of Education at Asaba, Bichi, Omoku and Potiskum
- Establishment of Specialized National Mathematical Centre, Abuja
- Established University of Abuja
- Established the Universities of Agriculture in Makurdi and Abeokuta
- Established the University of Technology in Bauchi and Yola
- Establishment of 22 Women Model Center’s in every State and Abuja
- Introduction of the Expedited Mail Service (EMS) in 1986
- Built and Commissioned the Nnamdi Azikwe National Press Centre at Dordan Barracks, Lagos
- Built the Essential Infrastructure in Abuja and successfully moved the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja
- Built Garki General Hospital, Abuja
- Built and Transformed the former Anambra State University of Technology into a Federal Institution and renamed it Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka
- He gave car refurbishing and motorcycle advances to the armed forces
- He also gave car loans /refurbishing and motorcycle advances to the armed forces
- He built the Police Forensic Laboratories in Kano and Lagos
- He built the Police Staff Colleges in Shanono, Kano and Jos
- He built me Police Secondary School in Calabar
- He built the State Police Headquarters in Uyo, Akwa-lbom and Kano State
- He built the police Academy Phases I & II in Kano
- 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)
- He initiated and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- He initiated and signed Joint Operating Agreement in Nigeria’s petroleum sector
- He increased the petroleum exploration activities in Nigeria with the target of achieving 2.4 million barrels per day by me year 1994
- His petroleum sector reforms admitted indigenous oil companies to invest in exploration
- He increased the known oil reserves by 4 billion barrels
- He abolished the third-party marketing of Nigerian Crude Oil
- He expanded the refining company from 300,000 to 445,000 barrels per day
- He developed and commissioned the Portharcourt Export Refinery
- He accelerated work on me LNG Project
- He introduced Butanization Programme in the petroleum sector in Nigeria
- He secured overseas market for Nigeria’s LNG
- He acquired 4 (four) vessels for LNG transportation
232 . He developed the Oso Condensate Field
- He initiated work on new products pipelines linking all refineries In the country
- He completed and commissioned the ESCRAVOS to Lagos Pipeline
- He achieved a successful experiment on the Gas-Power car
- He completed Phase I of the Petrochemical Programme
- He completed the development of the National Oil Policy
- He strengthened Nigeria’s position in OPEC and a Nigerian, Alh. Rilwan Lukman emerged as OPEC’s Secretary General
- 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
- He conducted the most successful headcount that the country ever achieved since 1963
- He introduced Bureau de Change in the Foreign Exchange Regime
- Established National Wages Commission
- Established National Planning Commission
- Established National Women Commission
- Established Urban Development Bank
- Established Public Utilities Commission
- Established Nigerian Pilgrims Board (one for Muslims and one for Christians)
- Established National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)
- Established National Boundary Commission
- Established National Population Commission
- Established National Energy Commission
- Established the technical committee on Privatization and Commercialization
- Established Federal Urban Mass Transit Programme
- He built Bida-Kamba-Jade Road
- He reconstructed Chiyako bridge in Kano State
- He dualized Onitsha-Oba Road
- He built 218 Housing Units in Benue State
- He built 180 Housing Units in Sokoto State
- He built 207 Housing Units in Rivers State
- Established the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)
- Established National Maritime Authority
- Established Nigerian Dockyard Company
- His foreign policy initiatives made Nigeria to overtake the leadership of Commonwealth Secretariat with Chief Emeka Anyaoku emerging as the Secretary General
- He built the Ikayo-Selbe-Namatori Road
- He built the Giate-Heffe-Namarawo Road
- He built the Calabar-lkom Road
- He built the Kette-Awaga Road
- He built the llorin-Bida Sa’adu Road
- He built the lyere-lfara Road
- He built the Bokona-Tegina Road
- He built the River Ayangba-Erudu Bridge
- He built the River Eralia-Ankpa Bridge
- He built the Oron-Ebigha Road
- He built the Afikpo-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road
- He built the Kaima-Keshi Road
- He built the Ebonger-Oshogbo Road
277. He built the Ado-Ekiti-Ikare Road