Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has revealed that the refusal of the United States and Britain to supply arms to Nigeria during the civil war forced his government to seek military assistance from the Soviet Union and a Lebanese black-market businessman.
Gowon said the two unexpected sources of support eventually helped Nigeria turn the tide during the three-year civil war, which lasted from July 1967 to January 1970.
The former military ruler disclosed this in Chapter 15 of his 859-page autobiography, ‘My Life of Duty and Allegiance’, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday, where President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In the chapter titled, ‘If The Devil’s Ready To Help’, Gowon recounted how Nigeria’s ammunition reserves dwindled drastically by late 1968, leaving the Army with barely half a million rounds of ammunition while Western allies declined to provide military supplies.
“As the weeks of fighting wore on, our stock of ammunition was steadily depleted, and we could not replenish them because international sales restrictions prevented suppliers from selling military hardware to Nigeria,” he wrote.
According to him, the shortage forced the federal government to halt further military advances after the capture of Enugu, pending the procurement of more ammunition.
Gowon said he was disappointed by the stance of Britain and the United States, especially at a time America was heavily involved militarily in Vietnam and Cambodia.
He recalled meeting with the British and American ambassadors, describing the encounter as one of the most significant moments of the war.
“If I say I’m not disappointed, it will be an understatement,” he said.
He added that he informed the envoys he was prepared to seek assistance from “any devil” to preserve Nigeria’s unity.
Following the failed diplomatic effort, Gowon said he had directed his Principal Secretary, Hamza Ahmadu, to contact the Soviet Ambassador, Aleksandr Romanov, at Dodan Barracks.
He said a Nigerian delegation comprising former Information Commissioner Anthony Enahoro, Permanent Secretary Edwin Ogbu, Chief of Air Staff Emmanuel George Kurubo and Ambassador John Ukegbu was subsequently dispatched to Moscow.
“The Soviet Union supplied us some MiG-15 trainers and MiG-17 bombers, and the mission was a huge success,” Gowon wrote, noting that Soviet-Nigerian relations became “special” after the war due to Western indifference.
He added that beyond Soviet support, a Lebanese businessman, Ali Jamal, also played a major role by financing the procurement of military hardware and ammunition through the black market.
“Jamal offered to use his personal funds to purchase weapons for Nigeria despite knowing the government could not make immediate payments. With his support, we were able to get some of the hardware and ammunition we needed to change the face of the war,” Gowon said.
He said the arrangement, however, sparked tension within the Federal Executive Council after former Finance Commissioner Obafemi Awolowo reportedly objected to the payment process, insisting due process had not been followed.
Gowon said he invoked his powers as Head of State to approve the payments, arguing that the survival of troops on the battlefield was paramount.
“Although I used anger and the power of my office to win the argument and retain the integrity of the nation, I felt proud of my team that insisted on due process,” he added.
The autobiography chronicles Gowon’s life from his Angas roots in Plateau State through his military career, the Nigerian civil war, his overthrow in 1975 and his years in exile and academic pursuit.
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