View source for Murtala Muhammed

{{Short description|Military head of state of Nigeria from 1975 to 1976}}
{{distinguish|Mohammed Muritala}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Murtala Muhammed
| honorific_prefix    = [[General (Nigeria)|General]]
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=NG|GCFR|size=100%}}
| image               = Murtala Mohammed.jpg
| image_size          = 
| caption             = 
| alt                 = 
| office              = 4th [[Nigerian military juntas of 1966–79 and 1983–98|Head of State of Nigeria]]
| term_start          = 29 July 1975
| term_end            = 13 February 1976
| 1blankname          = {{nowrap|[[Vice President of Nigeria|Chief of Staff]]}}
| 1namedata           = Olusegun Obasanjo
| predecessor         = [[Yakubu Gowon]]
| successor           = [[Olusegun Obasanjo]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1938|11|8}}
| birth_place         = [[Kano (city)|Kano]], Northern Region, British Nigeria<br>{{small|(now Kano, [[Kano State]], Nigeria)}}
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1976|2|13|1938|11|8}}
| death_place         = [[Lagos]], Nigeria
| alma_mater          = {{plainlist|
* [[Barewa College]]
* [[Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst]]
}}
| party               = (none) ''military''
| occupation          = Military officer
| death_cause         = [[Assassination]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Ajoke Muhammed]]|1963}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mmfnigeria.org/portfolio-item/mrs-ajoke-muhammed-vice-chairman/|title = MRS. Ajoke Muhammed- Vice Chairman}}</ref>
| children            = 6, including [[Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode|Aisha]]
| relations           = [[Ireti Kingibe]] (sister-in-law)
| parents             = 
| nickname            = "Monty of the Midwest"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nowa |first1=Omoigui |title=Nicknames, Slogans, Local and Operational Names Associated with the Nigerian Civil War |url=https://www.dawodu.com/omoigui34.htm |website=Dawodu.com |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>
| allegiance          = Nigeria
| branch              = [[Nigerian Army]]
| rank                = [[General (Nigeria)|General]]
| serviceyears        = 1958–1976
| battles             = {{tree list}}
*[[Congo Crisis]]
*[[Nigerian Civil War]]
**[[Midwest Invasion of 1967]]
**[[First Battle of Onitsha]]
**[[Second Battle of Onitsha]]
**[[Abagana Ambush]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}
{{Murtala Muhammed sidebar}}
'''Murtala Ramat Muhammed''' {{post-nominals|country=NG|GCFR}}  ({{Pronunciation|Ha-Murtala Ramat Muhammad.ogg|Hausa pronunciation|help=no}}; 8 November 1938 &ndash; 13 February 1976)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG174792|title = Collections Online &#124; British Museum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202002200911.html|title = Nigeria: General Murtala Ramat Muhammad - 44 Years After|date = 20 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olusegun Obasanjo {{!}} president of Nigeria {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Olusegun-Obasanjo |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> was a [[Nigerian]] military officer and the fourth head of state of Nigeria. He led the [[1966 Nigerian counter-coup]] in overthrowing the military regime of [[Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi]] and featured prominently during the [[Nigerian Civil War]] and thereafter ruled Nigeria from 29 July 1975 until his assassination on 13 February 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dailytrust News, Sports and Business, Politics {{!}} Dailytrust |url=https://dailytrust.com/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Daily Trust |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adewole |first=Segun |date=2021-01-15 |title=Pictorial: Key actors of Nigeria's Civil War (1966-1970) |url=https://punchng.com/pictorial-key-actors-of-nigerias-civil-war-1966-1970/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref> This period in Nigerian history, from the Northern counter-coup victory to Murtala's death, is commonly associated with the institutionalization of the military in Nigerian politics.

Born in [[Kano (city)|Kano]]  to an Edo father from Aviele near Auchi Edo state and a Fulani mother from Kano state.,<ref>{{cite journal |title=After Yar'Adua |journal=Africa Confidential |date=19 December 1997 |volume=38 |issue=25 |location=Nigeria |quote=Nigeria's most popular leader to date is Murtala Mohammed a northern Muslim from Kano whose radical support of Southern African liberation movements in the 1970s gave the country an international stature it has not been able to regain since...}}</ref> Murtala served in the [[Nigerian Army]] as a [[cadet]] in the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst]]. He later served in [[Congo Crisis|Congo]]; eventually rose through the ranks to become [[brigadier general]] in 1971, aged 33, becoming one of the youngest generals in Nigeria. Three years later, Murtala became the Federal Commissioner for Communications in Lagos. As a [[Conservatism|conservative]] and [[Federalism|federalist]], Murtala regretted the overthrow of the [[First Nigerian Republic|First Republic]] and the [[promulgation]] of [[Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi|Aguiyi Ironsi]]'s unification decree of 1966. He was devastated by the assassination of [[Ahmadu Bello|Sir Ahmadu Bello]], and for a time seriously considered the secession of Northern Nigeria. His career redoubled after [[Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu]] and the young majors orchestrated the first [[Military coups in Nigeria|military coup in Nigeria]] of [[1966 Nigerian coup d'état|1966]] empowering him to lead the mutiny of the night of 29 July 1966 in [[Abeokuta]]. Murtala was briefly considered as Supreme Commander before the appointment of [[Yakubu Gowon]].

During the war, he commanded Nigeria's [[2 Division (Nigeria)|Second Infantry Division]] which committed the [[Asaba massacre]]<ref name="doi.org">Bird, S. E., & Ottanelli, F. (2014). The Asaba massacre and the Nigerian civil war: reclaiming hidden history. Journal of Genocide Research, 16(2–3), 379–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2014.936718</ref> and was responsible for the death of civilians and many of the rebels.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}} Three years later the [[Supreme Military Council of Nigeria (1966–1979)|Federal military government]] declared victory which bolstered Murtala's image over Nigeria and in particular the north as a military leader through the post-war era of "reconciliation, reconstruction, and [[Rehabilitation (penology)|rehabilitation]]". In post-civil-war Nigeria, Murtala ruled with more power than any Nigerian leader before or since and developed a [[charismatic authority]] and [[cult of personality]]. During the [[Cold War]] he maintained Nigerian neutrality through participation in the [[Non-Aligned Movement|non-aligned movement]] but supported the [[Soviet Union]] — during the latter's effort in the [[Angolan Civil War]]. This support is better understood within the context of the liberation of African countries from colonialism than as support for the Soviet Union.

At the same time, his regime transitioned from being authoritarian into consensus decision-making with Murtala the leader of a military triumvirate, alongside Generals [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] and [[Theophilus Danjuma]]. The dictatorship softened and Murtala unveiled plans for the demilitarization of politics. In 1976, barely seven months into his nascent rule Murtala without having time to see his plans implemented was assassinated in a [[1976 Nigerian coup d'état attempt|failed coup d'ètat]], being succeeded by Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State, who, in turn, led the Nigerian transition to democracy with the [[Second Nigerian Republic]].

The legacy of Murtala in Nigerian history remains controversial as the nature of his rule changed over time. His reign was marked by both brutal repression, and economic prosperity, which greatly improved the quality of life in Nigeria. His dictatorial style proved highly adaptable, which enabled wide-ranging social and [[economic reform]], while consistent pursuits during his reign centered on highly [[centralised government]], [[authoritarianism]], [[federalism]], [[Federalism in Nigeria|national Federalism]], and [[pan-Africanism]].

==Early life==
Murtala's father, Muhammed, was from Aviele town near Auchi Edo state <ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview:Why Fulani leaders dominate in Northern Nigeria and why they speak Hausa Language by Murtala Muhammed's cousin |date=16 December 2017|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/252626-interview-fulani-leaders-dominate-northern-nigeria-speak-hausa-murtala-muhammeds-cousin.html}}</ref>
which has a history of knowledge of [[Fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]], as both his paternal grandfather Suleman and paternal great-grandfather were judges.

Muhammed, worked as a veterinary officer<ref name="Dasuki22">{{cite book|title=History and Genealogy of the Genawa|last=Dasuki|first=Ibrahim Ado|publisher=Kurawa Holdings|year=1988|pages=391}}</ref><ref name="Nigerian Infopedia">{{Cite web |last=Obialo |first=Maduawuchi |date=2020-03-05 |title=General Murtala Muhammed Biography: Former Military Head of State |url=https://nigerianinfopedia.com.ng/murtala-muhammed/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Nigerian Infopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> in the Kano Native Authority and was related to [[Aminu Kano]], [[Inuwa Wada]], and [[Aminu Bashir Wali|Aminu Wali]]. He died in 1953,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The true Origin of General Murtala Mohammed by Adnan Bawa Bello |date=11 November 2020 |url=https://stalliontimes.com/2020/11/11/the-true-origin-of-general-murtala-muhammad/ |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122173531/http://stalliontimes.com/2020/11/11/the-true-origin-of-general-murtala-muhammad/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> his mother, Uwani Rahamatu, was from the [[Kanuri language|Kanuri]] and [[Fulani]] [[Jobawa]] clan, the Jobawa clan  members include the [[Gidan Makama Museum Kano|Makama]] of [[Kano Emirate|Kano]] and [[Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila]],<ref name="Taiwo">{{cite book|title=The Hurricane:General Murtala Muhammed|last=Ogundipe|first=Taiwo|publisher=Topseal Communications|year=2001}}</ref> his maternal grandfather Yakubu Soja a [[World War I]] veteran was from [[Dawakin Tofa]] while his maternal grandmother Hajiya Hauwau (Aya) was from [[Gezawa]], Murtala was educated at Cikin Gida Elementary School which was inside the emir's palace.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Remembering murtala ramat muhammed: A Fulani Nigerian |date=16 February 2020 |url=https://dailytrust.com/remembering-murtala-ramat-muhammed-a-fulani-nigerian}}</ref>

He then transferred to Gidan Makama primary school in Kano which was just outside the palace.<ref>{{Cite web|title=late General Murtala Muhammed, 44 years after (Full biography), by Bernice Eke|url=https://neptuneprime.com.ng/2020/02/remembering-late-general-murtala-muhammed-44-years-after-full-biography-by-bernice-eke/|last=Eke|first=Bernice|date=2020-02-13|website=Neptune Prime|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607044936/https://neptuneprime.com.ng/2020/02/remembering-late-general-murtala-muhammed-44-years-after-full-biography-by-bernice-eke/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He then proceeded to Kano Middle School (now [[Rumfa College, Kano]]) in 1949, before attending the famous Government College (now [[Barewa College]]) in [[Zaria]], where he obtained his school certificate in 1957.<ref name="Uwechue 1991 790">{{cite book |last= Uwechue | first=Ralph|title=Makers of Modern Africa: Profiles in History |publisher=Africa Journal Limited |year=1991 |pages=391}}</ref> At Barewa College, Muhammed was a member of the Cadet Corps and was captain of shooting in his final year. In 1957, he obtained a school leaving certificate and applied to join the [[Nigerian Army|Nigerian army]] later in the year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Nigerian heroes.|last1=Nigeria|last2=Federal Department of Information|date=1982|publisher=Federal Dept. of Information|location=Lagos|language=en|oclc = 18561384}}</ref>

== Early career ==
Murtala Muhammed joined the Nigerian Army in 1958. He spent short training stints in Nigeria and Ghana and then was trained as an officer cadet at [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Sandhurst Royal Military Academy]] in England.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=MURTALA RAMAT MUHAMMED|url=https://dawodu.com/murtala3.htm|access-date=2019-03-02|website=dawodu.com}}</ref>  After his training, he was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in 1961 and assigned to the Nigerian Army Signals that same year, later spending a short stint with the No. 3 Brigade Signals Troop in Congo.<ref name=":0" /> In 1962, Muhammed was appointed [[aide-de-camp]] to M. A. Majekodunmi, the federally-appointed administrator of the Western Region.

In 1963, he became the officer-in-charge of the ''First Brigade Signal Troop'' in Kaduna, Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Guardian |date=2018-11-08 |title=Murtala Muhammed: The Corruption Fighter |url=https://guardian.ng/life/murtala-muhammed-the-corruption-fighter/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}</ref> That year he traveled to the [[Royal Corps of Signals]] at [[Catterick Garrison]], England for a course on advanced telecommunications techniques. On his return to Nigeria in 1964, he was promoted to major and appointed officer-commanding, 1st Signal Squadron in [[Apapa]], Lagos. In November 1965, he was made acting Chief of Signals of the Army, while his paternal uncle, [[Inuwa Wada]] had recently been appointed Defense Minister.

Unknown to Muhammed, majors planning the [[1966 Nigerian coup d'état|January 1966 coup]] recruited troops from the signal unit. The coup plotters later went on to assassinate leading politicians and soldiers from the [[Northern Region, Nigeria|Northern]] and Western region. After the coup plot failed, new military postings made by the new leader generated some discomfort in the North.<ref name=":0" /> In April 1966, Muhammed was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was the inspector of signals<ref name=":1" /> posted to Army Headquarters, Lagos in a move that was partly to pacify Northerners weary about the new military regime.<ref name=":1" /> Muhammed was also appointed member of a Post and Telecommunications management committee. Muhammed opposed the regime of [[Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi]], which took power after a [[coup d'etat]] on 15 January 1966.

Aguiyi-Ironsi, as GOC of the Nigerian Army, brought normalcy back to the nation by imprisoning the coup makers and intimidating the federal cabinet into handing over the helms of government to him. However, many northerners saw this and the reluctance of Ironsi to prosecute the coup leaders, and the fact that the army was purportedly giving exceptional privileges to the coupist as an indication of Ironsi's support for the killings. Consequently, northern politicians and civil servants mounted pressure upon northern officers such as Muhammed to avenge the coup. The promulgation of Decree No. 34 restructuring Nigeria from a federal constitutional structure to a unitary structure also raised suspicions among many Northern officers and Muhammed and a few others began to contemplate separation of the Northern region from the country.<ref name=":0" />

== 1966 counter-coup ==
{{main|1966 Nigerian counter-coup}}

On the night of 29 July 1966, northern soldiers at [[Abeokuta]] barracks mutinied, thus precipitating a counter-coup, which may very well have been in the planning stages. A group among the officers supported secession and thus gave the code name of the coup 'A raba' meaning secession in [[Hausa language|Hausa]].<ref name=":0" /> However, after the success of the counter-coup, a group of civilians including the Chief Justice [[Adetokunbo Ademola]], [[Sule Katagum]], head of the Federal Public service and [[Musa Daggash]], [[Permanent secretary|Permanent Secretary]], defense convinced the plotters including Muhammed about the advantages of a union.<ref name=":0" />

The counter-coup led to the installation of Lieutenant-Colonel [[Yakubu Gowon]] as Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, despite the intransigence of Muhammed who wanted the role of Supreme Commander for himself. However, as Gowon was militarily his senior, and finding a lack of support from the British and American advisors, he caved in. Gowon rewarded him by confirming his ranking (he had been an acting Lt. Colonel until then) and his appointment (Inspector of Signals).<ref>{{Cite web|title=allAfrica.com: myAfrica|url=http://myafrica.allafrica.com/view/people/main/id/07Wm8n7yvL4sNN5Z.html|access-date=2020-05-29|website=myafrica.allafrica.com}}</ref> The acceptance of Gowon as the Head of State was not supported by all the key military leaders, in particular, [[C. Odumegwu Ojukwu|Odumegwu Ojukwu]], military governor of the Eastern Region.

==Civil war==
{{main|2 Division (Nigeria)|Nigerian Civil War|Asaba massacre}}

At the start of the [[Nigerian Civil War]], Muhammed was the commander of the newly established [[2 Division (Nigeria)|Second Infantry Division]].<ref name=":0" /> The 2 Division was responsible for the beating back of the [[Biafran Armed Forces|Biafran Army]] from the [[Mid-Western Region, Nigeria|Mid-West]] region, as well as crossing the [[Niger River|River Niger]] and linking up with the [[1st Division (Nigeria)|1 Division]], which was advancing from [[Nsukka]] and [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]]. However, this was only achieved after several failed river crossings in which thousands of troops died as a result of drowning or enemy fire. During his time as commander, Muhammed was implicated in several violations of appropriate conduct; Lieutenant [https://lawakhigbe.com/2019/09/03/my-life-as-nigerias-poorest-army-general-ex-general-ishola-williams-by-the-sun/ Ishola Williams], an officer who served under Muhammed alleged that he ordered the [[summary execution]] of Biafran prisoners of war.<ref name="Siollun-12">{{cite book|title=Siollun, Max. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966 - 1976)|last1=Siollun|first1=Max|publisher=Algora|isbn=9780875867090|page=163|year=2009}}</ref>[[File:Brigadier General Murtala Muhammed.png|thumb|301x301px|Muhammed in civilian clothes, 1975]]In June 1968, he relinquished his commanding position and was posted to Lagos and appointed Inspector of Signals. In April 1968, he was promoted to colonel.

On October 5–7, 1967, the Second Division under the command of Murtala perpetrated the [[Asaba massacre]], targeting the city of [[Asaba]] which was mostly composed of [[Igbo people]].<ref name="doi.org"/>

The actions of the division during this period, mostly in [[Asaba, Delta|Asaba]] became a subject of speculation. In a book published in 2017, S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser Ottanelli document the 1967 mass murder of civilians by troops of the 2 Division under General Muhammed's command. They also discuss the events leading up to the massacre, and its impact on Asaba and on the progress of the war, as well as other civilian massacres carried out by soldiers of the 2nd Division at Onitsha and Isheagu.<ref>Bird, S. Elizabeth and Fraser Ottanelli, ''The Asaba Massacre: Trauma, Memory and the Nigerian Civil War'' (Cambridge University Press, 2017).</ref>

== Military service ==
Between 1970 and 1971, he attended the Joint Service Staff College in [[England]], his supervisor<nowiki>'s report attributed him to having ''</nowiki>a quick agile mind, considerable ability and common sense.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Which military regimes in Nigeria played a prominent role In the liberation of colonized African...|url=https://myschool.ng/questions/view/academic-questions/158247|website=myschool.ng|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> He holds strong views which he puts forward in a forthright manner. He is a strong character and determined. However, he finds it difficult to moderate his opinions and finds it difficult to enter into debate with others whose views he may not share<nowiki>''</nowiki>.<ref name=":0" />  After the war, he was promoted to [[Brigadier general|brigadier-general]] in October 1971. Between 1971 and 1974, Muhammed was involved in routine activities within the signals unit of the army. However, he also disagreed with some of the policies being pursued by Gowon.

On 7 August 1974, the head of state, General [[Yakubu Gowon]] appointed him as the new Federal Commissioner for Communications, which he combined with his military duties as Inspector of Signals at the Army Signals Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Muritala Rufai Ramat Mohammed|url=https://steemit.com/nigeria/@ghenghisla/general-muritala-rufai-ramat-mohammed-7517d6485aa49|last=Ago|first=Ghenghislain #nigeria • 2 Years|date=2018-02-13|website=Steemit|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> On 7 August 1974, General Yakubu Gowon appointed Muhammed as the Federal commissioner (position now called Minister) for communications to oversee and facilitate the nation's development of cost effective communication infrastructures during the oil boom.<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Murtala Mohammed – 4TH HEAD OF STATE OF NIGERIA (1975 – 1976)|url=https://www.glimpse.ng/general-murtala-mohammed-4th-head-of-state-of-nigeria-1975-1976/|last=Omodara|first=Toyin|date=2020-04-07|website=Glimpse Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> After the war and after he took power as head of state, Muhammed started the reorganization and demobilization of 100,000 troops from the armed forces. The number of troops in the armed forces decreased from 250,000 to 150,000.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weekly|first=Concord|title=Concord Weekly Issues 22-44|publisher=Concord Press of Nigeria|year=1985|pages=13}}</ref>

== In government ==
{{main|1975 Nigerian coup d'état}}
[[File:Murtala Muhammed with his Chief of Staff Olusegun Obasanjo.png|thumb|347x347px|Muhammed with his Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] (right)]]
On 29 July 1975, General [[Yakubu Gowon]] was overthrown while attending the 12th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Kampala, Uganda. Muhammed took power as the new military Head of State.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Inaugural Addresses and Ascension Speeches of Nigerian Elected and Non-elected presidents and prime ministers from 1960-2010|author=Solomon Obotetukudo|publisher=University Press of America|year=2011|pages=66–68}}</ref> Brigadiers [[Olusegun Obasanjo|Obasanjo]] and Danjuma (both later Lt. Generals) were appointed as Chief of Staff of the Supreme Military HQ and [[Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of Army Staff]], respectively.

=== Charisma ===
In the coup d'état that brought him to power he introduced the phrases "Fellow Nigerians" and "with immediate effect" to the national lexicon.<ref>Ndaeyo Uko, ''Romancing the Gun: The Press as a Promoter of Military Rule'', Africa Research & Publications, 2004. {{ISBN|978-1592211890}}</ref> In a short time, Murtala Muhammed's policies won him broad popular support, and his decisiveness elevated him to the status of a folk hero.<ref>{{cite book|title=Third World Politics: An Introduction|first=Christopher|last= Clapham|publisher= Routledge|year= 1985|isbn=0-7099-0757-5}}</ref>

However his highly popular, often televised "with immediate effect" style of governing, also gained some criticism amongst the countries top civil servants - some of which were Nigeria’s top intellectuals.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2021-11-08|title=Nigeria: The story of Murtala Muhammed who ruled 'with immediate effect'|url=https://www.theafricareport.com/137144/nigeria-story-of-murtala-muhammed-who-ruled-nigeria-with-immediate-effect/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=The Africa Report.com|language=en-US}}</ref> His ad-hoc Presidential proclamations left his civil service often unprepared, lacking details or even funding to implement his ideas, and his administration led to the dismissal of thousands of civil servants.<ref name=":2" /> Over 10,000 civil servants, government employees were dismissed without benefits; reasons stated were age, health, incompetence, or malpractice. The removal of such a large number of public officials affected the public service, the judiciary, the police and armed forces, the diplomatic service, public corporations, and university officials. Quite a few officials were tried on corruption charges, and an ex-military state governor was executed for gross office misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nigeria - The Regime of Murtala Muhammad|url=http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/26.htm|access-date=2022-01-22|website=countrystudies.us}}</ref>

=== National federalism ===
Muhammed took federal control of the country's two largest newspapers – [[Daily Times (Nigeria)|Daily Times]] and New Nigerian; all media in Nigeria was now under federal control. He also took federal control of the remaining state-run universities.<ref name="V12">{{cite news|last=Ndujihe|first=Clifford|date=12 February 2016|title=Murtala Muhammed's 198 days of action|publisher=Vanguard News|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/murtala-muhammeds-198-days-of-action/|access-date=21 January 2019}}</ref> On February 3, 1976, the Military Government of Murtala Muhammed created new states and renamed others, the states he created include: Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Imo, Niger, Ogun, and Ondo.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Nigeria got to 36 States[Timeline of State creation in Nigeria]|date=2 August 2018|url=https://oldnaija.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/how-nigeria-got-to-36-statestimeline-of-state-creation-in-nigeria/|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-date=31 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531195924/https://oldnaija.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/how-nigeria-got-to-36-statestimeline-of-state-creation-in-nigeria/|url-status=dead}}</ref> This brought the total number of states in Nigeria to nineteen in 1976.

As head of state, Muhammed put in place plans to build a new Federal Capital Territory due to Lagos being overcrowded. He set up a panel headed by Justice [[Akinola Aguda]], which chose the Abuja area as the new capital ahead of other proposed locations. On 3 February 1976, Muhammed announced that the federal capital would in the future move to a federal territory location of about 8,000 square kilometres in the central part of the country.<ref name="V12"/>[[File:Mohammedcar.jpg|thumb|Car in which Murtala Muhammed was assassinated]]Towards the end of 1975, the administration implemented a mass purge in the Nigerian civil service. The civil service was viewed as undisciplined and lacking a sense of purpose. A retrenchment exercise was implemented as part of a strategy to refocus the service. However, because of the drastic nature of the purge, allegations that malice and revenge was used by heads of department in recommending people for retrenchment surfaced, and little was done to scrutinize the details and reasons staff were disengaged.<ref name=":0" />

=== Economic policy ===
As head of state Murtala Muhammed inherited an immense amount of oil and petroleum resources and enormous but untapped natural gas reserves. But in 1975, Muhammed saw reduced revenue due to low levels of petroleum production; this meant that the military government lacked the projected funds to meet Nigeria's development plan for 1975. The decline in petroleum production in 1975 was due to a global fall in demand, high costs of spare parts and high labour costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs2/MineralsYearBk/MinYB1975v3/reference/econatres.minyb1975v3.jjolly7.pdf|title=The mining industry of Nigeria|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=14 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214230535/http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs2/MineralsYearBk/MinYB1975v3/reference/econatres.minyb1975v3.jjolly7.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Assassination==
[[File:Gen. Murtala 4.jpg|thumb|State car in which General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated]]

On 13 February 1976, General Muhammed set off for work along his usual route on George Street. Shortly after 8 a.m., his [[Mercedes-Benz]] car travelled slowly in the infamous Lagos traffic near the Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi in Lagos and a group of soldiers, members of an abortive coup led by Lt. Col. [[Bukar Suka Dimka]], emerged from an adjacent petrol station, ambushed the vehicle and [[assassinated]] Muhammed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976 )|author=Max Siollun|year=2009|pages=193}}</ref>

Muhammed was assassinated, aged 37, along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant [[Akintunde Akinsehinwa]], and his driver, Sergeant Adamu Michika, in his black Mercedes on 13 February 1976. The only visible sign of protection was a pistol carried by his orderly, making his assassination an easy task. The assassination was part of an attempted coup led by Dimka, who was later tried and executed on 15 May 1976  for [[treason]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Famoroti|first1=Francis|title=How Dimka, co-plotters were tried, executed for treason|url=http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/how-dimka-co-plotters-were-tried-executed-for-treason/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504233605/http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/how-dimka-co-plotters-were-tried-executed-for-treason/|archive-date=May 4, 2014|website=National Mirror|accessdate=5 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-16 |title=Murtala would have transformed Nigeria if he hadn't been killed – Ibrahim, brother |url=https://punchng.com/murtala-would-have-transformed-nigeria-if-he-hadnt-been-killed-ibrahim-brother/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Today, Muhammed's portrait adorns the 20 Naira note and [[Murtala Muhammed International Airport]] in [[Lagos]] is named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Assassination of Murtala Mohammed February 13 1976|url=http://www.newnigeriapost.com/the-assassination-of-murtala-mohammed-february-13-1976/|last=Editor|date=2016-02-13|website=New Nigeria Post|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-29|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607052239/http://www.newnigeriapost.com/the-assassination-of-murtala-mohammed-february-13-1976/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Marriage ==
[[File:Nigerian Military Head of State Murtala Muhammed with his wife Ajoke.png|thumb|291x291px|Muhammed with his wife Ajoke]]
Murtala Muhammed was married to [[Ajoke Muhammed|Ajoke]]. They had six children together.<ref name="Nigerian Infopedia"/> They are [[Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode|Aisha]], Zakari (deceased), Fatima, Abba (also known as Risqua), Zeliha and Jummai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informationng.com/2015/02/13-interesting-facts-you-need-to-know-about-murtala-muhammed.html |title=12 interesting facts about murtala mohammed you should know|date=13 February 2015}}</ref> Abba Muhammed was a Special Adviser to President [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] on [[Privatization|privatisation]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=RISQUA: My Father Was Selfless, He Never Owned A House|url=https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/risqua-my-father-was-selfless-he-never-owned-a-house/|date=2016-02-14|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

==Medals==

Murtala Muhammed had received several awards and medals. In alphabetical order they included:

* Forces Service Star (FSS) [[File:Forces Service Star (Nigeria) - ribbon bar.png|40px|Forces Service Star (Nigeria)]]
* General Service Medal (GSM) [[File:General Service Medal (Nigeria) - ribbon bar.png|40px|General Service Medal (Nigeria)]]
* Meritorious Service Star (MSS)
* National Service Medal (NSM) [[File:National Service Medal (Nigeria 1966-1970) - ribbon bar.png|40px|National Service Medal (Nigeria)]]
* Republic Medal (RM)

==See also==
*{{Portal inline|Nigeria}}
*{{Portal inline|Biography}}
*{{Portal inline|Politics}}
* [[List of heads of state and government who were assassinated or executed]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Country study}}

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{{succession box|title=[[President of Nigeria|Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria]]|before=[[Yakubu Gowon]]|after=[[Olusegun Obasanjo]]|years=29 July 1975 &ndash; 13 February 1976}}
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{{Nigerian_Heads_of State}}
{{Nigeria Murtala Governors}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Muhammed, Murtala}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
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[[Category:People from Kano]]
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[[Category:People of the Congo Crisis]]
[[Category:Participants in the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup]]
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[[Category:Barewa College alumni]]
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[[Category:Assassinated Nigerian military personnel]]
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[[Category:Assassinated heads of state in Africa]]
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[[Category:Politicians assassinated in 1976]]
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