Former Nigerian Head of State Yakubu Gowon has revealed that Nigeria was forced to seek military support from the Soviet Union during the Nigerian Civil War after both the United States and the United Kingdom allegedly refused to supply weapons to the Federal Government at a critical stage of the conflict. The revelation, which has reignited discussions around the 1967 to 1970 civil war, was contained in Gowon’s newly unveiled autobiography titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance.
According to Gowon, Nigeria faced severe military challenges in the early stages of the war and urgently needed weapons to prevent the country from breaking apart following the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by the Eastern Region under the leadership of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He explained that despite Nigeria’s existing diplomatic relationships with Western powers, requests for military assistance from the US and Britain did not produce the expected support, forcing his government to explore alternative channels for arms procurement.
Gowon disclosed that the Soviet Union eventually stepped in by supplying military hardware and technical assistance, a move he said significantly strengthened the Federal Government’s war efforts. He also mentioned that Nigeria sourced some weapons through a Lebanese businessman operating within the international black market at the time. The former military ruler noted that the intervention from these alternative sources helped Nigeria regain momentum and ultimately preserve the country’s unity during the brutal three year conflict. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The Nigerian Civil War remains one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and causing widespread humanitarian suffering, particularly in the Eastern Region. The conflict began in July 1967 after tensions arising from political instability, ethnic violence, and military coups escalated into a declaration of secession by Biafra. The war officially ended in January 1970 when Biafran forces surrendered to the Federal Government.
Historical records have long shown that the Soviet Union played a major role in supplying weapons and aircraft to Nigeria during the war, especially after Western hesitation complicated the country’s search for military support. Analysts believe the Soviet assistance marked a significant turning point in the conflict and reshaped Nigeria’s foreign relations during that era.
Gowon’s latest comments are already generating fresh reactions among historians, political observers, and Nigerians on social media, many of whom see the revelations as another important contribution to the ongoing debate surrounding the causes, international politics, and consequences of the civil war. His autobiography, which spans over 800 pages, reportedly details his upbringing, military career, leadership during the war, overthrow in 1975, and life after power.
