A Critical Assessment of Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and Nigeria Relations during the Period of Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970
Main Article Content
Abstract
The paper examines Nigeria and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Relations during the Nigerian Civil War. It discusses the role of USA, Britain and France in the Nigerian Civil war. It analyzes the timely intervention of USSR which supplied military weapons and technical personnel to Nigeria when Britain and USA declined. The researcher obtains data from primary and secondary sources. Oral interviews serve as primary sources. Books, journals, articles, newspapers, projects, theses dissertations were used as secondary sources. It was found that the relationship between Nigeria- USSR in the Pre-civil war period was Lukewarm, non-chalant and sad. It was found that France openly supported the Republic of Biafra while Britain and USA refused Nigeria’s request for weapons to execute the war. It was demonstrated that Nigeria needed weapons to stop the Biafran forces from succeeding and initially relied on Britain and USA to supply the weapons but they were not willing to provide the military assistance. Hence, the federal Government directed their attention to USSR for assistance which the Soviets gradually accepted. In conclusion, it was found that the continuous corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state owns much to the timely assistance provided by USSR during the Nigeria’s trying period.
Article Details
References
Ajayi, E. A (1972). “Nigeria-Soviet, Aid Relations 1960-1968 in Nigeria. Bulletin of Foreign Affairs.
Aluko, O. (1977). “Nigerian Foreign Policy in Aluko, O. (ed.). The Foreign Policies of African States: London: Hodder and Stroughton.
Ayam, J. (2004). Trends in Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: the conduct of foreign policy in the New Democratic Dispensation 1999-2003 in O. Maduagwu and A. S. Mohammed (eds.) Challenges and Prospects of Democratization in Nigeria. Kuru: National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Press.
Bariledum, K. Tambari, N. and Abangi, O. P. (2016). “Foreign Policy Strategy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1960-2012: The Missing Link, Journal of International Relations and Foreign Policy, June, Vol. 4, No 1.
Crowther, M. (1980). The Story of Nigeria. London: Faber and Faber.
Decree, No 34, 1966.
Eliagwu, J. I. (1985). “Gowon”. Ibadan: West Books Publishers Ltd.
Ene, J. C. (2011). In the Beginning: Nigeria: EC Bosco Integrated Services.
Fawole, A. W. (2003). Nigeria’s External Relations and Foreign Policy under Military Rule (1966-1999). Ile-Ife Obafemi Awolowo University Printing Press.
Kolawole, D. (2003). Military Rule and Nigeria’s Foreign Policy. Ibadan: Rulad Publishers
London Daily Mailia January, 1970.
Muhammadu, T. and Haruna, M. (1981). “The Civil War” in Oyediran (ed.) Nigerian Government and Politics under Military Rule 1966-1979. London: Macmillan Press Ltd.
New Nigeria, 1967.
Oluleye, J. J. (1985) Military Leadership in Nigeria: Ibadan.
Okafor, M. I. (1982). Questions and Answers on Social Studies. King and George Press.
Ogunbadejo, O. (1976). “Nigeria and the Great Powers: the impact of the Civil War on Nigeria Foreign Relations, African Affairs.
Ogunmesa, E. O. (1991) Questions and Answers on European (Including British History 1789-1919) for Higher School Certificate and G.C.E Advanced Level.
Ojukwu’s Declaration of Secession, 30 May, 1967.
Omosilade, O. G. (2019). Military Intervention in Nigeria Politics, 1966-1993. Being a Project submitted to the Department of History and International Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
Oral Interview with Dr. Duyile, W. A. Senior Lecturer, Department of History and International Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, on 12-10-21.
Oral Interview with Dr. Nwachukwu John Senior Lecturer, Department of History and International Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti on 6-2-2022.
Oral interview with Raji Osagie: A Sociologist and Staff of Egor Local Government Council, Edo State, on 3-5-2022.
Sabirov, K. (1987) APC of Social and Political Knowledge: What is Communism? Progress Publishers.
Walson Madighi (2012). Let Nigeria Oyas Bee.
Tamuno, T. N. (1989). “Introduction: Men and Measure in the Nigerian Crisis, 1966-1970” in T. N. Tamuno and S. C. Ukpabi (eds.) Panel on Nigeria Since Independence, History Project: Nigeria Since Independence. The First Twenty-five years, Vol II. Nigeria: Heinemann Educational Books.
Yakubu Gowon’s Address to the Nation, 1967.