Independence Day celebrations of the 1970s and 1980s (Videos and Memories).

Decorations, horses and fighter planes

Usually, almost a week before October 1st, there would be flags and buntings on Awolowo Road all the way to Tafawa Balewa Square and on the other side of the neighbourhood, there would also be flags, balloons and buntings from Obalende Road, through Moloney Street and then to Catholic Mission Street (beside Tafawa Balewa Square).

I was always torn between going outside to see whether the mounted police escorted the president all the way from Ribadu Road to Tafawa Balewa Square or watching the arrival sequence on TV. I always ended up watching it on TV. I was never quite sure if the mounted police escorted the president all the way from their barracks on Ribadu Road or whether, as a soldier on parade told me, they only escorted him from outside the arena into the arena.

My Favourite part of the parade began from the 21 gun salute onwards. I would usually go and stand in the doorway and I’d usually hear the explosion from the artillery guns on TV first and then in real life. It took longer for the sound to travel directly to me than it did for me to hear it on TV. Then, immediately after the gun salute, I’d see the fighter jets on TV and I’d go outside to see two fighter jets and two attack helicopters flying over Five Cowrie Creek. There’s usually green and white smoke trailing the jets. Someone told me that they used to threw toys from the helicopters once upon a time, but I don’t know if that’s true.

I also loved watching the various armoured vehicles as they rolled past. There was a particular year that I felt sorry for President Shagari. I was wondering how he was able to stand at the saluting dais for such a long time. Almost at the same time, my mum asked how the president was able to cope with the noise from all the armoured vehicles that were going past.

Taiwo Obileye and Dame Julie Coker

My favourite Independence Day commentators on the NTA were Taiwo Obileye and Julie Coker.

Taiwo Obileye was absolutely wonderful. He would tell you the name of the parade commander and the name of the parade commander’s horse. He would also tell you the number of times that the horse has taken part in these kind of parade and explain that that’s why the horse was still when the 21 gun salute was fired and when the armoured vehicles and fighter jets went past. Taiwo Obileye’s diction was absolutely flawless and it was a joy to listen to him.

I was in love with Julie Coker and so I watched anything that she presented. She was a perfect professional.

Obasanjo and Thabo Mbeki

I remembered Taiwo Obileye during one of the Independence Day parades in the early 2000s. That’s because the parade commander’s horse nearly threw him off and bolted when the 21 gun salute was being fired. The horse was frightened. Then the NTA showed Obasanjo and Mbeki and they were both laughing at the parade commander. I wonder why they didn’t use a horse that had experienced that kind of frightening noise before. None of the horses in the 1970s and ‘80s panicked like that.

The crazy people

It was also quite interesting to see the various schools that were marching past. C1982 (or was it 1981) a particular group of crazy students (who shall not be named) displayed a particular brand of madness while they were right in front of President Shagari. Schools usually try to put on a unique display when they get in front of the president, but that one was just insane (and you won’t believe the things they told me afterwards).

Nigeria is 25!

President Babangida usually staged a “Command Performance” on the night before Independence Day (September 30th). This was usually a dinner at which the major entertainment acts in Nigeria at the time would perform. I remember that the cast of the New Masquerade performed a couple of times, as did the cast of Samanja (it was said that Samanja was General Babangida’s favourite TV show).

A lot of activities were lined up for Nigeria’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 1985. Famous singer, Bongos Ikue, wrote the lyrics of a television jingle. It went

♪Nigeria is 25
The odds we did survive
Arise salute the nation
Come join the celebration
A people united will never fall
***********************
Nigeria is 25!
Nigeria is 25!
Nigeria is 25! ♫

* = forgotten lyrics.

President Babangida wanted the most famous comedian in Nigeria at that time, John Chukwu, to host the command performance, but JC had gone to his village on holiday, so President Babangida had to send the presidential jet to pick him up and bring him to Lagos.

I remember that the NTA showed a (pre=recorded) variety show that morning and there were lots of stars on the show. I remember that Veno Marioghae was on the show as well as Samanja. I remember it because all the guests were made to sing along to a song that was composed for the anniversary (I think the song was by Veno). My aunt laughed heartily when Samanja sang his part. She couldn’t believe that Samanja could sing.


1986 Independence Day Drama.

The usual arrival sequence on Independence Day during the military era was,

1) The service chiefs and the inspector general of police (they received the general salute)

2) The minister of defence & chairman joint chiefs of staff (he received the general salute)

3) The chief of staff Supreme Headquarters/chief of general staff (he received the national salute. The first 4 lines of the anthem)

4) The president/head of state and commander in chief (he received the national salute. The full anthem).

This was also the order of precedence at national events.

However, there was a coup on August 27th, 1985 which created a strange arrangement.

1) The president was Major General Ibrahim Babangida.

2) The chief of general staff was Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe

3) The minister of defence and chairman joint chiefs of staff was Major General Domkat Bali

4) The service chiefs were Major General Sani Abacha (chief of army staff), Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu (chief of naval staff) and Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Alfa (chief of air staff).

The question was, how can a commodore (one star general) be the chief of general staff (military vice president) when the minister of defence and service chiefs were two star generals? This was a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, General Bali was actually President Babangida’s senior and Admiral Aikhomu had been the chief of naval staff in Buhari’s administration when Ukiwe was just the flag officer commanding the Western Naval Command!

Well, the answer was that Ukiwe served in the Biafran Navy during the Civil War and therefore he lost a round of promotion. He could have also been a two star general if the Civil War had not happened.

Anyway, these issues came to a head ahead of the 1986 Independence Day parade. It was decided that Commodore Ukiwe should arrive the arena before the service chiefs. Commodore Ukiwe was not happy about this, so he did not attend the parade.

This is exactly the way I remember it. There were sirens and a motorcade arrived. The commentator said, “. . .the sirens heralding the arrival of the chief of general staff”. I looked through the window of the car and I could see a white naval uniform, so I naturally assumed that it was Ukiwe, but it was not. It was actually President Babangida and he was dressed in the uniform of an admiral! Ukiwe did not attend the parade at all!

Later that day, I heard that Ukiwe had been placed on house arrest. It was later announced that he had been retired from service. Four days later it was announced that Rear Admiral Aikhomu was the new chief of general staff and Rear Admiral Patrick Koshoni was the new chief of naval staff.

The next year, on October 1st, 1987, President Babangida promoted himself to a four star general, Aikhomu was promoted to a vice admiral (three star), Bali was promoted to a lieutenant general (three star), while the service chiefs were left as two star generals.

Abuja

The first national Independence Day parade that was held in Abuja was held in 1982, during the Shagari era. The Akinola Aguda Lodge was hurriedly built to serve as the presidential residence during the celebration. The old Parade Ground was also built at this time.

(See picture of the 22nd anniversary decoration in Abuja below)

President Babangida also staged the 1986 and 1987 Independence Day parades in Abuja. The Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel was built for the 1987 Command Performance, which was staged in the Congress Hall of the hotel.

(See picture of the Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel in 1987 below)


No Parades

The 1987 Independence Day parade was the last national Independence Day parade for a long time. There was no parade in 1988 and in fact, no parade was staged until 2000. My brother said that President Babangida was afraid that he would be killed in the same way that Anwar Sadat was killed.


Third picture below = Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

Fourth picture = General Buhari

1960

There was a children's parade at Race Course, Lagos (now Tafawa Balewa Square) in the afternoon. It featured a march past by school children and a flypast by Air Force planes. Princes Alexandria ceremonially handed over the constitution to Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Princess Alexandria returned to Race Course at night, where the British flag was lowered at midnight and the Nigerian flag was hoisted.

The Princess attended the State Opening of Parliament the next day. The Senate President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, invited her to read the speech from the throne.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMC34KhZCf8?si=0ilGVlAXh2ypLaF7



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8Ni2WB5js?si=xTXgj3GmFE5EATTv

Nigerian Independence Day in London | Military Parade & Service at Westminster Abbey | Oct. 1960

October 1st 1960.

Footage of official events in London marking Nigeria's independence from Britain on October 1st 1960.

. A military parade outside the Nigerian High Commission on Northumberland Avenue where his Excellency Alhaji Abdul Maliki, High Commissioner for Nigeria, inspected British trained military personnel of the army and navy. The highlight of the ceremony was the raising of the Nigerian flag.

Ambassador Maliki was accompanied during the parade by Captain Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, the future military governor of the Western Region and Western State. Adebayo donned the uniform of an army major for the ceremony. Also present among the naval personnel where cadets training at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth: Husaini Abdullahi, Asuquo Ekanem and P.J. Odu.

. Among those attending the service at Westminster Abbey were the Conservative Party MP Duncan Sandys who was the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and Princess Mary, the Princess Royal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT0YV17AaWU?si=lDFlpKg8pZKiSBzO

1961 Independence Day Parade video

We see the saluting dais at the Race Course in Lagos. Then we see the prime minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, stepping out of the Rolls Royce Phantom. He is welcomed by the service chiefs as school children cheer. Then President Nnamdi Azikiwe and Mrs Flora Azikiwe arrive in the state Rolls Royce. Dr Azikiwe is dressed in the uniform of a field marshal. He exchanges salutes with the GOC Nigerian Army, who also bows to him and then with the other service chiefs. Then we see President and Mrs Azikiwe on the review vehicle (a Land Rover Series) as they receive the cheers of the crowd.

There is a clip of the VIP stand and we can see some of the ministers of the First Republic. The parade commander salutes Zik who returns the salute, then we see armoured vehicles (mainly ferrets) drive past the saluting dais. Finally Sir Abubakar and Dr Azikiwe watch as first the troops and later the school children march past the saluting dais (there's a cheeky school boy that sticks out his tongue at the camera).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Kk2G3tzIM

Nigeria's 5th Independence Celebrated With State Reception | Zik & Balewa | October 1st 1965

Footage of Nigerian President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe hosting foreign dignitaries at a State Reception at State House, Marina. The event, at which the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was also present, was held to mark Nigeria's 5th anniversary.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeMmJS5dacg?si=3zxB6iTLVyd4-8nz

1970 video

We see a sign above the road and it reads, "ONE COUNTRY ONE DESTINY". Then we see a banner above Carter Bridge and that banner reads, "UNITY AND FAITH". We see flags and buntings over the Cenotaph at Idumota (Soja Idumota). We see another sign that reads, "One Nigeria" and we see the traffic on Broad Street.

Then we see General Gowon's motorcade enter the Race Course in Lagos (venue of the parade). He steps out of the limousine and salutes the policewoman. We then see Victoria Gowon in the audience and the General Gowon saluting as the National Anthem is played.

We see Christian clerics and then the band as they play "Praise To The Lord The Almighty". The people in the crowd also sing along. We see General Gowon, Mrs Victoria Gowon, Admiral Wey, Inspector General of Police Kam Selem and another officer as they also sing along.

Then we see the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Reverend Doctor John Kwao Amuzu Aggey, as he also sing the song. We see other Christian clerics and then we see the Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan. Then we see General Gowon greeting the Christian clerics.

We see Mrs Victoria Gowon leaving the grandstand. It looks like she is pregnant. Then we see the motorcade leaving the arena and people waving at it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgPVs4eRQ5I

1971 video

We see the Nigeria Police Mounted Troop escorting the state car (a W108 Mercedes Benz S Class) into the arena. General and Mrs Gowon alight from the car. We see General Gowon and Kam Selem walking towards the saluting dais.

Then we see General Gowon reviewing the troops from the back of an open top Land Rover. And then we see the troops marching past. Reviewing the troops on the saluting dais are General Gowon (who was promoted from the rank of major general to general on that day), Rear Admiral Nelson Soroh (who was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on this day), Alhaji Kam Selem, Major General David Ejoor and other senior military officers.

We see policemen marching past and then fighter planes flying overhead. Then we see a cross section of the crowd watching the parade. We see Mrs Victoria Gowon and then the Lagos State Governor Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson. Then we see the federal commissioner (minister) for information and labour, Chief Anthony Enahoro. Finally, we get another view of the audience.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-0042HPq5k

1973 Independence day speech

"Of particular importance is the progress which we have continued to make with the implementation of our policy of increasing our control over the strategic sectors of our economy as well as encouraging indigenous ownership of business generally. The Federal Government now holds 40 per cent of the equity shares in the three major expatriate commercial banks and has its appointees serving on their Boards of Directors. Further, negotiations which have been in progress and aimed at securing Government participation in the existing oil companies and their concessions have been concluded successfully. As a result, the Federal Government now holds at least thirty-five per cent of the equity shares in each of the oil companies operating in the country.

With effect from tomorrow, 2nd October, 1973, the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry will open business to members of the public. The Bank, as you know, aims at providing equity capital and funds by way of loans to indigenous persons, institutions and organisations for medium and long term investments in industry and commence.

These past few years have witnessed erratic weather conditions all over the world. Scanty rainfalls in the Savannah Region stretching across North Africa, Central Asia and Latin America have caused the worst drought in these areas in recent history. Parts of Nigeria, especially the northern districts of the North-Western, North-Central, Kano and North-Eastern States have been badly affected. It would like to seize this opportunity to express the deep concern of the federal Government about the plight of the people in all the affected areas.

To provide immediate succour to the people in the areas affected by the drought, the Federal Government has made grants totalling 12-million Naira (16.4 million sterling) to the four states gravely affected, partly for the purchase of foodstuffs and livestock feeds to augment whatever is available locally and partly to improve water supply facilities by the provision of bore holes."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bSzWoP4CUA

1974 video

The video begins with a street scene. We see a banner on the street that reads, “Happy 14th year anniversary”. Then we see the Tafawa Balewa Square. We can see Western House in the background. The Nigerian Police Mounted Troop escort the state car into the venue. The horses’ hooves kick up too much dust, so I can’t tell for sure if the car is the iconic w100 Mercedes Benz 600 (the number 1 state car) or if it was a W108 S Class. Judging from the length of the car, I think it’s the 600 limousine.

Then we see a cross section of the members of the public who are watching the parade.

Next we see General Gowon in the uniform of an admiral. Behind him is the chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, Vice Admiral Wey. They are both climbing up the stairs to the saluting dais.

Then we see the troops marching past. Then we see General Gowon, Admiral Wey and General Ejoor on the saluting dais. We next see policemen marching past and then it’s the turn of school children to march past the saluting dais. We also see some foreigners in the audience who are taking pictures.

We see the parade commander and then there’s a loss of sound as the 21 gun salute is fired. There’s still no sound as we see naval ratings give three cheers to the head of state. Finally we see the officers on the saluting dais.

It was on this day that General Gowon made a major mistake. He had previously promised that he would hand over to a civilian government in 1976. However, in his Independence Day speech in 1974, he said that the 1976 handover date was no longer feasible. Many soldiers were tired of military rule. They were tired of being involved in government and they wanted to return to purely military duties. After this speech, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Joseph Garba and Abdullahi Mohammed started plotting to overthrow General Gowon. They staged their coup in July 1975 and handed over to Murtala Muhammad, Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma, who announced that they would hand over to a civilian government in 1979.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRO77ON2nkY

1975 video

There was no national Independence Day parade in 1975. Brigadier Murtala Muhammad ordered a low key celebration. However, states were encouraged to have parades at which school children marched. This is the Lagos State parade at the National Stadium, Surulere.

The video begins with a view of the crowd outside the main bowl of the stadium.

Then we see the Lagos State governor, Navy Captain Adekunle Lawal, delivering his speech. While Governor Lawal is reading his speech, we also see the NBC cameraman and a cross section of the spectators, including white cap chiefs.

Finally we see the school children as they march past the governor. I can recognise Methodist Girls High School, St Gregory’s College Ikoyi and Igbobi College Yaba.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqwhw8nnHEw

1976 video

We see the head of state, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, getting on the review vehicle (a Land Rover Series) to review the troops, the school children and the crowd. Then we see the troops marching past the saluting dais. The school children also march past the saluting dais before the troops fire a 21 gun salute. Then we see Major General Yar'Adua (the chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters), Lieutenant General Danjuma (the chief of Army Staff) and Vice Admiral Adelanwa (the chief of Naval Staff).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNif2fsFFEs

1978 video

This video begins with a view of Tinubu Square. You can see an LSTC bus as it passes the old fountain at the square.


Then it cuts to the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). We see the mounted police escorting the head of state into the arena. These are mounted policemen from the Ribadu Road Mounted Troop Barracks, just a short distance from Dodan Barracks.

The state car, a Peugeot 504, comes to a halt and the head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo exits the car.


General Obasanjo walks past Colonel Mamman Vatsa (who was the commander of the Brigade of Guards at the time) and greets Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters), Lieutenant General T.Y. Danjuma (chief of army staff), Vice Admiral Michael Adelanwa (chief of naval staff), Air Vice Marshal John Yisa Doko (chief of air staff), Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (inspector general of police) and Navy Captain Ebitu Ukiwe (governor of Lagos State).

Then we see General Obasanjo reviewing the parade. They didn't show my favourite parts - the armoured vehicles and the planes and helicopters.

Then they show the head of state leaving the arena, escorted by the police mounted troop.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LogDLtVf38

1981 video

It's a pity that they didn't show the march past by the school children. I know some people that put on a crazy display in front of President Shagari.

My mum asked how Shagari was able to bear the noise of the armoured vehicles, while I felt sorry for him because he stood at the saluting dais for such a long time.

The video begins with President Shagari greeting the crowd at the Tafawa Balewa Square from the review vehicle (an open top Land Rover Series). Then we see him reviewing the school children.

Next we see the President on the saluting dais as members of the Armed Forces and the Police march past.

Then we see the armoured vehicles. First Panhard wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, then main battle tanks and finally Pinzgauers towing artillery pieces.

Next is a flypast by helicopter gunships and they are trailing green and white smoke. Air Force planes fly past after the helicopters.

The parade gives 3 cheers to the President and then we see the President making his way to his car at the end of the ceremony.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aFLfEFqAs4?si=eGfX4_EBjgeNhnWk

1985 video

I remember that it rained very heavily on this day and one of the reasons that I remember this is because I know a girl that was one of the school children on parade. President Babangida was offered an umbrella when he arrived the arena, but he turned it down. The commentator made a big deal of that and I told the girl later that day, but she was not impressed. She said, "How would he use an umbrella when we were standing in the rain"?

We can see a sign on the fence of Tafawa Balewa Square and it reads, "TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF UNITY AND PROGRESS". We see another sign on the fence of the Supreme Court on Igbosere Road and it reads, "HURRAH! HURRAH! HURRAH! NIGERIA IS 25".

We can see the Nigeria Police Mounted Troop leading the President's car into the arena. There is a heavy downpour. President Babangida steps out of the Peugeot 504 and greets the Chief of General Staff, the Minister of Defence, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police. We see the massed ranks of the police as the President reviews the parade from the back of an open top Mercedes G Wagen. He waves at the crowd in the stands and they cheer.

Then we see policemen marching past in the heavy rain. We see President Babangida receiving the salute and Commodore Ukiwe is just behind him.

Now we see State House, Marina, where an Independence Day party is being held. We see a large crowd on the lawn and then President Babangida comes outside to cut the cake.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcduSEnppB0

Happy Celebration.

Giant in The Sun (1983).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRgpWRtJh1g?si=ZtNMIpI7W-Getl0n

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Hb

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There is nothing to celebrate this year except hunger and hike in price of everything there is

Nothing much to celebrate about this our nonsense independence, It's better we are in the hand of our past colonial master than the hand of this our nonsense, corrupt and foolish leaders.
Leaders that doesn't have the interest of the innocent masses at heart, all they care about is the sharing of the national cake into their personal pocket..... Evil Leaders

We pray for this day to come in the 80s when I was in secondary school. Today hardship has made it that I do not see that Joy on students faces

I wish all Nigerians a happy independence day

My country shall be great again

Aye country is a disgrace 😭😔

Get well soon Nigeria!

May God heal Nigeria from itself!

naptu2, i have a question for you? If one has a video collection of 80s Nigeria music videos and adverts. Any idea if it can be sold without infringing copyright.