₦airaland Forum

🎉 HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY, FORMER PRESIDENT, GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA, GCFR — IBB

Today, 17 August 2026, I join Nigerians and admirers of Former President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in celebrating 85 years of life, leadership and national service.

As Comrade Ibrahim Aliyu from Abuja, I celebrate IBB for the vision, courage, strategic thinking and nation-building ambition that characterised his years of leadership.

Whatever one's view of the controversies of his administration, history should also acknowledge the significant foundations and institutions established or advanced during his era.

85 YEARS — 85 REASONS TO REMEMBER IBB

Among the most notable legacies associated with his administration are:

1. Creation of 11 new states.
2. Relocation of Nigeria's Federal Government to Abuja in 1991.
3. Development of Abuja's major districts and federal infrastructure.
4. Construction and development of the Presidential Villa.
5. Development of the National Assembly complex.
6. Development of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
7. Development of the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja.
8. Completion of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.
9. Advancement of major national highways.
10. Completion and development of the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station.
11. Development of major dams and water-treatment projects.
12. Creation of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
13. Establishment of the State Security Service (SSS/DSS).
14. Establishment of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
15. Establishment of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
16. Establishment of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
17. Establishment of NERFUND.
18. Establishment of NDIC.
19. Establishment of NEXIM Bank.
20. Development of Nigeria's capital market.
21. Introduction of major financial-sector reforms.
22. Liberalisation of banking and greater private-sector participation.
23. Introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme.
24. Advancement of privatisation and commercialisation reforms.
25. Development of export-processing zones.
26. Enactment of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
27. Advancement of rural roads and infrastructure through DFRRI.
28. Expansion of primary healthcare initiatives.
29. Development of specialist healthcare institutions.
30. Advancement of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.
31. Support for education and mass literacy.
32. Establishment of NASENI and emphasis on science and technology.
33. Advancement of Ajaokuta Steel.
34. Advancement of the Aluminium Smelter Company, Ikot Abasi.
35. Strengthening of environmental protection through FEPA.
36. Development of federal housing estates.
37. Expansion of military infrastructure.
38. Development of naval and defence facilities.
39. Strengthening of Nigeria's intelligence architecture.
40. Support for women's rural development through the Better Life programme.
41. Expansion of local government administration.
42. Greater attention to grassroots development.
43. Development of government infrastructure for newly created states.
44. Expansion of federal secretariat infrastructure.
45. Development of courts and judicial facilities.
46. Expansion of Abuja's road network.
47. Development of Abuja's water infrastructure.
48. Development of satellite towns around Abuja.
49. Advancement of Nigeria's aviation infrastructure.
50. Strengthening of Nigeria's diplomatic presence in Abuja.
51. Strong regional leadership through ECOWAS.
52. Major Nigerian involvement in ECOMOG.
53. Support for peace efforts in Liberia.
54. Strengthening Nigeria's position as a West African power.
55. Promotion of Nigerian expertise through the Technical Aid Corps.
56. Development of institutions that survived successive governments.
57. Expansion of opportunities for private enterprise.
58. Strengthening of financial regulation.
59. Advancement of national industrialisation.
60. Greater emphasis on indigenous technological capacity.
61. Development of public housing and workers' estates.
62. Expansion of federal infrastructure nationwide.
63. Strengthening of national unity through state creation.
64. Bringing government closer to previously underserved communities.
65. Development of major public institutions in Abuja.
66. Expansion of healthcare infrastructure.
67. Advancement of water-supply infrastructure.
68. Advancement of power infrastructure.
69. Expansion of transportation infrastructure.
70. Strengthening of national security institutions.
71. Promotion of African regional cooperation.
72. Support for African peacekeeping.
73. Modernisation of aspects of public administration.
74. Greater use of technocrats in national policy development.
75. Experimentation with political reforms and a structured two-party system.
76. Introduction of political innovations such as Option A4.
77. Expansion of political participation during the transition programme.
78. Creation of institutions that became permanent features of Nigeria.
79. Transformation of Abuja into a functioning national capital.
80. Development of infrastructure that continues to serve millions.
81. Demonstration of decisive leadership during periods of national crisis.
82. A willingness to take difficult and unconventional decisions.
83. A strong emphasis on long-term national projects.
84. A leadership legacy that remains one of the most debated and studied in Nigerian history.
85. Above all, leaving an unmistakable imprint on modern Nigeria through infrastructure, institutions, state creation, economic reforms, security restructuring and regional diplomacy.

MY PERSONAL TRIBUTE

General IBB, as someone from Abuja, I have a special appreciation for the transformation of this city during your era. The roads, districts, government institutions and national infrastructure remind us of the enormous ambition behind the Abuja project.

I do not believe we should erase the controversies of your administration. Neither should we allow those controversies to erase its achievements.

History must remember both the successes and the mistakes.

What I admire most about your leadership was your boldness, strategic thinking, ability to assemble professionals and technocrats, and willingness to pursue ambitious national projects.

At 85, you remain a living chapter of Nigeria's history.

HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY, GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA, GCFR! 🇳🇬🎉

May Almighty Allah grant you good health, peace, strength and many more years.

Your story is part of Nigeria's story.
Your era is part of our history.
Your achievements deserve to be remembered.

With deep respect and admiration,

Comrade Ibrahim Aliyu
Comradeibrahimaliyu@gmail.com
Abuja, Nigeria 🇳🇬

Video of President Babangida's birthday celebration in 1991.

Tonight at 9 on Saturday, August 17th, 1991.

The discussion segment was about the dissolution of the NFA board. The news segment was dominated by Babangida's 50th birthday. The news reports were from Tonight at 9, but the person that created this video has included. other video clips of Babangida's birthday celebration.

The beginning is the intro to Tonight at 9 and an introduction to the NFA story. You can see John Momoh at this point.


The story about the commissioning of the Third Mainland Bridge begins at the 1:37 minute mark (the fun parts of the commissioning are not in this video. They were shown on Newsline the next day, that is, Sunday).

You can get a good view of the Peugeot 505 7V stretch limousine from the 2:20 mark onward.

You might notice that the bridge was still called the "Third Mainland Bridge". The name of the section from Ebute Metta to Oworonshoki was changed in November 1991, as part of ceremonies to mark the movement of the Federal Government to Abuja (I've also got that video). That section (only that section) was called the IBB Bridge.


This was one of those occasions that Babangida made his usual speech about a special status for Lagos and said that Lagos would not be abandoned when the government moved.

Obviously General Kontagora was there (this was after he had been retired from the Army).

The Lagos State Government and the contractors had promised Babangida that the project would be completed before his birthday.

Rasaki asked for the dualisation of the Lagos-Ikorodu Road (Governor Fashola would carry out that work decades later).

Oba Oyekan conferred chieftaincy titles on Ibrahim and Maryam Babangida (that's at the 4:40 minute mark).

This was recorded on a VHS tape and it has been watched very many times, so the quality of the picture has depreciated in some places.

The report at the 6:54 minute mark is about the benefit of the bridge to Lagosians. This is where they showed the many people that decided to walk over the bridge on that day. I know some of them and a Nairalander said that she was one of the people that walked over the bridge on that day.

They also talked about the schedule of movement for the first few weeks after the commissioning (they were still installing street lights and things like that, so traffic from Oworonshoki to the Island was allowed in the morning and then traffic going the other way was allowed in the evening).

The report from the 9:10 minute mark was about a religious thanksgiving service for President Babangida at the Tafawa Balewa Square. Dame Julie Coker was the MC.

The clip from the 15:45 minute mark contained interviews with people that were at the Tafawa Balewa Square and then they interviewed Alex Akinyele.

The report at the 18:07 minute mark was about birthday cards that Babangida got from his wife and staff. They showed the president's residence as his ADC and other staff gave him birthday cards. Then they showed the entrance to the residence as the State House Press Corp (that is, journalists covering Dodan Barracks) gave him a card. They then engaged in the usual banter that Babangida often had with journalists. A journalist said that he looked younger than 50 and asked what the secret was, but before Babangida could reply another journalist replied, "Thanks to madam".

Then they said that "a Kaduna based businessman" gave Babangida a very unique gift. You'll know what's crazy about this report when you find out who the businessman was.

The "Kaduna based businessman" went to the governor of Kaduna State and announced that he was giving President Babangida a gift of an 18 seater executive aircraft (in order words, a private jet). What was the name of the businessman? Sunny Okogwu. I hope you know who Sunny Okongwu was and how he was related to President Babangida. (If you don't know, just look at his face and the resemblance will make you know).


The video ends with a report about Babangida's life and it was presented by Lola Ogunbambi.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBmKE6Afl3E

Happy birthday sir..na God I take beg you call this useless government to order 😞

Na this one lay the foundation of corruption for this country

Time flies ,only thing constant is change , Do good or bad, you will be remembered

The bandit that laid foundation for bad governance. Chop make i Chop.

🇳🇬 Nigeria is currently 65 years old. Out of those 65 years:
👇
IBB - 8 years in power
Buhari - 9 years, 7 months in power
Obasanjo - 11 years, 6 months in power

These 3 men ruled Nigeria for a combined period of over 29 years out of 65.

Nigeria is what it is today majorly because of this 29 wasted years of mismanagement and misgovernance.

wolesmile:
You forgot to add Gowon's 9 years

Gowon will make it a combined period of 38 wasted years from only 4 men. SMH

He kill mko abiola due to greediness

IBB The Maradona himself
The turn around of Nigeria to a corrupt nation (Cancer foundation)

See wetin this man calm down dey celebrate. Dey celebrate one of the evil heedeeyats that single handle plunged Nigeria deeper into the abyss of corruption and bad leadership. Smh

He loved power so much that he was chased out of power. He wanted staying for life.

naptu2:
Video of President Babangida's birthday celebration in 1991.

Tonight at 9 on Saturday, August 17th, 1991.

The discussion segment was about the dissolution of the NFA board. The news segment was dominated by Babangida's 50th birthday. The news reports were from Tonight at 9, but the person that created this video has included. other video clips of Babangida's birthday celebration.

The beginning is the intro to Tonight at 9 and an introduction to the NFA story. You can see John Momoh at this point.


The story about the commissioning of the Third Mainland Bridge begins at the 1:37 minute mark (the fun parts of the commissioning are not in this video. They were shown on Newsline the next day, that is, Sunday).

You can get a good view of the Peugeot 505 7V stretch limousine from the 2:20 mark onward.

You might notice that the bridge was still called the "Third Mainland Bridge". The name of the section from Ebute Metta to Oworonshoki was changed in November 1991, as part of ceremonies to mark the movement of the Federal Government to Abuja (I've also got that video). That section (only that section) was called the IBB Bridge.


This was one of those occasions that Babangida made his usual speech about a special status for Lagos and said that Lagos would not be abandoned when the government moved.

Obviously General Kontagora was there (this was after he had been retired from the Army).

The Lagos State Government and the contractors had promised Babangida that the project would be completed before his birthday.

Rasaki asked for the dualisation of the Lagos-Ikorodu Road (Governor Fashola would carry out that work decades later).

Oba Oyekan conferred chieftaincy titles on Ibrahim and Maryam Babangida (that's at the 4:40 minute mark).

This was recorded on a VHS tape and it has been watched very many times, so the quality of the picture has depreciated in some places.

The report at the 6:54 minute mark is about the benefit of the bridge to Lagosians. This is where they showed the many people that decided to walk over the bridge on that day. I know some of them and a Nairalander said that she was one of the people that walked over the bridge on that day.

They also talked about the schedule of movement for the first few weeks after the commissioning (they were still installing street lights and things like that, so traffic from Oworonshoki to the Island was allowed in the morning and then traffic going the other way was allowed in the evening).

The report from the 9:10 minute mark was about a religious thanksgiving service for President Babangida at the Tafawa Balewa Square. Dame Julie Coker was the MC.

The clip from the 15:45 minute mark contained interviews with people that were at the Tafawa Balewa Square and then they interviewed Alex Akinyele.

The report at the 18:07 minute mark was about birthday cards that Babangida got from his wife and staff. They showed the president's residence as his ADC and other staff gave him birthday cards. Then they showed the entrance to the residence as the State House Press Corp (that is, journalists covering Dodan Barracks) gave him a card. They then engaged in the usual banter that Babangida often had with journalists. A journalist said that he looked younger than 50 and asked what the secret was, but before Babangida could reply another journalist replied, "Thanks to madam".

Then they said that "a Kaduna based businessman" gave Babangida a very unique gift. You'll know what's crazy about this report when you find out who the businessman was.

The "Kaduna based businessman" went to the governor of Kaduna State and announced that he was giving President Babangida a gift of an 18 seater executive aircraft (in order words, a private jet). What was the name of the businessman? Sunny Okogwu. I hope you know who Sunny Okongwu was and how he was related to President Babangida. (If you don't know, just look at his face and the resemblance will make you know).


The video ends with a report about Babangida's life and it was presented by Lola Ogunbambi.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBmKE6Afl3E

See John Momoh...Channeles TV ownwer as a newscaster for NTA in 1991. That was the same year he won the newscaster of the year award. He later left in 1992 to establish Channels.

No birthday wish for one of the architects of Nigeria problems. He's a criminal

Corruption personified..

The Man that introduced SAP

Structural Adjustment Program later turned out to be SAPA Nigerians are living with daily...

E get why Gideon Okar wan kaput Baba.

Humn! HBD IBB. More life as you journey

ENKR SIR .. You are the Architect of all the evil in the new Nigeria ... ENKR once again

1.2 Billion Naira was used to construct 3rd Mainland bridge.

Babangida was 50 years old in 1991, that implies he was 45 when he became head of state!
An age that people are becoming student union leaders today!!!

Our current government have made us to understand that the likes of IBB and Abacha where saints when you compare to the kind of looters we have now.

There really had conscience and they did a lot for this country.

Where is our $12 billion oil windfall ?

So this man is 85 years old while DRUGGIE is 74 years. Wonders shall never end.

The Originator of Religious crisis in Nigeria, notably creating of Jos North local government despite resistance.
Same dude arrested southern Kaduna generals and jailed them for his extremist views.

https://allafrica.com/stories/200903180433.html

Bayoonanuga:
He kill mko abiola due to greediness

Not only him so amny northern elite too join...!

Bayoonanuga:
He kill mko abiola due to greediness

MKO Abiola was alive when IBB stepped aside

He put Nigeria into OIC without knowledge of his cabinet. IBB is the foundation of Nigeria security problems.

Babaginda did not start corruption, corruption had being there since after independent. The moment goverment was handed over to a nigerian.

Some of us that witness then and now know the difference!

babangida put nigeria as full OIC member b4 abacha reorganize it as a country with good number of islamic population .these people only loved themselves. na Volkswagen beetle my dad use from 1984 to 1999, struggle to pay rent..... from buhabokori to babangida to abacha.abdul abubakir and baba obj Godbless una. for making it possible for workers including my parents to build houses and buy cars at will until apc carry bad belle come in 2015.

Wait, he's not dead?
I want to wish him the worst but then that's a matter between him and his creator.

We should all reflect on our lives and the decisions we continue to make that enrich us and fuel our pride yet make the lives and freedom of others unbearable. Perhaps we can start to make repentance and let go of others while it will matters, not to grow old and spin a bunch of nonsense to try to justify a life that is wretched in the ways that matter

No Nigerian democratic leader has achieved half of what IBB achieved.

Even the standard and quality of what he achieved can NEVER be replicated today.

He add his odds but was better than the best of democracy.

86. Annulment of 1993 presidential election

The evil genius, Maradona, l'aye better life. Happy Birthday to you Sir. Do you need powerbank for laptop?