The Nigeria Military in Nation Building: A Formidable Force

Abstract

The history of Nigeria and her quest for Nation building is wrapped in her experience over the years, with the country undergoing series of challenges, some of which had had big toil on her and the others have kept her ‘stronger and together’, bringing out her “strength in diversity” and above all showing the “apolitical will” of her military in keeping the nation united, secured and safe. For instance, the 1967-1970 Nigeria Civil War, which was expected to disintegrate the country, for the strong ‘will’ of the military, the country (Nigeria) came out of the war, though, with a little brushes, but still as a formidable Nation. This paper sets out to look into the contributions of the Military in “Building a Nation” from the reasons of their incursion in politics and the return of the country to civilian rule to the protection and safe-guarding of her sovereignty and territorial-frontiers.