Nigerian Independence Day Celebrations | October 1975

October 1st 1975.
Nigeria celebrated its 15th anniversary of independence with a series of low key marches and festivals.
The Head of State, Brigadier Murtala Muhammed, announced earlier on in a radio and television broadcast that military rule in Nigeria would end in October 1979. He said the present military leaders intended to hand over power to a democratically elected government and that the military had no desire to retain power in Nigeria "a day longer than necessary".
The Nigerian independence celebrations were ushered in with sirens and a 21-gun salute from the Navy's flag ship, the frigate NNS Nigeria.
Schoolchildren's parades were held throughout the country but there were no traditional military parades, apparently in accordance with the Brigadier's promise concerning the forthcoming general elections.
The footage covers celebrations at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos at which the military governor of Lagos Sate, Navy Captain Adekunle Lawal gave a speech.
Source: Reuters News.