What are the positive and negative consequences of the Nigerian civil war (1967 – 1970)?
Explanation
(a)The positive consequences of the Nigerian Civil War (1967 – 1970) include:
(i) Consolidation: The war consolidated the territorial integrity and unity of the country.
(ii) Secession: The possibility of a part or any ethnic group or even a state seceding is reduced.
(iii) The Federal government became very powerful after the war, making the states subordinated to it virtually in everything.
(iv) Creation of more states: States were created in the country by the federal government, e.g. 12 states were created.
(v)The war strengthened the confidence the government had in the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) , even when four countries in Africa supported the secessionist government of Biafra during the war.
(vi) Technology: In the area of technology, Nigerians can now look inward after the civil war.
(b) The negative consequences of the Nigerian Civil War (1967 – 1970) include:
(i) Waste of financial, human and material resources were recorded: For example, a lot of money was spent in prosecuting the war, a great number of lives were lost and property unestimated went into the war.
(ii) Hardship: Innocent citizens and many homes were displaced coupled with severe hardship.
(iii) Dislocation of the educational system: A good number of tertiary institutions were either dislocated or destroyed and some others closed down. In fact, the academic system was paralysed.
(iv) Truncated economic activities: Economic activities were truncated. Industries were no more producing because of the war. The economy of the country was at a stand-still.
(v) War propaganda: The war propaganda led to the battering of the country’s image. Some foreign countries saw the war as between the Christians and Muslims.
(vi) Demobilisation of discharged soldiers: This was not fully done, bringing about increase in criminal activities in the country.
(vii) Reduction in the number of the soldiers: Many of the soldiers