This photograph was taken in Lagos on 24 January 1970, at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history,

This photograph was taken in Lagos on 24 January 1970, at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history,

This photograph was taken in Lagos on 24 January 1970, at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history, just days after the end of the Nigerian Civil War. It shows Major General Yakubu Gowon, Head of the Federal Military Government, addressing a press conference to brief the nation and the international community on efforts being made to provide relief aid to the people of Biafra, who had suffered greatly during the conflict.

Seated at the centre is Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, the Military Governor of Lagos State at the time, a key figure in the administration responsible for maintaining order in the former federal capital and supporting post war recovery efforts. The atmosphere of the conference reflects a shift from war to peace, as attention turned to the urgent tasks of feeding the hungry, caring for the displaced, and rebuilding communities devastated by nearly three years of fighting.

Earlier in January 1970, General Gowon had formally announced the end of the war and introduced his policy of reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. This news conference formed part of that broader effort to reassure Nigerians that the government was committed to healing the nation and reintegrating the former secessionist areas without vengeance or exclusion.

The image captures a defining transition in Nigeria’s post independence journey. It records not the sounds of battle, but the responsibilities that followed victory, reminding us that the end of war marked the beginning of an even more demanding challenge, restoring unity, dignity, and hope to a deeply wounded nation.