p Tn early July 1967 an internecine war flared up in Nigeria. The country’s national patriotic forces were compelled to fight against the self-styled separatist regime of the so-called Republic of Biafra.
p This was a clash between the proponents and opponents of unity not only in Nigeria, but in the whole of Africa. That was why almost all members of the Organisation of African Unity were on the side of the Nigerian Federal Military Government and its national patriotic forces. The Soviet Union also vigorously came out in support of the fighters for Nigeria’s unity.
p In the summer of 1966 the reactionary Western press began to spread slanderous fabrications to the effect that the Soviet Union sought to see a divided Nigeria. In this 119 connection TASS issued a Statement on 24 August 1966 which said in part: "Those who claim that the Soviet Union is interested in aggravating tribal differences in Nigeria and in splitting that country should be firmly told that their efforts to lay their own fault at someone else’s door are futile.... The Soviet Union has always been and will always be a staunch champion of freedom and independence of the African states. It resolutely counters the efforts of the imperialist powers to capitalise on the internal difficulties of the young independent states and the religious and tribal contradictions which their peoples have inherited from their colonial past.” [119•10 The Soviet Union firmly adhered to the position announced in that statement. All attempts of the splitter and imperialist forces to misrepresent it fell through.
p In July 1968 a Nigerian government delegation visited the Soviet Union. During the talks the Soviet side said that it viewed the desire of the Nigerian Federal Government to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of their country with full understanding.
p “The Soviet Union,” stated the official communique published after the talks, "reiterates that it proceeds from the fact that attempts to dismember the Federal Republic of Nigeria clash with the national interests of the Nigerian people and the interests of peace. Proceeding from the peace-loving principles of its foreign policy, the Soviet side maintains that foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Nigerian state is impermissible. In its relations with Nigeria the Soviet Union will continue to support Nigeria’s free national development on the basis of equality and mutual respect.” [119•11
p Being a principled opponent of the fragmentation of Africa and a sincere champion of its unity, the USSR from the outset of the internecine war in what is one of the biggest African countries adopted a firm stand in support of the efforts of the Federal Government to preserve Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity. The Soviet Union extended political and moral support and every assistance, whose significance cannot be overestimated, to the Federal Government in its most trying hour. Millions of Nigerians acclaimed the Soviet Union’s stand.
120p Addressing a press conference in Moscow at the beginning of 1968 the Nigerian Ambassador to the USSR said: "Nigeria is very grateful to the Soviet Union for taking a definite stand right from the beginning of the crisis in support of the Federal Government without waiting to see which side was losing or winning. This courageous and friendly attitude of the Soviet Government was of great material and moral benefit to the country at a most critical period.” [120•12
p In an editorial on 14 November 1968 the influential Nigerian newspaper Morning Post noted: "One lesson which has emerged from the present conflict and which Nigeria will never forget is the oft-repeated saying: Friends in need, friends indeed.
p “The civil war has plainly revealed to us those who are the true friends of Nigeria. These are the countries which have remained solidly behind the Federal Military Government right from the beginning of the crisi" to the present.
p “Their implicit confidence in the future of Nigeria has never been in doubt....
p “They are plain evidence of friends in need who are friends indeed.” [120•13
p On the next day the same newspaper said that in contrast to "traditional friends”, the Soviet Union responded promptly to Nigeria’s request for help. By doing so the Russians "demonstrated their sincerity to see Nigeria remain a united, prosperous country.” [120•14
p After the defeat of the separatists numerous references were made in Nigerian newspaper articles and commentaries and in statements by Nigerian public and state leaders to the unselfish attitude of the USSR and the importance of its aid for the preservation of the country’s unity. For instance, the New Nigerian in an article on 15 January 1970 compared the stand of the Soviet Union and the European socialist countries with that of the West during the internecine war in the country. Giving full preference to the socialist countries, the author of the article reached the conclusion that Nigeria could not and should not reject their friendship. "The Soviet Union and a host of East European countries are always quite ready to’help Nigeria.... 121 Nigeria should try and openly indentify itself fully with these countries.” [121•15 On 20 January 1970 the Nigerian Ambassador to the USSR emphasised that the Soviet Union was invariably on the side of the" Federal Government and that its assistance 10 Nigeria contributed more to the victory over the separatists" than the assistance of all other countries.
p The foundations for mutually beneficial and equitable cooperation between the USSR and Nigeria which were laid in the period of heavy trials that fell to the lot of the Nigerian people have opened the most favourable prospects for the further expansion of all-round links in the interests of the peoples of both states and in the interests of world peace.
p Nigeria has since become a stable foreign trade partner of the Soviet Union. With the technical assistance of Soviet specialists a metallurgical plant, the biggest of its kind in Tropical Africa, will be built in Nigeria in the next few years. Hundreds of Soviet engineers, technicians and workers are constructing an oil refinery in Nigeria.
p Soviet doctors have won the affection and profound respects of the Nigerian people.
p The Soviet Union is helping Nigeria to train its national personnel. About a thousand Nigerian students are enrolled at Soviet educational institutions. A much bigger number of Nigerian engineers, doctors, agronomists, teachers and specialists in other fields are at present employed in various branches of the national economy and many scientific and cultural institutions in Nigeria.
During the visit of the Nigerian Foreign Minister to the USSR in November 1977, the USSR and Nigeria noted their identity of views on key international issues, on disarmament and detente. Roth sides expressed their firm determination to keep on’ expanding their political cooperation in order to strengthen universal peace and security, deepen detente and achieve general and complete disarmament and support the struggle for national liberation and social progress.