Gowon was a great leader in time of war, and in the immediate peace-making aftermath of the war, but he was indecisive and inadequate as a peacetime leader. He answered demands for new states with promises of action which he never fulfilled.

When the results of the 1973 census were published in 1974 and caused nation-wide disputes, Gowon set up a review committee and promised a final decision - which was never taken.

Late in 1974 Gowon announced the postponement of the return to civilian rule in order to allow himself time to eliminate corruption and combat inflation, but the promised improvements were not made.
General dissatisfaction with Gowon's leadership was fuelled by lawlessness in the cities, despite public execution of violent criminals. Breakdowns in utilities like electricity, water supplies and telephones did not help.

Other symptomatic disruptions were: massive traffic jams in cities, congestion in the docks culminating in the 'cement crisis' of 1975 when the ports became blocked by hundreds of ships bringing cement from all over the world, extensive racketeering and other forms of financial corruption; and a four-fold increase in military spending in the five years after the end of the Civil War.

The oil wealth largely benefited the Nigerian elite, and hardly affected the welfare of the ordinary Nigerians.

Because Gowon's lack of peacetime leadership was making the soldiers unpopular with the Nigerian people, and in order to provide decisive leadership, Brigadier-General Murtala Muhammad took over from Gowon in a bloodless 'coup’ in July 1975, while Gowon was at an OAU summit conference in Kampala.

In summary Nigerians accused the Gowon regime of the following ills:
1. Rampant corruption of both military and civilian officers;
2. Wastage of public funds on unnecessary ventures and projects;
3. Indefinite postponement of return to a civilian government;
4. Shortages of essential commodities;
5. Uncontrolled inflation of the economy;
6. General inefficiency and bureaucracy; and
7. General lack of unity of direction.
Gen. Gowon was easily toppled in a bloodless military coup in July 1975, while he was attending an OAU summit in Kampala, Uganda. He sought refuge in Britain where he enrolled at Warwick University and obtained BA, MA, and PhD degrees in political science, completing his studies at the end of 1983. He showed little bitterness after losing the presidency of Africa's most populous country. This is the best example so far to the leaders who toppled in military coups.

Figure 102: GEN. MURTALA MUHAMMED led coup and became president unfortunately, he was assassinated by a clique of military renegades Gen (then Brig) Murtala Ramat Muhammed became the biggest beneficiary as he was installed the next ruler. Born in Kano, he climbed the rostrum in style and endeared himself to the national heart, courtesy of his crusade against corruption and the war he waged to ensure accountability.

General Muhammad, who had been Commissioner for Communications in Gowon's government, energetically set about tackling the problems Gowon had neglected.

The 1974 census figures were scrapped.

To combat ethnicism, the number of states was increased from 12 to 19.

A decision was taken to establish a new capital at Abuja, at the geographical centre of Nigeria.

Efforts were made to reduce traffic and public service chaos in Lagos.

Thousands of civil servants and military officers accused of corruption and inefficiency were dismissed (though the dismissals were so sweeping that undoubtedly many innocent suffered with the guilty).

Above all, Muhammad promised a return to civilian rule in 1979.