THE NIGERIA-BIAFRA WAR AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE RESEARCH AND ARMAMENTS PRODUCTION (RAP) OF BIAFRA (1967-1970)

Abstract

It cannot be controverted that various weapons were manufactured by the Biafran scientists during the Nigeria-Biafra War. However, there are conflicting debates among early writers on the origins of the weapon project of the defunct Republic of Biafra during the Nigeria-Biafra conflict. The Nigeria-Biafra war witnessed the introduction of new weapons which helped to sustain the Biafran struggle for the period of the civil war. This paper examines the evolution of the Research and Armaments Production (RAP), which was responsible for the production of weapons, infrastructural and allied projects in Biafra during the Nigeria-Biafra war. The evolution of RAP marked the beginning of military industrial complex in Biafra during the 30 months conflict. Furthermore, the study examines the conditions that necessitated the need for local production of weapons in Biafra and the role of RAP in the Biafran struggle during the war. The Biafran RAP-made weapons contributed immensely to the victories recorded by the secessionist regime during the war. In essence, the thrust of this paper is that war creates an enabling environment for the growth and expansion of military industrial complex in a state, particularly the development of scientific and technological innovations in the fields of weaponry, infrastructure and allied projects. The paper adopts the historical approach and data was obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The paper concludes that necessity, that is, lack of weapons and the will to survive led to the evolution of RAP which was instrumental to the production of war induced homemade weapons and allied projects in Biafra during the Nigeria-Biafra conflict.