The new members of Nigeria's ruling Supreme Military Council were sworn-in on Tuesday (5 August). The Council will be led by Brigadier Murtala Ramat Muhammed, who changed his name from Murtala Rufai Mohammed on Wednesday (6 August). He was named as the country's new ruler after the bloodless coup on 29 July which overthrew the 9-year-old rule of General Yakubu Gowon.

During the swoaring-in ceremony, Brigadier Theophilus Danjuma, took the oath as the Chief of Staff of the Army and Commodore Michael Adelanwa was sworn in as Chief of Staff of the Navy. Other officers were sworn in ranging from the new Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters, to commanders of garrisons stationed around the country.

A new cabinet was also named. It is comprised of 25 members and the military is heavily represented although there all 11 civilians.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Brigadier Muhammed called for clean government. He said the new administration would not put up with any misuse or misappropriation of public funds at the Federal or State Governmental levels.

He said the intervention of the military would provide another chance for Nigeria to begin to rebuild the nation and he pointed in particular to what he called the urgent need to consider the creation of new states within Nigeria and the fate of the crowded Federal and State capital.