Ben Murray-Bruce: How 1983 Coup Crashed My Business Empire

Speaking at the Infrastructure Dialogue 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday, the media entrepreneur said the military takeover that removed President Shehu Shagari triggered widespread disruption that crippled businesses across the country, including his entertainment venture.

According to reports, Murray-Bruce said he launched the business in 1980 with a ₦20,000 loan from his siblings and steadily built it over the next three years. He explained that Nigeria’s entertainment industry was still in its infancy at the time, with inadequate infrastructure, limited media outlets, and little institutional support.

He noted that the 1983 coup marked a turning point, as the political upheaval disrupted communication and economic activities nationwide.

Murray-Bruce recalled that telephone lines were often disconnected during military takeovers, making it nearly impossible to coordinate shows and promote events effectively.

He also said worsening economic conditions, including foreign exchange challenges and rising operational costs, placed further strain on the business. Ticket prices increased from between ₦5 and ₦10 when he started to as much as ₦20 by 1983, while audience attendance dropped by about 25 percent.

The former senator said these setbacks ultimately forced him to shut down the concert promotion outfit.

Murray-Bruce added that Nigeria had only a few media channels at the time, including Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and a small number of newspapers, which made event publicity difficult. He also pointed to the shortage of suitable entertainment venues, with the National Theatre in Lagos serving as one of the few available locations for large shows.

Despite the challenges, Murray-Bruce said he successfully organized about 20 concerts during that period and incurred losses on only one event before the business eventually collapsed.