This study was undertaken to examine the involvement of the military regime in rural development programme and the implementation strategies it adopted in ensuring success in the areas of provision of water, electricity and construction of access roads. Given the above objective, it was assumed that military authoritative approach to policy implementation informed the success of DFRRI. Primary and secondary data obtained through interviews and questionnaire administered were used, and the four hypothesis tested were accepted. The result of the research indicated that DFRRI succeeded in bridging the gap created in rural development by previous efforts. Based on the outcome of the assumption tested, we concluded that DFRRI achieved its objectives by raising the living standard of rural dwellers by: construction of feeder roads, provision of potable water and rural electricity supply. To improve upon this, the study recommends among others that other efforts at rural development should draw lessons from DFRRI. Moreso, to achieve more meaningful rural development in Nigeria, there should be policy and programme continuity and future rural development programmes should have more comprehensive design that will fully address all human needs.