Nigeria’s Real Crisis: Overcentralisation Is Holding Us Back

Every election, Nigerians debate corruption, insecurity, and unemployment as if they stand alone. But what if they share a common root cause? Nigeria is overly centralised. Most decisions must pass through Abuja’s bureaucracy. This delays action and ignores unique local needs. State and local governments understand their communities best — from floods in Anambra to desertification in Sokoto. In the First Republic, regions competed and innovated. Western Nigeria pioneered free primary education and Africa’s first TV station. The Eastern and Northern Regions built strong economies around palm produce and groundnuts. Today, we need a similar model of local empowerment. Should we devolve more powers to states and local councils and let the federal government focus on defence, foreign affairs, and major infrastructure? Or does Nigeria still need a strong central authority?

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