Why Nigeria Needs a Serious Debate on Regional Autonomy

Regionalism need not threaten Nigeria’s unity. A well-designed system could give regions greater control over development priorities while preserving one citizenship, a common market, national defence and equal rights for all Nigerians. Nigeria’s diversity means that communities face different economic, cultural and security realities. Greater regional autonomy could help governments respond more effectively to local needs, encourage competition in education, healthcare, agriculture, industry and job creation, and make leaders more accountable for how they use public resources. However, regional autonomy must not become ethnic domination. Any constitutional reform should protect minority communities, guarantee freedom of residence and trade, uphold cultural rights, ensure transparent revenue sharing and prevent any Nigerian from being treated as a second-class citizen outside their ancestral home. Nigeria has operated a regional federal structure before. The issue is not to recreate the past, but to debate whether a modern arrangement can give regions more responsibility while strengthening democracy, national cooperation, security and economic opportunity.

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