Calls for the abolition or radical restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system into a regional system of government are gaining renewed momentum as the country continues to grapple with deepening insecurity, economic strain, and governance inefficiencies. Advocates argue that the current federal arrangement has failed to deliver stability, equity, or development, and that a return to a regional structure offers a more practical path forward.
Nigeria operates a federal system in name, but critics have long described it as overly centralized. Key powers over security, resources, policing, and fiscal allocation are concentrated at the centre, leaving states heavily dependent on federal allocations. This structure, analysts say, has weakened subnational governments and limited their ability to respond effectively to local challenges.
One of the most pressing concerns driving the debate is insecurity. From banditry in the northwest and insurgency in the northeast to kidnappings and communal violence in the middle belt and southern regions, security threats have overwhelmed federal security agencies. Despite being closest to the people, state governments lack constitutional authority to establish fully empowered police forces, relying instead on federally controlled security institutions that are often overstretched and slow to respond.
The prolonged resistance to state police has further highlighted the contradictions within Nigeria’s federal system. Proponents of restructuring argue that a one-size-fits-all security architecture cannot adequately serve a country as large and diverse as Nigeria. They maintain that allowing regions to control their own security frameworks would improve intelligence gathering, accountability, and response times, while reducing the burden on the federal government.
Beyond insecurity, economic imbalance remains a central issue. Many states are fiscally unviable under the current system, surviving almost entirely on monthly federal allocations. This dependency has discouraged innovation, weakened internal revenue generation, and fostered a culture of political patronage. Critics say true federalism would require devolving more economic powers, but repeated constitutional reforms have failed to achieve meaningful decentralization.
Supporters of a regional system argue that it offers clearer benefits. Under a regional arrangement, states would merge into stronger, economically viable regions with shared cultural, historical, and economic ties. These regions would control their resources, manage security, and design development strategies tailored to their realities. The federal government would be leaner, focusing mainly on defense, foreign affairs, currency, and national coordination.
Historically, Nigeria’s regions recorded significant progress during the pre-1966 era, with the Western, Eastern, and Northern Regions pursuing competitive development in education, agriculture, and infrastructure. Advocates say this period demonstrates that regional governance encourages healthy competition, accountability, and faster development.
Another argument in favour of regionalism is political stability. Ethnic tensions and agitations for secession, including calls for self-determination in different parts of the country, are often linked to feelings of marginalization within the current structure. Proponents believe that regional autonomy would give groups greater control over their affairs, reducing pressure on the centre and strengthening national unity through voluntary cooperation rather than enforced central authority.
While opponents warn that regionalism could deepen divisions or weaken national cohesion, supporters counter that the existing system is already producing fragmentation, mistrust, and governance paralysis. They argue that restructuring is not about breaking Nigeria apart, but about redesigning it to work more effectively.
As conversations around constitutional reform, state police, and devolution of powers continue, the push for a regional system is increasingly framed as a pragmatic response to Nigeria’s realities rather than an ideological preference. With insecurity worsening and economic challenges mounting, the question facing the country is no longer whether reform is needed, but whether incremental changes within the current federal system are sufficient, or if a fundamental shift to regional governance has become inevitable.
Culture Beyond the Mainstream 