Ethnic groups propose eight regional structures for Nigeria

As agitation for the restructuring of the country heightens, ethnic nationalities from the six geopolitical zones and other groups have proposed an eight-regional structure for the nation to promote development and growth.

Participants at a two-day symposium in Kaduna, held over the weekend, insisted that the time has come for Nigeria to restructure into reorganised regions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the national symposium, the National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, represented by the National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Alamu, said the Middle Belt believes in the oneness of Nigeria, stating, “We believe the country needs to restructure.”

According to him, for instance, we in the Middle Belt want more states in the zone.

The convener of the two-day summit, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, explained that the first series of the national symposium was held in Ibadan in 2023, pointing out that the essence of The Rebirth Group is to provide a platform where people of ethnic nationalities and minorities can air their views freely on the future of Nigeria.

Besides, in a communiqué read by the chairman of the communiqué drafting committee, Jare Ajayi, it was noted that the proposed regions should be given more powers over their respective affairs.

He explained, “In other words, the central government is to concern itself only with issues that the federating units cannot handle. The central government should be smaller and smarter.

“Six regions were recommended at the Ibadan Symposium—perhaps in line with the present geopolitical zones. At the Kaduna Symposium, however, eight regions were proposed. But each region would be equal to the other in status and ranking.”

Ajayi remarked that the ethnic nationalities believe that restructuring into regions is not meant to abrogate the states that we have presently.

He, however, posited that the regions would form the federating units to make the country known as the United Regions of Nigeria (URN) or any other nomenclature that we find convenient.

“Each region is to have its own constitution and be autonomous. This is to ensure that they are in a proper position to operationalize self-determination,” he stressed.

“The restructuring must be such that the community, state, and local government from where certain resources come should have 70 percent of the proceeds of the resources, while 30 percent goes to the center. To avoid domination or even a sit-tight syndrome, heads of each level of government should be rotational on the basis of the constituents within that enclave. When the head comes from one area, the deputy would be from another part.

“The latter would automatically become the head of the government at the end of the tenure of the incumbent. This should be done in a manner that each constituent area in the state, region, and the country will have the opportunity to be head of government in turn.”