What were the factors that necessitated the adoption of a federal system of government in Nigeria.?

Answer Details

Federalism was adopted in Nigeria because the country's peculiar circumstances made a unitary arrangement unworkable. The following factors necessitated its adoption:

1. Large size of the country: Nigeria's vast geographical expanse made effective administration from a single centre difficult, so power was shared between the centre and the regions.
2. Ethnic and cultural diversity: Nigeria is made up of numerous ethnic groups with different languages, customs and traditions. Federalism allowed each group a measure of self-government while preserving national unity.
3. Fear of domination: The smaller ethnic groups feared domination by the larger ones (Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo). A federal structure guaranteed regional autonomy and reduced this fear.
4. Wide differences in level of development: The regions had reached uneven levels of educational, economic and social development. Federalism enabled each region to develop at its own pace.
5. Colonial administrative legacy: The British had already governed Nigeria as separate protectorates and later along regional lines, laying a structure that naturally lent itself to federalism.
6. Differences in religion: The predominantly Muslim North and the largely Christian South differed in religious and social outlook, making a decentralised system preferable.
7. Desire for unity in diversity: Federalism offered a means of holding the diverse peoples together as one nation while allowing them to manage their local affairs.