Nigeria became a federation under the 1954 Constitution because the constitution

Nigeria became a federation under the 1954 Constitution because the constitution provided for a division of functions between the centre and the component units. The 1954 Constitution, which replaced the Richards Constitution of 1946, established a federal system of government in Nigeria, whereby there was a clear separation of powers and responsibilities between the central government and the regional governments. The regions were given considerable autonomy and were responsible for a range of matters such as education, health, and agriculture, while the central government had responsibility for areas such as defence, foreign affairs, and currency. This system of government was designed to give each region a measure of control over its own affairs and to ensure that power was not concentrated in the hands of the central government.