Group calls for restructuring of Nigeria into 10 regions

STEPHEN GBADAMOSI

A non-governmental organization (NGO), The Rebirth Group (TRG), has advocated the restructuring of Nigeria into 10 regions with their own respective constitutions, in addition to the federal constitution.

The call for the restructuring into 10 regions was part of the communique issued at the end of the organisation’s sixth symposium which held at Yelwa Club, Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State, between March 3 and 4.

Previous editions had held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the South-West, in Kaduna for the North-West, in Enugu for the South-East, in Gombe for the North-East and in Port Harcourt, Rive State, for the South-South.

The one that held in Jos was for the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Speakers and participants at the symposium came from all the states that made up the North-Central geopolitical zone, including Abuja.

They spoke after the Convener, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, enunciated the objective of TRG which is basically the restructuring of Nigeria.

After deliberating on various challenges that Nigeria is facing, participants maintained that the way out was to restructure the country without further delay.

This was why they recommended 10 regions with the present North-Central zone broken into three regions. Incidentally, the vote for the regionalisation of the country at the Jos meet was in line with what their counterparts in other zones where the symposium had held advocated, the variation being only in the number recommended.

For instance, those who gathered in Ibadan and Kaduna recommended six; those who gathered in Enugu and Gombe recommended eight. It was only in Port Harcourt that there was no consensus.

Participants from the Middle Belt, however, demanded that the region be unbundled into three regions. That could be a reason for the advocacy for 10 regions as against the lower figures suggested by other zones.

For the purpose of clarity, participants recommended that each federated region should create and administer its own states and local government areas, in line with its own peculiarities and aspirations of the people within the zone.

This is, however, to be done in a manner that community governance would reflect cooperative federalism and locally driven development.

Other resolutions made on the occasion included the preparedness of the organiser, TRG, to, in collaboration with relevant socio-cultural organisations, such as MBF, CIMBO, etc., organise a technical policy roundtable and engage traditional rulers and other stakeholders formally on issues of restructuring and homeland security within 90 days.

Observing that holders of political officers at the executive level do not usually fare well in their second term, participants recommended a five-year non-renewable single term for those who occupy executive positions, such as president, governor and local government chairman.

In their conviction that a better Nigeria is possible, participants resolved that the North-Central symposium would not be another ceremonial gathering, as they would continue to push for the immediate transformation of the country.

According to the organisation’s director of communication, Dr. Abiola Ajibola, the major objectives of the symposia being held in various parts of the country by TRG were to critically examine the structural challenges of the Nigerian federation; to build consensus on the necessity of restructuring and developing a clear, actionable roadmap towards a just, equitable and sustainable political and constitutional order that guarantees peaceful coexistence, regional autonomy and inclusive national development; to build consensus on TRG’s proposed model: Autonomous regions, meritocracy, inclusivity and co-operative system.

The denouement of the symposia will be coming in Abuja early in June, 2026.