What Will a Restructured Nigeria Look Like?

The most important task before us right now is envisaging what a restructured Nigeria would look like. We have agreed that Nigeria needs restructuring based on the principles of federalism. The next big question should be; what should a restructured Nigeria look like? This is what I have set out to answer in this lecture.

How should responsibilities be shared between the federal and state governments in a restructured Nigeria? We believe it will be inappropriate for us as a Movement to impose regions or even states on the people of Nigeria. This is why we believe the people (ethnic nationalities) themselves must be given the opportunity to decide whether they want regions or states as the federating units. Whatever the case may be, these twenty rules must be followed.To answer these questions, we have drawn up twenty rules that should guide us in our debate. Find below the twenty rules that we consider as fundamental to a two-tier system of federal structure and which we think is best suitable for a country like Nigeria.

Boko Haram: Why Nigeria withdraws peacekeeping troops from Mali

The President of the Senate, David Mark, on Monday said activities of Boko Haram insurgents had compelled the government to withdraw Nigeria’s peacekeeping troops from Mali. 

He made the remark at a two-day retreat on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy jointly organised by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos. 

The Senate President said Boko Haram insurgency had become a major challenge to Nigeria’s efforts at forging relationships with her French-speaking neighbours.