Factsheet on the Problems facing Nigeria’s Peaceful Existence

According to the British 1931 Colonial Population Census, Nigeria consists or is comprised of the following different and distinct ethnic Nationalities or Nations, namely Hausa- Fulani, Yoruba, NdiIgbo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv or Munchen, Edo, Nupe, Ijaw, Urhobo, Itschekiri, Idoma, Igala, Efik, Ogoja, Berons, Isoko, among others listed in the 1931 British Colonial Census of Nigeria. spread along the length and width of the River Niger and River Benue, down to the Delta of the Atlantic Ocean, and spreading to Calabar Delta in the South East of Nigeria.

              The Sharing of the Continent of Africa, by European Powers in 1884-1885.

Following the Industrial Revolutions in Europe in the 18^th and 19^th Century CE, the European Powers needed primary Raw Materials, not available in Europe, but abundant in Tropical Africa, South of Sahara Desert. This need for primary Raw Materials in Africa led the European Powers (UK of Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal) to struggle for these needed African Raw Materials for Technology and Industrialization of Europe. Thereafter, Europe settled peacefully in Berlin, Western Germany, for the sharing of African Continent, among themselves in a Conference in Germany in 1884-1885.

The Portion of West Africa, allocated to Britain in 1884-1885 during Europe’s Conference, was later named by Britain, as Northern Protectorates, now 19 States of Northern Region of Nigeria, the South West Region of Nigeria, now 6 Yoruba States and 2 States of Edo and Delta (8 States), and the South East Region of Nigeria, now 5 NdiIgbo States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, and the Cross River State, Akwai-bon, State, and Rivers State and Bayelsa State (9 States), respectively, making Nigeria 36 Administrative States, since 2014. These Northern Nigeria 19 States, and Southern Nigeria 17 States, were forcefully amalgamated and named Nigeria by Britain in 1914.

            British Colonial Government Attempt to run Nigeria as a Federation rather than Unity Form of Government.

In 1951, after struggling to run Nigeria as a Unitary Government, Britain  decided to run Nigeria as a Federal Administration of Northern Region of Nigeria as earlier defined, South West Region of Nigeria as earlier defined, and South East Region of Nigeria, as earlier defined, respectively, led respectively by Sir Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, a Hausa- Fulani, ethnic Nationality for Northern Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of Yoruba ethnic Nationality for South West Region of Nigeria , and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe of Igbo ethnic Nationality, for Eastern Region of Nigeria, respectively. Soon after the Conference, followed by the establishment of the Regional Government Federation Arrangement, a Political Crisis arose, because the Ijaw Leader, named, Chief Harold Biriye, wanted an Ijaw Nation to be a Regional Government, away from NdIIgbo led Eastern Nigeria Regional Government. The British Colonial Government did not oblige Harold Biriye, and that led to Adaka Boro Insurgency on February 26, 1966, following the Military Intervention in Politics on 15 January 1966.

Much earlier in 1953, during the Vote for Nigeria’s Independence from Britain, moved by Chief Anthony Enahoro of South West Region of Nigeria, in the then National Assembly in Lagos, during the Debate for Nigeria’s Independence from British Colonial Rule, the entire Northern Nigeria Region, with 175 Members  voted against Nigeria’s Independence, while the entire South West Region of Nigeria, and the entire South East Region of Nigeria, together, with a total of 157 Members in the National Assembly, voted Yes for Independence and lost  in the Motion for Nigeria Independence from British Colonial Rule in 1953. This led to a sharp Dichotomy / Political disagreement, between the Northern Region of Nigeria and the entire Southern Region of Nigeria. That dichotomy, later, led Kenule Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni Political Activist, to write in his Book, titled, *The DARKLING Plane*,, stating namely that, ^Nigeria is not a Federation of Geographical Regions, (North and South) nor a Federation of Religious Faiths (Christian and Moslem) , and nor a Federation of Administrative Units*, referring to the current Nigeria 36 States Federation, but simply*, he wrote, that *Nigeria is a Federation of the ethnic Nationalities or Nations comprised, in Nigeria, and that until this is digested and agreed by all Nigerians, then Nigeria cannot have a True and Stable Federation, nor  true Unity, nor Peace and nor Economic Progress, commensurate with Nigeria’s  enormous natural Resources and talented human Resources Endowment*.  Please see more Details in my latest Book, titled *Scientific and Technological Innovations in Biafra: The Ogbunigwe Technology Fame*, Second Edition, 2017, Chapters II, dealing with Challenges of Nigeria’s Political Instability and Crises of Good Governance, Chapter III, dealing with the Making of Biafra, Immediate Causes and Events,  and Chapter  VIII, dealing with the Collapse of Biafra, January 10 ,1970, The Lessons*  for more and detailed information on the Nigeria’s Existential Dilemma as one Nation State of the following ethnic Nationalities or Nations,, namely, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, NdiIgbo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe, Ijaw among many others listed in the 1931 British Colonial Population Census.   All the Nigeria’s Political Elections, starting with the Independence Election of 1959, have remained Controversial and disputable, till present, including the oncoming 2023 National Elections dealing with Christian -Muslim Presidency.   

        The Emergence of Non -State Actors in Nigeria’s Governance as a Federation.

A True Federation is defined as a Union of two or more ethnic Nationalities or Nations, which freely come together and through mutually Agreed Terms of Union, form a Nation State. The following Nations are examples of True and Sustainable Nation States, namely,

•   United Kingdom of Great Britain, which is a Federation of the ethnic Nationalities of England, Scotland, and Wales, which came into being through a Treaty of Union in 1707 and has been making fantastic Economic Progress as a Great / leading Military Power in Europe,
•  Canada which is, a Federation of the English -speaking Americans and French speaking Americans, following the American War of Independence from Europe, Canada is a Red Indian Word for Union, and Canada is making fantastic economic progress in Peace as one Nation State, and
• European Union of 27 Nations of Europe, which freely came into Existence, following the End of the Second World War of 1939-1945, when European Nations found that they are no longer powerful / strong enough, Individually, to control / hold their African / Asian Colonies, and have, to come together in order, to remain relevant in the World Economic and Military Power Dynamics.

       The Emergence of Non- State Actors in Nigeria’s Governance as a Federation.

The following Emergent divisive/destructive/  often criminal Non-State Actors in Nigeria’s Governance, have one thing in common, namely, the disintegration of Nigeria as a Nation State, so that the ethnic Nationalities comprised in Nigeria should go their separate ways, unless Nigeria establishes a True and Sustainable Federation in which the Federating Units have full control of their respective Economic Resources, the Education of their respective Citizens, their internal Security, etc. but in which the Federal Central Government operates as Coordinating Centre and not a Controlling Centre of the mutually Agreed Common Services such as Foreign Affairs and National Military and related Central  Banking and Currency as is the case of UK of Great Britain, Canada , and European Union, earlier mentioned.

For Information, the non -State Actors, starting from February 1966, are namely,

• Adaka Boro Insurgency, which is fighting for Ijaw ethic Nationality from February,26, 1966
• Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta from NdiIgbo (MEND), 
• Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB) after the Nigeria- Biafra Civil War of 1967-1970,
• Boko Haram Criminal Insurgency, wanting to establish its own Brand of Moslem Religion in the Nation State of Nigeria,
• Odua (Yoruba) People’s Congress (OPC), wanting an Independent Yoruba Nation, 
• The Ijaw National Congress (IJN) wanting a separate Ijaw Nation,
• Arewa Consultative Congress fighting for the Unity the ethnic Nationalities comprised in the Northern Region of Nigeria, and now, the arrival in NdiIgbo Land namely  
• The current outlawed Indigbo People of Biafra (IPOB), agitating and destroying lives and Property of the opposing Elements in its controversial Fight, for the separation of the Igbo, (South -East States of Nigeria) from Nigeria as a Nation State.

The above are the Challenges which face Nigeria as a Nation State and which Nigeria has been dealing with, since her Independence from Britain, since October 1960. The only way to successfully deal with these Non-State destructive Non-State Actors, is in my View, the Establishment of a True Sustainable Federation, in the manner of (a) UK of Great Britain, just by copying  their Treaty of Union and applying them  to the ethnic Nationalities or Nations, comprised in Nigeria, or (b) Canada, and or (c) European Union Federation, with an Exit Clause in case any ethnic Nationality or Nation may wish in future to opt out of the Nation. I believe this Federal Structure Arrangement will assure us, Nigerians real Unity, Peace and fantastic Economic Progress as a Great Nation in Africa, South of Sahara Desert.  Forced Amalgamation of Nigeria’s ethnic Nationalities to form a Nation State in 1914 has been the main Problem of Nigeria’s Existential Dilemma as one Nation State and must be changed for peace and Unity to reign in Nigeria as a Nation State. Any other thing is just postponing the Evil Day.

For more please look in my two Books, “Scientific and Technological Innovations in Biafra” and “Technology and Wealth of Nations“, African Experience, 1899-2021, which provides a Functional  Blueprint for Economic Development Policy Planners, the Science, Engineering, Technology and Education Community.

Felix N.C. Oragwu, FSAN, MInstP (IOP) London

Former Senior Academic in Physics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), from 1960s,
Head of Research and Development (R&D)  Planning Division / Coordinator of  Technological Services of the Industrial War Machine that operated in the defunct State of Biafra, 1967-1970.
Retired Senior Director in Charge of the Department of Science and Technology (S&T) Policy, Planning and Development of the Federal Government Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) 1979-1987
Former Technology Development Consultant to UNECA, UNDP and UNIDO