The Politics of State Creation in Nigeria

Abstract

Most agitations in Nigeria for state creation and subsequent creation of states have been political, often efforts by some political elite for more access to governmental power. Creation of states has also been used to balance the North-South unbalance in the Nigerian federation, as well as to satisfy the interests of minority ethnic groups. It has also been used to abort the secession of the eastern part of the country. The decisions on which states were to be created reflect the prevailing power equation at the time of the exercise.