State Creation in Nigeria: A Critical Assessment of Economic Viability versus Political Ambition
The ongoing debate about creating new states in Nigeria reveals a fundamental tension between political aspirations and economic reality. While Sheriffdeen Tella presents compelling data about state viability, the broader implications deserve deeper scrutiny.
The stark economic reality is sobering: of Nigeria’s existing states, fewer than ten demonstrate genuine economic viability. The 2022 Annual State Viability Index Report reveals a troubling disparity – seven states generated N1.5 trillion internally, while 29 states combined produced just N650 billion. More alarmingly, six states, including Bayelsa and Katsina, generated less than 10% of their federal allocations, essentially surviving on federal support.
The article’s analysis of Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers states as economic powerhouses underscores a crucial point: geographic size and political autonomy don’t necessarily translate to economic success. Lagos’s ability to generate N651.2 billion internally against N370.9 billion in federal allocations demonstrates that effective governance and economic planning matter more than administrative boundaries.
The comparison to Alaska’s size is particularly telling. Nigeria’s drive to create smaller administrative units contradicts economic principles of scale and diversification. The author rightly points out that fragmenting territories often serves political interests rather than economic development.
The historical context of state creation, particularly its use as a political tool during the civil war, raises questions about its contemporary relevance. The pattern of newly created states struggling for decades to achieve stability suggests that further fragmentation could exacerbate rather than solve Nigeria’s development challenges.
Perhaps most concerning is the “ganu sile” mentality – the dependence on federal allocations rather than developing internal revenue sources. This culture of waiting for “manna from the federal purse” perpetuates underdevelopment and corruption.
The article’s conclusion about focusing on local government functionality rather than state creation offers a practical alternative. However, it stops short of addressing how to reform existing states to achieve greater economic viability or how to break the cycle of dependence on federal allocations.
The piece effectively challenges the popular narrative supporting state creation, suggesting that Nigeria’s path to development lies not in creating new administrative units but in making existing ones work effectively. This argument, supported by concrete economic data, offers a crucial perspective for policymakers and citizens alike.
Reference
State Creation in Nigeria: A Critical Assessment of Economic Viability versus Political Ambition