Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and its largest economy, is struggling under the burden of its own contradictions. Established ...
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and its largest economy, is struggling under the burden of its own contradictions. Established in 1914 through colonial unification, Nigeria has never truly operated as a cohesive nation. Today, it shows all the signs of a failed state—deteriorating institutions, relentless violence, widespread poverty, deep ethnic divides, a failed Judicial system, lawlessness and a political system that’s in disarray.
Nigeria can no longer function as a single entity. To restore peace and stability, the most realistic solution is to either dissolve or restructure the country into autonomous regions.
Defining a Failed State: Nigeria Ticks All the Boxes
According to international standards like the Fragile States Index, a state is deemed failed when it:
• Loses control over its territory
• Struggles to provide essential public services
• Fails to earn the trust of its citizens
• Is beset by violence, lawlessness, and corruption
Security Breakdown: Nigeria Is at War with Itself
• The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast has claimed over 90,000 lives since 2009.
• In the Northwest and Middle Belt, banditry has led to mass killings, kidnappings, school raids, and assaults on farming communities.
• The conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers has displaced millions in the Middle Belt.
• The demand for a sovereign State of Biafra in the Southeast is escalating, with reports of attacks and a struggle for territorial control.
• Militancy in the Niger Delta region over the Oil abundance and lack of royalties to the communities, resulting in steady clashes with sporadic attacks on infrastructure.
The Nigerian military is stretched thin, underfunded, and heavily politicized, making it unable to uphold fundamental law and order. Trust in the police and all other paramilitary units is alarmingly low due to corruption.
Politically, Nigeria has failed completely, gradually drifting towards a one-party system due to Electoral malpractices. A Nation Without Leadership or Vision
Nigeria’s political landscape is a complete mess:
• It’s overly centralized, with the federal government hoarding resources while local governments are left empty.
There’s an ethno-religious gridlock that makes reaching a national consensus feel nearly impossible.
The system is riddled with electoral fraud, vote-buying, and judicial manipulation.
Ageing elites dominate the scene, completely out of touch with the vibrant youth population.
The elections in 2019 and 2023 were plagued by:
• Suppressed votes
• Ballot violence
• Legal grey areas
• A record-low voter turnout of around 29%.
• Result rigging by INEC.
The social contract has completely broken down. Nearly every Nigerian feels that their leaders no longer represent them.
There is Economic Collapse: The Engine Has Stalled,
Even with its oil wealth, Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty.
• Youth unemployment rates are soaring to 70% in many states. Grappling with record inflation, which exceeded 35% in mid-2025.
As seen, the naira collapsed, fuel prices skyrocketed, and food insecurity increased after the removal of subsidies. There is a mass exodus of professionals, including Doctors, Nurses, Engineers, and Tech workers.
The Power generation in Nigeria is stuck below 4,000 MW for a population of 220 million. The power grid has failed over 140 times in the last decade.
There is Ethnic, Religious, and Ideological Incompatibility.
According to the founding fathers, Nigeria isn’t really a nation; it’s more like a forced coexistence of conflicting groups:
• North vs. South: Islamic vs. Christian majority
• Fulani-Hausa vs. Igbo vs. Yoruba vs. various minority tribes
• Feudalism vs. Federalism
• Sharia law vs. Constitutional law
In reality, Nigeria lacks a shared national identity; it’s just Nations locked in a constant power struggle.
The outcome is resentment, injustice, and growing calls for secession.
The demand for self-determination is constitutional, and therefore, the emergence of groups like IPOB (Biafra) in the Southeast and the Oduduwa Nation in the Southwest is a sign that Nigeria needs to hold a Referendum very quickly to save lives. When a state fails to protect, represent, or serve its people, those individuals will inevitably look for new nations that align with their values, dreams, and culture.
The Legal and Moral Grounds for Dissolution according to international law:
• The right to self-determination (UN Charter, Article 1) is a fundamental principle for everyone.
• The African Union asserts that borders should reflect the needs of the people, not the remnants of colonialism.
The notion that Nigeria’s unity is indivisible is misguided, particularly when it leads to widespread suffering.
A peaceful separation doesn’t have to lead to chaos—it can be a fresh start. Nigeria could evolve into:
• Biafra Republic (Southeast + parts of South-South)
• Oduduwa Republic (Southwest + Yorubaland)
• Arewa Republic (North)
• Middle Belt Federation
Each region would have the opportunity to:
• Lead with shared values
• Protect its citizens
• Utilize its resources wisely
• Engage in trade with neighbours without internal oppression
In Conclusion, Nigeria Must Be Divided through a Referendum to Be Saved.
Nigeria isn’t just struggling; it has already failed.
It has become a prison of Nations, where enforced unity fosters resentment, where injustice is built into the system, and where hope fades away each day.
To restore dignity, freedom, and peace to its people, Nigeria needs to be restructured or peacefully dissolved. A carefully managed, democratic approach—perhaps a UN-supervised referendum—could pave the way for a new chapter in West Africa.
Unity without justice is simply tyranny. Division, if it leads to justice, can bring about peace.
Written by
Biafra Wise Man
Edited by
Oby M
For Enugu State Media Team
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