In a recent interview from 7:12 on Arise TV, Dr. Sam Amadi, associate professor and director at the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, analyzed Nigeria’s state creation process over the past fifty years and its impact on governance and development. He noted that the creation of states historically aimed to address ethnic dominance and bring governance closer to the people.
While it succeeded politically by dispersing ethnic groups across the country, Amadi said the economic benefits have been limited. “Most states remain economically unviable because the federal structure does not give them control over resources or ensure coordinated development,” he explained.
According to Amadi, “The only people who deserve a state are in the Southeast, to ensure equity.” He added that beyond creating new states, the focus should be on institutional collaboration between existing states, particularly in the Southeast, to harness economic potential without further fragmenting the country.
Amadi further stated that empowering local governments and strengthening administrative structures could achieve the intended goal of bringing governance closer to the people. He also criticized the incoherence in how state capitals and boundaries were determined, pointing out that personal and political considerations often overshadowed economic logic.
He emphasized the need for a principle-based approach to state creation, where equity and economic viability guide decisions rather than political expediency. By focusing on structured cooperation and economic integration, Amadi believes Nigeria can address developmental disparities while avoiding the pitfalls of constant state creation. See_More…