Federalism and National Integration: The Nigerian Experience

Nigeria, the heart of Africa and world's most populous black nation is a classic case of deeply divided state. It is estimated to be inhabited by over 400 ethnic groups, making her one of the World most ethnically numerous State. These groups are not only differentiated by language, customs and traditions but they also differed in size, power and influence. It is in recognition of this that the founding fathers of Nigeria settled for a federal system of government. This paper examines why federalism and other integrative mechanisms failed to integrate the diverse people that make up the country. The paper contends that non-commitment to the ideals of federalism accounted for the inability of federalism to integrate the different ethnic groups in the country. The paper concludes that for federalism to perform the magic wand, political leaders must be committed to the tenets of federalism. Keywords: Ethnicity, Federalism, Federal Character, Indigeneity and National Integration