Suleiman A. Suleiman argues that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is actively regionalizing the Nigerian federation, moving the country toward a power structure reminiscent of the 1960s. This approach, which the author labels regional federalism, prioritizes strengthening regional influence against the centralized federal government. The strategy reflects a long-standing tradition from the South-west, historically championed by figures like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which favors powerful sub-national units over a dominant center.
The author identifies three key pillars of this policy. First, the administration has focused on the regionalization of the federal executive, concentrating political and economic authority within South-west networks to secure control. Second, the administration emphasizes a shift in development responsibility. By curbing federal capital spending and pushing initiatives like the Infrastructure Support Fund and tax reforms, Tinubu signals that states and regions—rather than the central government—should spearhead economic growth and public works.
Finally, the author points to the push for State Police as a crucial move toward the regionalization of federal institutions. Rather than being purely a security fix, this effort aligns with a broader vision of devolving fiscal and functional responsibilities to states. While the author notes that many who previously called for political restructuring have remained quiet regarding these changes, he suggests this trend defines both the current administration’s governance strategy and its underlying economic ideology.
