The Surge with Boma Lilian Braide on The Southerner Newspaper 

Monday, January 5, 2026

Nigeria, a nation of more than 250 ethnic groups and over 500 languages, remains a complex federation, still searching for the formula that can hold its vast diversity together.

The politics of identity, belonging and inclusion have shaped our national story for decades, with different groups demanding visibility, representation and fair access to resources. Today, the question of regional balance sits at the heart of this struggle and many Nigerians believe it may be the key to unlocking genuine unity.

Nigeria’s diversity is not a burden; it is a reservoir of strength. From the cotton fields and leather hubs of Kano, Kaduna and Katsina in the North West, to the oil‑rich creeks and palm belts of the South South; from the food‑basket plains of Benue, Niger and Kogi in the North Central, to the tech‑driven dynamism of Lagos and the cultural engine of Nollywood in the South West; from the manufacturing corridors of Aba, Nnewi and Onitsha in the South East, to the mineral‑rich landscapes and hydropower potential of the North East, every zone contributes something vital to the Nigerian project.

 The ticking time‑bomb of structural imbalance

Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones face distinct realities. The North Central, home to Abuja, is often seen as the country’s political nerve centre. The North East battles insurgency and deep poverty. The North West, though densely populated, struggles economically. The South East thrives on commerce and industry. The South South, blessed with oil and gas, suffers environmental devastation. The South West remains a cultural and economic powerhouse.

This unevenness has fuelled unhealthy competition for federal attention and resources. Instead of cooperation, we see rivalry. Instead of inclusion, exclusion. Ethnic tensions simmer as groups; Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and others demand fairer representation and a greater sense of belonging.

Understanding regional balance

Regional balance is more than a numerical exercise. It is the equitable distribution of opportunities, resources and representation across Nigeria’s zones. It is about identity, dignity and belonging. It is about ensuring that no group feels like a guest in its own country.

The benefits are clear. Regional balance strengthens national cohesion by giving every group a seat at the table. It reduces ethnic grievances by addressing long‑standing marginalisation. It drives development by ensuring that all zones have access to the tools they need to grow. And it deepens democracy by giving every region a stake in Nigeria’s future.

The hard truths

But achieving regional balance is no easy task. Nigeria lacks a clear, enforceable policy framework to guide it. The Constitution’s federal character principle, though well‑intentioned, has been inconsistently applied. Groups benefiting from the current arrangement resist reform. And many Nigerians remain unsure what true regional balance should look like in practice.

Turning the tide

To move forward, Nigeria must first articulate a detailed policy blueprint that defines regional balance and outlines how it should be implemented. Stronger institutions; the National Assembly, Judiciary and INEC must be empowered to enforce fairness, independence and accountability.

National cohesion must also be cultivated deliberately. Education should celebrate Nigeria’s pluralism, with curricula reflecting the country’s diverse cultures and histories. The media must embrace its responsibility to promote unity, avoid stereotypes and report with balance and accuracy.

A call for true federalism

Today, Nigeria is trapped in a zero‑sum contest for Abuja’s shrinking resources. The federal character principle, instead of fostering inclusion, has often become a tokenistic checklist that deepens resentment.

Over‑centralisation has bred suspicion, regional mistrust and a winner‑takes‑all mentality that threatens the federation’s stability.

This is why more Nigerians; scholars, activists, professionals and everyday citizens are calling for true federalism. Not secession, but restructuring. A system where power, resources and responsibility flow outward to states and zones, not upward to the centre. Some even speak of emerging “republics”: Arewa, Oduduwa, Biafra, and a Middle Belt republic, not as breakaway nations, but as expressions of regional identity within a rebalanced federation.

If Nigeria embraces such restructuring, regions can control agriculture, minerals, industry and security while contributing a fair share to the centre. Zones can harness their comparative advantages. Tensions ease. Innovation flourishes. Citizens hold leaders accountable closer to home.

Practical roadmap forward

A workable path begins with a constitutional review that clearly defines the powers of the centre, states and zones. A transparent revenue‑sharing formula must be established. Stronger institutions must enforce fiscal discipline and credible elections. Each zone should retain most of what it generates, contributing a portion to a national sovereign wealth fund for shared projects.

Regional councils can coordinate trade, infrastructure and security, much like the EU fosters cooperation among member states. Schools and media should tell the story of Nigeria’s interdependence: how northern cotton feeds southwestern factories, how southern oil funds central dams, how south-eastern enterprise fuels north-eastern development.

Nigeria running out of time

The clock is ticking. Citizens, civil society, business leaders and lawmakers must act; through petitions, legislative engagement, public advocacy and support for pilot devolution projects before centralisation tightens its grip further.

Regional balance remains the missing piece in Nigeria’s unity puzzle. It can heal divisions, calm ethnic tensions and unlock development. The journey is difficult, but with a clear framework, strong institutions and a shared commitment to unity, Nigeria can succeed.

The alternative, a fractured, distrustful and divided nation is too dangerous to contemplate. Let us choose collaboration over conflict, balance over domination, and unity over fragmentation.

Let the scars of our past become the cement that binds us. Let us build a Nigeria where every zone belongs, every citizen thrives and the long‑elusive unity puzzle finally finds its missing piece.