Ex-envoy urges FG to merge 36 states into six zones

Former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun, has called on the Federal Government to restructure Nigeria by merging the current 36 states into larger regional zones.

Speaking in Lagos during a lecture held in honour of his late brother, Oduola Osuntokun, the former envoy said the change would strengthen cultural unity, promote national cohesion, and make governance more efficient.

He explained that Nigeria’s existing North-South divide was a colonial creation that continues to fuel division.

Osuntokun proposed the following regional structure:

South-West Zone: To include the current South-West states, Kwara (up to Jebba), and Kabba/Igala areas of Kogi State.

South-East Zone: To include Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, and Idoma-speaking parts of Benue.

South-Central Zone: To include Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Ebira-speaking parts of Kogi.

North-Central Zone: To include Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Tiv areas of Benue.

North-West Zone: To merge Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto.

North-East Zone: To include Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, and Borno.

He said the proposed structure would replace the North-South identity with a fairer, culturally-based federation.

“This will remove the Berlin Wall dividing Nigeria into North and South. The new arrangement will create six strong, self-sustaining regions and a true federation,” he said.

Osuntokun also called for appointments in government to be based on merit and open competition, citing India as an example of a nation that has developed through meritocracy.