Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank Group, has proposed renaming the Federal Republic of Nigeria to “The United States of Nigeria.” This suggestion was made in a statement by his Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, which was released to the press on Saturday.
Adesina put forth this proposal during his acceptance speech for the 2024 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, titled “Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist Policies and People-Centred Development.” He argued that changing the country’s name to the “United States of Nigeria” would redefine the relationship between the states and the capital city, with the states playing a central role supported by Abuja rather than being dominated by it.
In his statement, Adesina emphasized the need to empower states or regions economically and financially through constitutional reforms. He stressed that stronger states lead to a stronger federal entity, advocating for a restructuring of Nigeria driven by economic viability rather than political convenience.
Highlighting the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a visionary leader, Adesina underscored the importance of bold decision-making in shaping Nigeria’s future. He pointed out the burden of implicit taxes borne by Nigerians due to government failures in providing essential services, stressing the urgency of economic and financial viability for political success.
