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Question

Difficulty: EasyEvolution of Nigerian Federalism and State Creation

In May 1967, the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon restructured the Nigerian federation by replacing the existing regional structure with how many states?

  1. 12 statesAnswer
  2. B
    19 states
  3. C
    21 states
  4. D
    36 states

Answer

12 states
On May 27, 1967, General Yakubu Gowon promulgated a decree replacing the four regions of Nigeria with 12 states (six in the North and six in the South). This move restructured the federation and altered the regional political balance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical period and military head of state mentioned in the question stem.
The target period is May 1967 under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon.
State creation in Nigeria occurred under specific military regimes with distinct state totals.
2
Recall the state creation milestone enacted by General Gowon's regime on May 27, 1967.
Gowon issued Decree No. 14 of 1967, which abolished the four existing regions (Northern, Eastern, Western, and Mid-Western) and created 12 states.
The creation of 12 states was aimed at correcting the geopolitical structural imbalance and preserving national unity on the eve of the Civil War.

Key Concept

State Creation Milestones in Nigerian Federalism
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Topics

Evolution of Nigerian Federalism and State Creation