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Difficulty: HardThe Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and Nigerian Federalism

Under the 1954 Lyttelton Constitution, which significant political and territorial adjustment was enacted to resolve inter-regional rivalry over the seat of national governance and strengthen Nigerian federalism?

  1. Lagos was separated from the Western Region and designated as a neutral Federal Territory.Answer
  2. B
    Lagos was fully integrated into the Western Region to serve as its permanent regional capital.
  3. C
    Lagos was established as an autonomous fourth administrative region with its own regional Premier and Legislature.
  4. D
    Lagos was placed under the joint legislative jurisdiction of the Northern and Eastern regional assemblies.

Answer

Lagos was separated from the Western Region and designated as a neutral Federal Territory.
The correct option correctly identifies that the 1954 Lyttelton Constitution detached Lagos from the Western Region and constituted it as a neutral Federal Territory directly governed by the central federal legislature, resolving intense regional conflict.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical political conflict surrounding Lagos prior to 1954.
Under the 1951 Macpherson Constitution, Lagos was merged with the Western Region, which led to strong objections from Northern and Eastern political leaders who argued that the country's principal port and capital should not belong to a single region.
Understanding the political compromise is essential to evaluating constitutional reforms.
2
Identify the constitutional resolution introduced by the 1954 Lyttelton Constitution.
The London Constitutional Conference of 1953 and Lagos Conference of 1954 resolved to carve Lagos out of the Western Region, making it a neutral Federal Territory under central federal authority.
This structural change was vital for establishing genuine federalism in Nigeria.

Key Concept

Territorial and Administrative Restructuring under the Lyttelton Constitution
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and Nigerian Federalism