An Appraisal of the Legal Framework for the Indivisibility and Indissolubility of Nigeria

Abstract

As a matter of factual inference, sections 14(3); 15(2), (3)(c) & (d), (4); 42(1) of the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 somewhat provides notable constitutional affirmation of
the heterogeneity of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In other words, those
constitutional provisions confirm that there are various/different [indigenous] peoples, religious
and linguistic ties or groups, sectional and/or ethnic groups in Nigeria. However, regardless of
the variety of indigenous peoples with diverse religious, linguistic, and ethnic ties that make up
Nigeria’s population, the Nigerian Legal System has some firm legal framework to ensure not only
the oneness of Nigeria but the indivisibility and indissolubility the “one Nigeria”. The said legal
framework may broadly be categorized into two, namely: constitutional framework and statutory
framework for the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria are presented and interrogated in
this Paper.