ETHNIC POLITICS AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA 1960-2022

The discourse on Nigeria’s 1914 amalgamation has been extensively examined, often cited as the foundation of the country’s flawed national integration. While this event led to the creation of an independent Nigeria in 1960, it also entrenched regional suspicions, ethnic rivalry, and political competition among the northern, western, eastern, and southern regions. The struggle for political dominance was evident in the formation of regionally based political parties and contestation over governance structures. These divisions were exacerbated by the 1966 coup and the ensuing civil war, which reinforced ethnic distrust and deepened perceptions of politics as a zero-sum game. Since independence, Nigeria’s political landscape has been shaped by ethnic nationalism and sectional interests, often undermining national unity and democratic consolidation. Methodologically, this study employs a historical-analytical approach, drawing on secondary sources including archival records, official reports, scholarly publications, and media content. Thematic content analysis was applied to trace and interpret the evolution of ethnic politics from independence to the Fourth Republic. Findings reveal that ethnic politics has remained a central destabilizing force in Nigeria, influencing political party formation, governance structures, security dynamics, and economic development. The persistence of secessionist movements, electoral violence, and ethno-regional agitations underscores the failure of state institutions to manage diversity effectively. Although successive governments have implemented integrative mechanisms—such as federalism, the federal character principle, and constitutional reforms—these efforts have largely been undermined by elite manipulation and weak institutionalization. The study concludes that without genuine commitment to inclusive governance, equitable resource distribution, and civic nationalism, ethnic politics will continue to erode Nigeria’s democratic foundations and threaten sustainable development.