In 1960, the agglomeration of predominantly three nations was recognised as an independent country. This country became known as Nigeria. At the outset, all seemed to be working reasonably well. Power was distributed among its constituent units, and the determination to develop rested heavily on the regions. However, changes in the country’s economic and political design, which increasingly placed politics at the centre of national life, would gradually alter its trajectory.
Since then, generations of Nigerians have debated what Nigeria is, what it ought to have become in comparison with countries that shared similar historical trajectories, and why it has struggled to fulfil its enormous promise. These debates have often revolved around politics, ethnicity, religion, resource allocation, constitutional arrangements, and leadership. Yet perhaps the more fundamental question has received far less attention: what exactly is Nigeria?
The conventional answer is straightforward. Nigeria is a sovereign state. It possesses a defined territory, a recognised government, a national flag, an anthem, a currency, armed forces, and membership in international institutions. By every legal and diplomatic definition, Nigeria is a country.
