Northern coalition backs sweeping restructuring plan, demands regional autonomy

A coalition of Northern advocacy and grassroots organisations has formally endorsed sweeping constitutional restructuring for Nigeria, calling for a shift away from the current centralised presidential system toward a model of regional autonomy and negotiated federation.

The groups, under the umbrella of The Rebirth Group (TRG) and affiliates of the Concerned Citizens for Restructured Nigeria, made the declaration on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during a joint press briefing in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The delegation, led by Mohammed Lawal, said the visit to the Southwest was part of efforts to build an inter-regional alliance for constitutional reform and present what it described as an operational framework for a “consent-based federation.”

The coalition argued that Nigeria’s existing centralised governance structure has failed to address insecurity, poverty, and unemployment, particularly in the northern region.

According to the group, the continued reliance on federal control has weakened local capacity to respond effectively to security threats and economic challenges, calling the current arrangement “unsustainable.”

Speaking at the briefing, Lawal, who serves as Zonal Leader of TRG North West and President of the Rescue Northern Nigeria Movement, said Nigeria’s survival depends on restructuring built on mutual agreement among constituent regions.

“We believe strongly that Nigeria must become a country founded on consent, justice, mutual respect, and negotiated coexistence,” he said. “All constituent peoples must sit together sincerely to agree on the terms of our association and collective future.”

The group said the restructuring would replace the current 36-state dependency model with stronger regional blocs empowered to manage governance and development priorities more directly.

A central argument of the coalition’s proposal is the worsening security situation across the country, which it claims has exposed weaknesses in centrally controlled security architecture.

The group said devolving security responsibilities would allow regions to design and implement locally tailored responses to banditry and insurgency, rather than relying solely on federal intervention.

The briefing also referenced recent violent attacks in Oyo State, including coordinated raids on educational institutions in Oriire Local Government Area, which led to mass abductions of students and staff.

The coalition also took a hard stance against state-level negotiations with armed groups, warning that amnesty and financial settlements risk strengthening criminal networks.

Lawal cautioned governments against engaging in back-channel deals with bandits, arguing that past negotiation strategies in parts of the North West had failed to produce lasting peace and instead worsened insecurity.

By taking its restructuring campaign to the Southwest, the coalition said it aims to build nationwide consensus for a constitutional overhaul ahead of future elections.

Analysts say the move signals a renewed push for devolution debates that have long shaped Nigeria’s political discourse, with increasing calls for a review of the 1999 Constitution to reflect regional demands and security realities.

The proposal is expected to spark further national debate over federalism, resource control, and the future structure of Nigeria’s political system.