UK Afenifere Calls for Constitutional Overhaul to Reflect Real Federalism

Nigerians have been urged to insist on a new constitution that reflects true federalism throughout the nation by the Afenifere Group in the United Kingdom and Europe, often known as UK Afenifere, as the Nigerian constitutional review approaches its scheduled December 2025 deadline.

The National Assembly had declared that a constitutional review was required because of the numerous laws that were brought before it for assessment. State creation, judicial overhaul, local government autonomy, electoral reforms, and security restructuring—most notably, the creation of a State Security Council and State Police—are among the legislation.

The lawmakers asserted that the process of constitutional revision is about influencing Nigeria’s destiny rather than merely revising a document.

Nigeria has not achieved significant development or had an impact on its inhabitants since the 1999 Constitution was adopted, despite the introduction of new technology, according to a press statement released on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, by UK Afenifere Secretary Engr. Anthony Ajayi. As the nation is already in a condition of quagmire, the organization contended, a new constitution is necessary for its population rather than ongoing amendments that do not directly benefit them.

The group claims that since the 1999 Constitution was ratified, Nigerian politicians have been using it as a cover to carry out evil deeds against the Nigerian people without consequence. It also claims that corruption and insecurity have made it impossible for the Nigerian people to enjoy good governance.

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Like others, we have been pushing for Nigeria’s restructuring over the years and have called for a national conference or referendum to resolve our concerns. Nigeria, however, needs a constitution that would represent the interests of the people rather than just politicians, given the current state of affairs.

Practices that hinder our growth, diminish our potential, and make fun of our shared sensibility cannot be tolerated any longer.

In the absence of oil revenue, the Western region, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, constructed a number of roads, farm settlements, industrial estates, the first TV station in Africa, and the tallest building in Nigeria at the time. It also used capitation tax and revenue from mining and agriculture to fund free education for over 800,000 students, while still donating half of its mining and mineral earnings to the federal government and other communities.

Nigeria needs a new constitution that empowers Nigerians, strengthens institutions, promotes electoral justice, protects minority rights, and permits broad-based development at all levels, according to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Prof. Woke Soyinka, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and other notable leaders. According to these leaders, Nigeria’s problems stem from the 1999 Constitution, which is characterized as unitary and incompatible with federalism.

We concurred with Olawale Okunniyi when he stated that the 1999 Constitution, which was passed during the final years of military rule without much public input, has long been criticized for solidifying a unitary system that stifles federalism, discredits local government, and ignores Nigeria’s multiethnic, pluralistic reality.

Constitutional dysfunction is the core cause of many of Nigeria’s ongoing problems, which range from systemic insecurity, widespread young unemployment, and subpar public service delivery to weak institutions, unequal resource management, and economic centralization.

Since real federalism is frequently seen as the best form of administration for nations with significant ethno-cultural diversity, we urged all Nigerians to demand a new constitution that will guarantee it. In order to develop their region, our heroes from the past, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, and many more, employed the same idea, according to the UK Afenifere.