Geographical Restructuring Not The Answer To Our Problems - Osinbajo
Nigeria’s number two citizen Yemi Osinbajo (image courtesy NAN)

Nigeria’s Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo says good governance is what Nigeria needs to put an end to its socio-economic challenges.

Osinbajo made this comment on Monday while delivering the 40th-anniversary lecture of the Association of Friends in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city.

Speaking on the theme “Restructuring and the Nigerian Federation”, Osinbajo said stronger state governments, not geographical restructuring, is what Nigeria needs.

The vice-president added that he has always been an advocate of fiscal federalism and state police.

His words: “I have been an advocate, both in court and outside, of fiscal federalism and stronger state governments,” Osinbajo said.

“I have argued in favour of state police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function. You simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja; only recently, I made a point that stronger, more autonomous states would effectively eradicate poverty.

“So, I do not believe that geographical restructuring is an answer to Nigeria’s socio-economic circumstances.

“That would only result in greater administrative costs; but there can be no doubt that we need deeper fiscal federalism and good governance.”

In September, Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were locked in an exchange on the issue of restructuring.