Question: How does one divide up Nigeria for a better post-independence?

See above. Obviously the ethnic and Christian-Muslim issues in the country were problematic to say the least, and putting all the different groups together into one country may not have been the best strategy? Would it have been better off to separate "Biafra" from Northern Nigeria? A state for every ethno-group? A division of three? What would have been the best way for the Nigerian peoples to move forward from independence?
 
Nigeria has hundreds of ethnic groups, and giving each one their own state is a very bad idea. And the fact Nigeria is one nation might make for good strength in the future.

But if you had to, have Biafra secede, have Northern Nigeria secede, and leave the remaining Nigeria as one state. Note that in terms of terrorism/rebel violence, Northern Nigeria could still face Islamist violence like Boko Haram and the Nigerian (sorry, Biafran) Delta will still likely have its own terrorist groups since the issue of oil extraction will still exist.
 
Maybe have all of British Cameroon stay in Nigeria? IOTL the northern section voted to join Nigeria as they were Muslims, and the southern area went Camerroni because they were Christian. Or that is what some sources claim. Maybe if there was some way to loop Ghana and maybe Togo and Benin into the mix? Might be issues between French and English, but.... Actually, does what me think what French speaking Muslim states would feel. They closer to their geographic neighbors, other Muslims, or to French speakers?
 
Nigeria has hundreds of ethnic groups, and giving each one their own state is a very bad idea. And the fact Nigeria is one nation might make for good strength in the future.

But if you had to, have Biafra secede, have Northern Nigeria secede, and leave the remaining Nigeria as one state. Note that in terms of terrorism/rebel violence, Northern Nigeria could still face Islamist violence like Boko Haram and the Nigerian (sorry, Biafran) Delta will still likely have its own terrorist groups since the issue of oil extraction will still exist.

So that'd be Biafra, Nothern Nigeria (maybe called Hausa or Fulani?) and then the rest of Nigeria as Nigeria?

Maybe have all of British Cameroon stay in Nigeria? IOTL the northern section voted to join Nigeria as they were Muslims, and the southern area went Cameroon because they were Christian. Or that is what some sources claim. Maybe if there was some way to loop Ghana and maybe Togo and Benin into the mix? Might be issues between French and English, but.... Actually, does what me think what French speaking Muslim states would feel. They closer to their geographic neighbors, other Muslims, or to French speakers?

So maybe it divides on religious lines, with a Christians southern Cameroon and a northern Muslim Nigeria?
 
Southern Cameroon joining Biafra would definitely work. The region has been a bit of a headache for Cameroon since independence, and nowadays some Southern Cameroons movements work with pro-Biafran movements.

I don't know what name you'd give Northern Nigeria aside from just "Northern Nigeria". It's obviously very ethnically diverse, with Hausa as a lingua franca and the Fulani as its ruling class. Hausaland sounds too sectarian. You might be able to bring back the name "Sokoto" though, since the Sokoto Caliphate contained most of the territory and the Sokoto Caliph is to this day considered the spiritual leader of many Nigerian Muslims.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
See above. Obviously the ethnic and Christian-Muslim issues in the country were problematic to say the least, and putting all the different groups together into one country may not have been the best strategy? Would it have been better off to separate "Biafra" from Northern Nigeria? A state for every ethno-group? A division of three? What would have been the best way for the Nigerian peoples to move forward from independence?
The best way to divide Nigeria would probably be what metalinvader said. In other words, recreate Sokoto in the north, give Biafra its independence, and turn the remainder of Nigeria into Yorubaland.
 
Top