By Okoi Obono-Obla
Nigeria has evolved from January 14, 1914, when the amalgamation of the Colony of Lagos and the Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria took place.
Today, Nigeria is made up of 36 States and a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
By 1945, when the Constitution prepared by the Governor‑General of the Federation of Nigeria, Arthur Richards, came into force, Nigeria was divided into three regions—namely Northern, Western, and Eastern Regions.
These regions were made up of provinces and divisions thus:
Western Region:
Abeokuta Province had the following divisions: Egba, Egbado.
Benin Province had Asaba, Benin, Ishan, Ishan II, Kukuruku (Afenmai).
Ijebu Province had Ijebu‑Ode, Ijebu‑Remo.
Ondo Province had Ekiti, Okitipupa, Ondo, Owo.
Oyo Province had Ibadan, Ife‑Ilesha (Ife, Ilesha).
Warri Province had Aboh, Warri, Urhobo, Western Ijaw.
Northern Region:
Adamawa Province had Adamawa, Numan, Miru.
Bauchi Province had Bauchi, Dass, Gombe, Katagum.
Benue Province had Idoma, Lafia, Awe, Nasarawa, Keffi, Tiv, Wukari.
Bornu Province had Bedde, Biu, Bornu, Dikwa, Potiskum, Fika.
Ilorin Province had Borgu (Bussa, Kaiama), Ilorin, Pategi‑Lafiagi.
Kabba Province had Igala, Igbirra, Kabba, Koton Karifi.
Kano Province had Kano, Hadejia, Gumel, Kazaure, Katsina, Daura.
Niger Province had Abuja, Lapai, Agaie, Bida, Kontagora, Wushishi, Zuru, Minna, Gwari, Kamuku.
Plateau Province had Jema’a, Jos, Pankshin, Shendam, Wase, Southern Eggon, Nunku, Wamba.
Sokoto Province had Argungu, Gwandu, Yauri, Sokoto.
Zaria Province had Northern Zaria.
Eastern Region:
Calabar Province had Abak, Calabar, Eket, Enyong Aro, Enyong Itu, Ikot Ekpene, Opobo, Uyo.
Cameroons Province had Bamenda, Kumba, Mamfe, Victoria.
Ogoja Province had Abakaliki, Afikpo, Ikom, Obubra, Ogoja.
Onitsha Province had Awka, Awgu, Onitsha, Nsukka, Udi.
Owerri Province had Aba, Bende, Okigwi, Orlu, Owerri.
Rivers Province had Ahoada, Brass, Degema, Ogoni, Opobo.
Lagos (Colony Province):
It is worthy to note that in 1963, the Nigerian Parliament created the Mid‑Western Region, carved out of the Western Region, based on Benin and Warri Provinces.
In 1958, Eastern Nigeria created provinces—Annang, Degema, Port Harcourt, Abakaliki, and Uyo—in addition to the original provinces of Calabar, Owerri, Onitsha, Ogoja, and Rivers. But these provinces were not recognized by the rest of the country.
When 12 States were created on May 27, 1967, it was based on the original provinces that existed in 1945. The subsequent state‑creation exercises in 1976, 1987, 1991, and 1995 were also based on these original provinces.
Unfortunately, Ogoja Province, one of the original provinces in the country, is the only province that has not benefited from the state‑creation exercises embarked upon by the military regimes of 1976, 1987, 1991, and 1995.
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