this question has caused a lot of arguments .but i want us to think deep on the question. My view on the issue is that: currently we are just a country(a geographical entity welded together). but only working towards becoming a nation!

Nigeria is a nation-state !

What's the difference between a nation and a country?

http://geography.about.com/cs/politicalgeog/a/statenation.htm

I agree. We are a country but not a nation in the true meaning

Nigeria is a mistake

Nigeria is just the piece of land our villages accidentally happen to be located on. We are neither a nation nor a country.

Let this thread add to the voices calling for true federalism and a citizen state contract that guarantees a sense of belonging to one and all.

Nigeria is a useless country.

Nigeria is a country with at least 5 nations

The IQ in this thread is high. I salute you.

I want Nigeria to remain one but like this:

5 AUTONOMOUS (TRUELY AUTONOMOUS) REGIONS:

AREWA (NORTH)
MIDDLE BELT (CENTRAL)
ALAIGBO (EAST)
ODUDUWA (WEST)
NIGER DELTA (SOUTH)

3 SPECIAL (OR FEDERAL-GOVERNMENT RUN) TERRITORIES:

LAGOS
PORT HARCOURT
KADUNA

1 FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY - ABUJA

If these units are unable to stay together after say, 10 years, the 5 nations can exist as sovereign entities,

^well said.

karfe:

I want Nigeria to remain one but like this:

5 AUTONOMOUS (TRUELY AUTONOMOUS) REGIONS:

AREWA (NORTH)
MIDDLE BELT (CENTRAL)
ALAIGBO (EAST) Biafra
ODUDUWA (WEST)
NIGER DELTA (SOUTH)

3 SPECIAL (OR FEDERAL-GOVERNMENT RUN) TERRITORIES:

LAGOS
PORT HARCOURT
KADUNA

1 FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY - ABUJA

If these units are unable to stay together after say, 10 years, the 5 nations can exist as sovereign entities,

I go with this - Independently autonomous!

NIGERIA IS A MISTAKE,

Mobinga:

What's the difference between a nation and a country?

http://geography.about.com/cs/politicalgeog/a/statenation.htm

just my thought whats the oxford dictionaries definition of a country and a nation
NATION- A relatively large group of people organized under a single, usually independent government; a country.
COUNTRY- The territory of a nation or state; land.
whats the difference

Nigeria is a shit hole!!!

Truely Nigeria is not yet a Nation but is a country. We are still not yet ready to become a nation, when you talk of nations u refer to nations like United States, Russia, China, Uk.

Nigeria is geographical entity that ''may'' be classified as a country. It is not and does not exhibit the characteristics of a nation.

A nation is homogeneous in culture and way of life. Though the said culture may differ depending on the location and past experiences of the people that make up a nation, the core values would almost always be the same.

Example of a nation that is also a country, in today's world, is Germany and Finland.

Example of nations that make up a country is, most african countries including Nigeria, USA and Russia.

A locus classicus was propounded by Obafemi Awolowo on the definition of Nigeria.It goes thus:

"Nigeria is not a nation; it is a mere geographical expression. There are no‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English’ or ‘Welsh’ or‘French’; the word Nigeria is merely a distinctive appellation todistinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not.”-Obafemi Awolowo in his book,Path to Nigeria's Freedom published in 1947

Some of the vitiating factors against the nationhood status of Nigeria and if not frontally addressed will lead to its disintegration are as follows:

“Nigeria’s lack of unifying national identity, history of corrupt governance, religious and cultural schisms and shifting demographics may cause the state, over time, to break apart.”

In addition, history of tribal and religious conflicts, endemic corruption at all levels of government, poor national planning, uneven development, social disorder, rampant criminality, violent insurgency, and terminally weak governance provide an environment that could portend imminent collapse and failure.

East = Business
West / South = Education
North = Terrorism

Nigeria is a country of several nations, simple.

Yeske!:
Nigeria is a country of several nations, simple.

CORRECT!

Why do you say naigeria is a nation and state, pls explain.