Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999
We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and
indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African
solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding
And to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and
welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and
for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people
Do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following Constitution:-
Chapter I
General Provisions
Part I
Federal Republic of Nigeria
1. (1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons
throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(2) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any persons or group of persons take
control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution.
(3) If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail,
and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.
2. (1) Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
(2) Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory.
3. (1) There shall be 36 states in Nigeria, that is to say, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi,
Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers,
Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
(2) Each state of Nigeria, named in the first column of Part I of the First Schedule to this Constitution,
shall consist of the area shown opposite thereto in the second column of that Schedule.
(3) The headquarters of the Governor of each State shall be known as the Capital City of that State as
shown in the third column of the said Part I of the First Schedule opposite the State named in the first
column thereof.
(4) The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, shall be as defined in Part II of the First Scheduled to this
Constitution.