A major factor that necessitated the adoption of federalism in Nigeria was the

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for a major reason why Nigeria adopted a federal system of government. Think about the conditions that existed in Nigeria before and around the time federalism was introduced (the 1946 Richards Constitution and the 1954 Lyttelton Constitution).

Step 2: Explain the concept Federalism is a system where power is shared between a central government and regional or state governments, each with its own area of authority. It is usually adopted when a country has:

• Large size
• Ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity
• Fear of domination of minority groups by larger ones
• Need to preserve unity while allowing regional identity

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. Intention of creating states: This is a result of federalism, not a cause. States were created later, within the federal structure.
• B. Diversity of culture and language: Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups (Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo and others) with different languages, customs and religions. A unitary system could not accommodate these differences, so federalism allowed each group some self-governance within one country. This is the main reason.
• C. Abundance of natural resources: Resources influence revenue allocation debates, but they were not the reason for choosing federalism.
• D. Low level of literacy: Literacy levels have no direct link to choosing a federal structure.

Step 4: Answer

Step 5: Exam tip For "why federalism" questions, remember the key words: diversity, size, minority fears, and unity. If an option describes a consequence of federalism (like creating states), it is usually a distractor.