The decision to separate Lagos from the Western Region and make it a neutral Federal territory was taken at the?

A. 1950 generation conference
B. 1953 constitutional conference
C. 1954 constitutional conference
D. 1957 constitutional conference
E. 1963 All-party constitutional conference

Correct Answer:

Option B – 1953 constitutional conference

Explanation:

LONDON CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE OF 1953

Due to the defects of McPherson Constitution some of which were: the constitution vested too much veto and reserved power on the Governor; it limited the power of the regions in making laws and also, the law made by them had to be approved first before they could be allowed to operate, e.t.c “to provide for greater regional autonomy and for removal of the power of intervention by the centre”. Nigeria leaders were invited by the Secretary to London to review the constitution. A team of 19 delegates, which comprised six representatives from the Cameroon’s was sent to London. The conference which sat down between July 30 and August 22, 1953 reached, many agreements among which were

• That Her Majesty’s Governments could grants self-government to those regions, which desired it in 1956.
• That legislative power should be shared between the federal state and the federating units.
• That a conference to be held in Lagos in 1954, should ratify a separate regional administration in the cameroons if the people of the territory expressed their desire through a referendum
• That Lagos should be separated from the Western Region and made a neutral federal territory.
• That the Region Lieutenants-Government should be called Governor while the Governor of Nigeria should be called Governor-General.