Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Self-Determination in Post-Colonial NigeriaChallenges and Prospects

In Nigeria, indigenous communities, including the Ogoni, Ijaw, Abuja peoples, Igbos and other ethnic minorities, have long struggled for greater autonomy and recognition within the federal structure. Through doctrinal examination and critical analysis, this article explores the historical and legal foundations of self-determination, examining international human rights instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ( undrip ) and their applicability to Nigeria’s socio political landscape. It also delves into the challenges indigenous groups face, including political marginalisation, environmental degradation, ancestral land grabbing and resource control disputes, with a particular focus on the Niger-Delta, Abuja Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory and South-Eastern Nigeria. The article argues that recognising and implementing self-determination rights could foster social justice, stability and sustainable development in Nigeria. It concludes by proposing legal and policy recommendations for addressing indigenous grievances while maintaining national unity within a democratic framework in post-colonial Nigeria.