BREAKING: House of Reps Committee Proposes 31 New States

On Thursday, the House of Representatives Committee reviewing the 1999 Constitution announced it has received 31 proposals for creating new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu shared the committee’s letter during a plenary session, which outlined the requirements that must be met for any state creation requests to be approved.

The proposals include five from the North Central, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South East, four from the South South, and seven from the South West.

Some of the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; FCT State; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah from Borno, and Muri from Taraba.

Additionally, New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; Etiti and Orashi as the sixth state in the South East; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba from the South East are included.

Further proposals involve Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo, Ogun, and Osun states.

According to the letter, Section 8 of the amended 1999 Constitution specifies the criteria for initiating the state creation process. It states that a request for creating a new state will only be considered if it is supported by at least two-thirds of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in the relevant area, and the Local Government Council.