The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has proposed the creation of 31 new states in Nigeria, a move that would expand the country’s sub-national governments to a total of 67.
Currently, Nigeria consists of 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The proposal was presented in a letter read during Thursday’s plenary session by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The letter outlined the specific requirements for initiating the state creation process, emphasizing that the proposal must be supported by a third majority of members in the National Assembly.
According to the proposed amendments, a new state can only be created if it is backed by the House of Representatives, the relevant State House of Assembly, and the Local Government Council of the area in question. Additionally, the process would adhere to Section 8 of the Constitution, which governs state creation, and requires the results of votes from the State Houses of Assembly to be submitted to the National Assembly for final approval.
The proposed new states include Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; a new Federal Capital Territory state; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; and Savannah from Borno. Other suggested states are Muri from Taraba, New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna, Tiga and Ari from Kano, Kainji from Kebbi, and Etiti and Orashi from the South East.
Additionally, the proposal lists Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, and Ijebu from Ogun State, as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo, Ogun, and Osun States.
The letter read in part, “The committee proposes the creation of 31 new states. As amended, this section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation, which include the following:
“1. New state and boundaries
“An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members.
“The House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area are received by the National Assembly.
“Local government advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are only reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.
“Specifically, in accordance with Section 8 (3) of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfillment of state,” the proposal partly reads.
