Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has proposed the creation of 31 new states in the country. The proposal, read during a plenary session on Thursday by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, outlines specific requirements for initiating the process of state creation.
According to the proposal, “The committee proposes the creation of 31 new states… 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 proposed creation of new states would bring the total number of sub-national governments in Nigeria to 67, up from the current 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The proposal also emphasizes the importance of adherence to Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which applies to the process of state creation. The outcome of the proposal is yet to be determined, but it marks a significant development in Nigeria’s ongoing constitution review process ¹.
The proposed new states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence States from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa States from Benue; FCT State; Amana State from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi and Savannah States from Borno and Muri State from Taraba.
Others are New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano; and Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba from the South East.
Also included are Ogoja from Cross River State, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun State, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.
