By House of Reps Proposes Creation of 31 New States Amidst Economic Hardship
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has proposed the creation of 31 new states, a move that, if approved, would increase Nigeria’s sub-national governments from 36 to 67.
The proposal was contained in a letter read during Thursday’s plenary session by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
According to the committee, chaired by Kalu, the new states are spread across the country’s six geopolitical zones: North Central (6), North East (4), North West (5), South East (5), South-South (4), and South West (7).
Among the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; and a new FCT state. The North East would have Amana from Adamawa, Katagum from Bauchi, Savannah from Borno, and Muri from Taraba.
In the North West, the committee proposed New Kaduna and Gurara from Kaduna, Tiga and Ari from Kano, and Kainji from Kebbi. The South East would get Etiti, Orashi, Adada, Orlu, and Aba, while the South-South could see Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, and Ori and Obolo from Rivers.
The South West list includes Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from parts of Oyo, Ogun, and Osun.
For any new state to be created, the proposal must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the National Assembly, the House of Assembly, and the relevant local government councils, as stipulated in Section 8 of Nigeria’s Constitution.
A referendum in the affected states must also endorse the proposal before final approval by the National Assembly.
