The National Assembly is reviewing legislative proposals for the creation of 31 new states across Nigeria as part of constitutional amendments aimed at restructuring the country’s administrative divisions.
The proposals, submitted to the Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), include new states across the six geopolitical zones.
In the North-Central, proposed states include Benue Ala, Okun, Okura, Confluence, Apa-Agba, and Apa from Benue and Kogi States. Additionally, a proposal suggests making the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, a separate state.
For the North-East, new states under consideration are Amana (from Adamawa), Katagum (from Bauchi), Savannah (from Borno), and Muri (from Taraba).
The North-West has proposals for New Kaduna and Gurara (from Kaduna), Tiga and Ghari (from Kano), and Kainji (from Kebbi).
In the South-East, five new states are proposed: Etiti, Adada (from Enugu), Urashi, Orlu, and Aba to increase the zone’s number of states to six.
The South-South region has requests for Ogoja (from Cross River), Warri (from Delta), Bori (from Rivers), and Obolo (from Rivers and Akwa Ibom).
For the South-West, proposed states include Toru-Ebe (from Delta, Edo, and Ondo), Ibadan (from Oyo), Lagoon (from Lagos and Ogun), Ijebu (from Ogun), and Oke-Ogun/Ife-Ijesha (from Ogun, Oyo, and Osun).
To initiate the process of state creation, Section 8 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) requires a formal request supported by at least a two-thirds majority of lawmakers in the Senate, House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Councils representing the affected areas.
The proposals mark another attempt to address regional demands for administrative and political restructuring in Nigeria, although previous efforts to create new states have faced significant constitutional and political hurdles.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
