The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has revealed that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The announcement came on Thursday when Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read a letter from the committee during plenary, detailing the requirements for the approval of state creation requests.
The proposals span all six regions, with the North Central submitting five, the North East four, the North West five, the South East five, the South South four, and the South West seven.
Notable proposals include 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. There are also suggestions for New Kaduna and Gujarat states from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; and Kainji from Kebbi.
Other proposals include Etiti and Orashi in the South East, Adada from Enugu, and Orlu and Aba from the same region. From the South South, Ogoja is being considered, along with Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers. In the South West, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun are also on the table.
The letter emphasized that Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, outlines the strict criteria that must be met for any state creation process to move forward. These conditions will ensure that only well-supported and properly justified proposals are considered for approval.
The letter said “a request to the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if a request supported by at least the third majority of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.
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“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 demands.
“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, and Abuja.
“Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj.
“The Committee remains committed to supporting the implementing efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”
