House of Reps Receives 31 Proposals for New States Across Nigeria
ABUJA/Nigeria: The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu disclosed this on Thursday during plenary while reading a letter from the committee, which also outlined the constitutional conditions that must be met before any state creation request can be approved.
According to the letter, the proposals include five new states from the North Central, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South East, four from the South South, and seven from the South West.
Among the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; and FCT State. Others include Amana from Adamawa, Katagum from Bauchi, Savannah from Borno, and Muri from Taraba. In the North West, proposals include New Kaduna and Gurara from Kaduna, Tiga and Ari from Kano, and Kainji from Kebbi.
The South East proposals feature Etiti, Orashi, Adada from Enugu, and Orlu and Aba. From the South South, Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, and Ori and Obolo from Rivers are under consideration. The South West list includes Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.
The letter emphasized that Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) sets specific requirements for the creation of new states, including a request supported by at least two-thirds of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the relevant State House of Assembly, and the Local Government Councils of the affected areas before it can be passed by the National Assembly.
