The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The announcement was made on Thursday during plenary by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who read a letter from the committee outlining the conditions for approving new state creation requests.
According to the letter, the proposals include five 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. Some of the proposed states include Okun, Okura, and Confluence (Kogi); Benue Ala and Apa (Benue); FCT State; Amana (Adamawa); Katagum (Bauchi); Savannah (Borno); and Muri (Taraba).
Other proposed states are New Kaduna and Gujarat (Kaduna); Tiga and Ari (Kano); Kainji (Kebbi); Etiti and Orashi (South East); Adada (Enugu); Orlu and Aba (South East); Ogoja (Cross River); Warri (Delta); Ori and Obolo (Rivers); Torumbe (Ondo); Ibadan (Oyo); Lagoon (Lagos); Ijebu (Ogun); and Oke Ogun/Ijesha (Oyo/Ogun/Osun).
The letter emphasized that Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, outlines specific requirements for creating new states. These include a request supported by at least two-thirds of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the State House of Assembly, and the Local Government Councils in the affected areas.
“A request to the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it is supported by at least two-thirds of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the State House of Assembly, and the Local Government Councils in the affected areas,” the letter stated.
The committee also reminded advocates for new states and local government areas to follow the constitutional process. “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,” the letter added.
Proposals must be submitted in three hard copies to the Secretariat of the Committee at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Electronic copies should also be sent to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj.
The committee stressed its commitment to supporting efforts that align with constitutional provisions. “The Committee remains committed to supporting implementing efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines,” the letter concluded.
