The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 31 new states in Nigeria. If approved, this will increase the total number of states from 36 to 67.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary on Thursday, read a letter from the committee detailing the proposed states.
Proposed New States by Geopolitical Zones
North-Central
1. Benue Ala State – From the present Benue State.
2. Okun State – From the present Kogi State.
3. Okura State – From the present Kogi State.
4. Confluence State – From the present Kogi State.
5. Apa-Agba State – From Benue South Senatorial District.
6. Apa State – From the present Benue State.
7. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a 37th State – Abuja.
North-East
8. Amana State – From the present Adamawa State.
9. Katagum State – From the present Bauchi State.
10. Savannah State – From the present Borno State.
11. Muri State – From the present Taraba State.
North-West
12. New Kaduna State and Gurara State – From the present Kaduna State.
13. Tiga State – From the present Kano State.
14. Kainji State – From the present Kebbi State.
15. Ghari State – From the present Kano State.
South-East
16. Etiti State – As the sixth state in the South East geopolitical zone.
17. Adada State – From the present Enugu State.
18. Urashi State – As the sixth state in the South East geopolitical zone.
19. Orlu State – From the South Eastern Region.
20. Aba State – From the South Eastern Region.
South-South
21. Ogoja State – From the present Cross River State.
22. Warri State – From the present Delta State.
23. Bori State – From the present Rivers State.
24. Obolo State – From the present Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.
South-West
25. Toru-Ebe State – From the present Delta, Edo, and Ondo States.
26. Ibadan State – From the present Oyo State.
27. Lagoon State – From the present Lagos State.
28. Ijebu State – From the present Ogun State.
29. Lagoon State – From Lagos and Ogun States.
30. Ibadan State – From the present Oyo State.
31. Oke-Ogun and Ife-Ijesha States – From the present Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States.
Constitutional Process for State Creation
The Constitution sets out requirements for state creation in Nigeria and before any new state that be officially created, these requirements must be met. The constitutional requirements as stated in the letter read by the Deputy Speaker, includes an approval from at least two-thirds of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the respective State Houses of Assembly of the affected areas, the Local Government Councils within the concerned regions. These steps ensure broad legislative and local government support before new states can be officially recognized.
Bottom Line
The proposal for 31 new states reflects ongoing demands for greater representation and administrative restructuring in Nigeria. However, given the stringent constitutional requirements and potential political, economic, and social implications, its implementation remains uncertain. The proposal will likely generate intense debate in the National Assembly and among stakeholders across the country.
