A new state is created when two-thirds majority of members of the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly approve of it
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.
The proposed new states, if they eventually meet the set requirements, will increase Nigeria’s sub-national structure from the current 36 to 67 states.
The announcement was made during plenary on Thursday as Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read a letter from the committee detailing the process and conditions required for state creation.
According to the letter, the proposed states 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 states under consideration are Okun, Okura, and Confluence (Kogi); Benue Ala and Apa (Benue); FCT State; Amana (Adamawa); Katagum (Bauchi); Savannah (Borno); and Muri (Taraba).
Others include New Kaduna and Gurara from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; and Kainji from Kebbi. The South-east region has proposals for Etiti, Orashi, Adada (Enugu), Orlu, and Aba.
Similarly, the South-south region has proposals for Ogoja (Cross River), Warri (Delta), and Ori and Obolo (Rivers). The South-west proposals include Torumbe (Ondo), Ibadan (Oyo), Lagoon (Lagos), Ijebu and Ogun (Ogun), and Oke-Ogun/Ijesha (Oyo/Ogun/Osun).
Conditions for State Creation
The letter outlined the constitutional requirements for new states, referencing Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“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 a two-thirds 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,” the letter stated.
The committee also emphasized the need for strict adherence to due process in creating additional local government areas.
“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,” it noted.
Additionally, the letter highlighted that the results of referendums conducted by the State Houses of Assembly must be submitted to the National Assembly for review.
“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,” it added.
Submission Guidelines
The committee called on proponents of state creation to follow the prescribed submission guidelines.
“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,” the letter instructed.
Additionally, electronic copies should be sent to the committee’s official email at info.hccr.gov.nj.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional compliance in assessing state creation proposals.
“The Committee remains committed to supporting the implementation efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”
