The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has disclosed that it has received proposals for the creation of 31 additional states to the existing 36 in Nigeria.
The chairman of the committee and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, made this announcement on Thursday during plenary while reading a letter from the committee’s clerk.
According to Kalu, the proposed states include six in the North Central, four in the North East, five in the North West, five in the South East, four in the South-South, and seven in the South West. Among the states being considered are Okun, Okura, and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa states from Benue; FCT State; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah from Borno; and Muri from Taraba.
Other proposals include New Kaduna and Gujarat states from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; Etiti, Orashi, Adada, Orlu, and Aba from the South East; Ogoja from Cross River; Warri from Delta; Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo; Lagoon from Lagos; Ijebu from Ogun; and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo, Ogun, and Osun states.
The committee outlined the criteria required to initiate the state creation process, stating “An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members. The House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area are received by the National Assembly. 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.”
The statement added; “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 fulfilment 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 in 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 emphasized its commitment to adhering to constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that meet the stipulated guidelines.
