BREAKING: Reps Committee Receives Request for Creation of 31 New States [Full List]

On Thursday, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution announced that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones.

During plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read a letter from the committee outlining the conditions that must be met before any requests for state creation can be approved.

The proposals include five from North Central, four from North East, five from North West, five from South East, four from South South, and seven from South West.

Among 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).

Additionally, proposals include New Kaduna state and Gujarat from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; Etiti and Orashi, the sixth state in the South East; Adada from Enugu; Orlu from Imo; and Aba from Abia State.

Other proposals feature Ogoja from Cross River; Warri from Delta; Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo; Lagoon from Lagos; and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun; as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.

According to the letter, Section 8 of the amended 1999 Constitution outlines specific requirements for initiating the state creation process.

The letter states, “A request to the National Assembly for creating a new state shall only proceed if supported by at least a two-thirds majority of members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the House of Assembly of the respective area, and the Local Government Council within that area.”

“Local Government advocates for the establishment of additional local government areas are reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, governs this process.

“Specifically, Section 8.3 of the Constitution requires that the results of the State Houses of Assembly votes in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly to fulfil state demands.

“Proposals must be resubmitted in strict adherence to these stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the complete proposal to the Committee Secretariat in Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

“Electronic copies must also be sent to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj.

“The Committee is committed to supporting efforts that align with Constitutional provisions and will only consider proposals that comply with the outlined guidelines.”