House committee receives proposals for new 31 states in Nigeria

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution announced on Thursday that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones

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

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.

Among the states being considered 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; 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 letter cited Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines specific requirements for state creation. It stated that a request for a new state must be supported by at least two-thirds of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the House of Assembly, and the Local Government Council of the affected area before it can be passed by the National Assembly.

The committee also reminded advocates for additional local government areas that the same constitutional provisions apply. According to Section 8(3), the results of referendums conducted by State Houses of Assembly must be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.

Proposals must be resubmitted in strict adherence to these guidelines, with three hard copies of the full memoranda to be delivered to the committee’s secretariat at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Electronic copies should also be sent to the committee’s email at info.hccr.gov.nj.

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only proposals meeting constitutional requirements will be considered.

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