The 10th 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 Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
A letter from the committee on the requests, read by the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during the plenary, outlined 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, 4 from the North-East, 5 from the North-West, 5 from the South-East, 4 from the South-South and seven from the South-West geo-political zones.
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).
The States also includes: New Kaduna and Gujarat States, from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari ,from Kano, and Kainji, from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th State in the South-East, Adada from Enugu, Orlu and Aba from the South-East. They also include 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; Oke Ogun/Ijesha, from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.
According to the letter, section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of State creation.
It states that: “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 the third 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.
“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.
“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.
“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”.
