Just-ln: House of Reps Committee Proposes Creation of 31 New States in Nigeria

Abuja ____ According to the committee, it is proposing an additional six new states in the North Central, four in the North East, five in the North West, five in the South-South, and seven in the South West.

The states being considered include Okun State, Okura State, and Confluence State from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa States from Benue; FCT State; Amana State from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi State; Savannah State from Borno; and Muri State from Taraba.

The states also include New Kaduna State and Gujarat State from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the Southeast; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba from the Southeast.

Others are 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, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.

The letter reads, “As amended, this section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation, which include the following:. New state and boundaries. 1. 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 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 fulfilment of state demands.

FULL LIST OF PROPOSED STATES

NORTH-CENTRAL

1️⃣ Benue Ala (Benue)

2️⃣ Okun (Kogi)

3️⃣ Okura (Kogi)

4️⃣ Confluence (Kogi)

5️⃣ Apa-Agba (Benue South Senatorial District)

6️⃣ Apa (Benue)

7️⃣ Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (As a distinct entity)

NORTH-EAST

8️⃣ Amana (Adamawa)

9️⃣ Katagum (Bauchi)

🔟 Savannah (Borno)

1️⃣1️⃣ Muri (Taraba)

NORTH-WEST

1️⃣2️⃣ New Kaduna (Kaduna)

1️⃣3️⃣ Gurara (Kaduna)

1️⃣4️⃣ Tiga (Kano)

1️⃣5️⃣ Kainji (Kebbi)

1️⃣6️⃣ Ghari (Kano)

SOUTH-EAST

1️⃣7️⃣ Etiti (New)

1️⃣8️⃣ Adada (Enugu)

1️⃣9️⃣ Urashi (New)

2️⃣0️⃣ Orlu (Imo)

2️⃣1️⃣ Aba (Abia)

SOUTH-SOUTH

2️⃣2️⃣ Ogoja (Cross River)

2️⃣3️⃣ Warri (Delta)

2️⃣4️⃣ Bori (Rivers)

2️⃣5️⃣ Obolo (Rivers & Akwa Ibom)

SOUTH-WEST

2️⃣6️⃣ Toru-Ebe (Delta, Edo & Ondo)

2️⃣7️⃣ Ibadan (Oyo)

2️⃣8️⃣ Lagoon (Lagos & Ogun)

2️⃣9️⃣ Ibeju (Ogun)

3️⃣0️⃣ Ife-Ijesha (Ogun, Oyo & Osun)

3️⃣1️⃣ Oke-Ogun (Ogun, Oyo & Osun)

According to Rep. Kalu, the committee has carefully reviewed these proposals in line with Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

📌 What’s your take on this potential expansion of Nigeria’s state structure? Drop your thoughts below!