House of Representatives Committee Proposes 31 New States

The Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the House of Representatives has received 31 proposals to create new states across Nigeria’s six regions.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu explained during a meeting that these proposals must meet specific legal requirements to be considered. 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.

Some proposed new states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence in Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa in Benue; and new states in the FCT. Others include Amana in Adamawa; Katagum in Bauchi; Savannah in Borno; Muri in Taraba; New Kaduna and Gujarat in Kaduna; Tiga and Ari in Kano; and Kainji in Kebbi. In the South East, proposals include Etiti and Orashi, Adada from Enugu, and Orlu and Aba.

In the South South, proposed states are Ogoja and Warri, along with Ori and Obolo. From the South West, proposed states include Torumbe, Ibadan, Lagoon, and others involving regions from Oyo, Ogun, and Osun.

According to the law, for a new state to be formed, the proposal must be supported by at least two-thirds of the members in the Senate, the House of Representatives, the State House of Assembly, and the Local Government Councils in the affected area.

The committee stressed that all proposals must strictly follow the legal guidelines and should be submitted in both printed and electronic forms. They are committed to considering only those proposals that meet the legal requirements.