The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has received proposals for 31 new states spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The initiative, unveiled during a plenary session, was presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presented the document in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
According to the proposals, the breakdown of potential new states includes: five in North Central, four in North East, five in North West, five in South East, four in South-South, and seven in South West.
Notable names on the list include Okun, Amana, Ibadan, Okura, Confluence, and Ala States. Other proposals feature Etiti and Orashi for the South East, Ogoja and Warri for the South-South, and Ibadan, Lagoon, and Ijebu for the South West.
Deputy Speaker Kalu detailed the stringent legal framework governing state creation. Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandates that proposals must secure the backing of a two-thirds majority in the Senate, House of Representatives, respective State Assemblies, and local government councils.
Additionally, all proposals must undergo rigorous legislative scrutiny before any motion is adopted.
Advocates for additional Local Government Areas were also reminded that the constitutional requirements for boundary adjustments and administrative restructuring must be strictly adhered to.
The Committee urged stakeholders to submit three hard copies of all proposals and memoranda to the Secretariat at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, by Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Soft copies must also be submitted via the committee’s official email.
This article was updated 4 days ago
