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Tag: new states

  • 32 proposals for new states before  House of Reps panel

    32 proposals for new states before  House of Reps panel

    • N’central 7,  N’east 4, N’west 5, S’east 5,  S’south  4, S’west 7

    The push for the creation of more states is gathering momentum.

    Yesterday, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution said it received 32 proposals for the creation of new states across the six geo-political zones.

    In a letter read at plenary by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the committee listed the conditions to be met.

    The proposal is for seven states from the Northcentral, four from the Northeast, five from the Northwest, five from the Southeast, four from Southsouth and seven from the Southwest.

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

    Others are New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna, Tiga and Ghari from Kano, Kainji from Kebbi, Etiti from the five Southeast states, Orashi from Imo and Rivers, Adada from Enugu, Orlu from Imo and Abia and Aba from Abia.

    The rest are Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Bori and Obolo from Rivers, Toru-Ebe from Edo, Delta and Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.

    Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation.

    The letter signed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution review committee reads in part: “The Committee has reviewed the proposals for the creation of new states in accordance with Section 8(1).

    “This section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to mutate the process of state creation, which includes boundary adjustment, etc.

    “An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if (a) a request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following, namely – the Senate and the House of Representatives, (ii) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.

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    “Advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are also reminded that Section 8 applies to this process.

    “Specifically, in accordance with Section 8(3) of the Constitution, the outcomes of the votes by the state Houses of Assembly and the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.

    “Proposals should be re-submitted in strict adherence to these stipulations.

    “Submit three (3) hard copies of all proposals and memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee at Room H331, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, no later than 5th March 2025.

    “Soft comes must also be sent electronically to the committee’s email address at info@hccr.gov.ng.

    “The committee remains committed to supporting legitimate efforts that align with constitutional provisions and will only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”

    A bill seeking to create Etiti from the five Southeast states is also pending before the House of Representatives and passed a second reading in July last year.

    The bill is sponsored by Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo), Kama Nkemkama (LP, Ebonyi), Chinwe Nnabuife (YPP, Anambra), and Anayo Onwuegbu (LP, Enugu).

    According to the synopsis of the bill, the proposed state will comprise 11 local government areas (LGAs).

    They are Isuikwuato and Umunneochi from Abia, Orumba North and Orumba South from Anambra, Ivo and Ohaozara from Ebonyi; Aninri, Awgu, and Oji River from Enugu and Okigwe and Onuimo from Imo.

    The designated capital of the state is Lokpanta, which is currently located in Umunneochi, Abia State.

    Ijaw demands two states

    Also yesterday, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), reiterated the need for two additional states – Toribé and Oil River – to address what it called the longstanding political and economic marginalisation of the Ijaw people.

    Its president, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, at a briefing, stressed that the Niger Delta faces unique developmental challenges due to its difficult terrain.

    The situation, he said, has hindered the provision of critical infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and healthcare facilities.

    He noted that the current state structure has failed to effectively address these challenges, leaving the region without essential services.

    “The development in Niger Delta is uniquely challenging due to its difficult terrain,” Okaba said.

    “The current state structure has failed to address these, leaving the area without basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and healthcare.”

    He pointed out that despite the Ijaw people being the fourth-largest ethnic group in Nigeria, they have only one homogeneous state, Bayelsa, which represents less than one-third of their total population.

    He believes state creation is the foundation for federal representation, and without the proposed Toribé and Oil River States, the Ijaw people would continue to be politically sidelined.

    “The creation of Toribé and Oil River states is an urgent necessity, not actually a privilege,” Okaba said.

    “It will correct historical injustice, promote political inclusion, build economic development, and secure a better future for the Ijaw people.”

    Prof. Okaba commended the leadership of the National Assembly for its commitment to transparency, good governance, and national development.

    He called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and all distinguished lawmakers to prioritise the demand for state creation in the ongoing constitutional review process.

    “The Ijaw people have endured decades of political marginalisation, and the time for justice is now,” he said.

  • New states?

    New states?

    • We wonder how far proponents can go in view of the economic implications and the rigours of creation

    The clamour for creation of new states has resurfaced after several failed attempts in the past. Nigeria, which currently has 36 states, started off as three entities; made up of the Colony of Lagos, and the Protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria, way back in 1914.  With the nation approaching Independence in 1960, the northern, western and eastern regions were created, while Lagos remained the federal capital territory. In 1963, the Mid-West region was carved out of the Western Region, some argue, for political machinations.

    Ever since then, it had remained the prerogative of the military governments to use arbitrary decrees to create states in Nigeria; from 12, to 19, to 21, to 30, and finally 36 states.  Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, at every constitutional amendment process, the clamour for the creation of more states has resonated. Obviously, because of the stringent process associated with creation of states as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended), every such effort came to naught.

    But undaunted, the House of Representatives has passed, for second reading, an act to create a new Oyo State out of the present Oyo State. Some Nigerians look forward to civilians breaking the jinx associated with the rigorous process of creating new states. Section 8 of the constitution provides that an act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating new states shall be supported by at least two-thirds majority of members, representing the area demanding the creation in the Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly and local government.

    Furthermore, a referendum shall be approved by two-thirds of the people within the area in question. The referendum is then subjected to the approval of majority of states in the federation, with a simple majority of members in the state Houses of Assembly. Finally, the proposal is supported by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each arm of the National Assembly. It may be this rigorous process that has made the past attempts come to naught.

    But, beyond the demand for new states, we hope the proponents have critically examined the economic viability of the new states they are clamouring for? Perhaps, because as a country, we do not practice fiscal federalism, even though we are supposedly a federation, the creation of new states is seen as a way of gaining economic advantage, since resources are allocated on state and local government basis. Thus, there are more states in the former Northern Region than the old west, east and Lagos colony, put together.

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    As the nation progressed, the country has come to be regarded as constituting six geo-political zones, made up of three zones apiece, in the northern and southern parts of the country. While the northern part has 19 states, the southern part has 17 states. For the people of the south-east, they canvass for the creation of one more state within their zone to bring them to par with the other four zones, which has six states each, even though the north-west has seven states.

    But, beyond the political and economic benefits associated with the creation of more states, we doubt if the atomisation of states has brought better life for the ordinary people of the various zones. Sadly, the north-west zone, with the highest number of states, also has the majority of the multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians. So, instead of focusing on the creation of more states, which substantially serves the interest of the political elite, should the people not focus on economic prosperity for all, as the panacea for all the agitations?

    Arguably, the quality of life of the average Nigerian in, say the old Western Region, now made up of eight states across two zones, was way higher than what is now obtainable in the succession states.