BREAKING: House of Reps Proposes Creation of Lagoon State from Lagos, 30 Other New States - See Full List

By Dansu Peter  The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has disclosed that it has received 31 proposal...

By Dansu Peter 

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has disclosed that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.  

During plenary on Thursday, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read a letter from the committee, outlining the conditions that must be met before any of the proposed states can be approved.  

According to the committee, the submissions include five proposals from the North Central, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South East, four from the South South, and seven from the South West.  

Among the states under consideration are Okun, Okura, and Confluence (Kogi); Benue Ala and Apa (Benue); FCT State; Amana (Adamawa); Katagum (Bauchi); Savannah (Borno); and Muri (Taraba). Others include New Kaduna and Gurara (Kaduna); Tiga and Ari (Kano); Kainji (Kebbi); Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East; Adada (Enugu); and Orlu and Aba (South East).  

In the South South, Ogoja (Cross River), Warri (Delta), Ori and Obolo (Rivers) have been proposed, while in the South West, the list includes Torumbe (Ondo), Ibadan (Oyo), Lagoon (Lagos), Ijebu and Ogun (Ogun), and Oke Ogun/Ijesha (Oyo/Ogun/Osun).  

The committee emphasized that Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, outlines the rigorous requirements for state creation. The process demands a formal request to the National Assembly, backed by at least a two-thirds majority in the Senate, the House of Representatives, the respective State House of Assembly, and the affected Local Government Councils.  

Additionally, the referendum outcomes from State Houses of Assembly must be submitted to the National Assembly for final approval.  

The committee urged all advocates of state and local government creation to ensure compliance with these constitutional provisions. It further directed that three hard copies of proposals be submitted to the committee’s secretariat at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, while electronic copies should be sent via email.  

“The Committee remains committed to ensuring that only proposals that align with constitutional stipulations will be considered,” the statement concluded.