The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This development is a significant step towards addressing the longstanding demands for state creation in various parts of the country.
According to the committee, the proposals include five 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. Some of the proposed states include Okun state, Okura state, and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala, Apa-Agba, and Apa states from Benue; and FCT state, among others.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read a letter from the committee during plenary, outlining the conditions that must be met before any state creation requests can be approved. The letter emphasized that section 8 of the 1999 Constitution as amended outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation.
These requirements include a request supported by at least two-thirds majority of members representing the area demanding the creation of the new state in the Senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, and local government councils. The committee has given proposers until March 5, 2025, to resubmit their proposals in strict adherence to the stipulated guidelines.
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