Constitution review: Reps receive requests for creation of 31 additional states

The leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday, confirmed receipt of 31 memoranda for the creation of additional states across the six geopolitical zones.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu who confirmed this while addressing Members, however, listed conditions to be met by those requesting State creation before they are granted.

The seven states requests from the North Central region are: Benue Ala State; Apa-Agba State from Benue South Senatorial District and Apa State from the present Benue State; as well as A 37th state, namely Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Okun State, Okura State and Confluence State from the present day KOGI State.

The proposed States from the North-East, are: Amana State from the present Adamawa State; Katagum State from the present Bauch State; Savannah State from the present Borno State and Muri State from the present Taraba State.

From the North-West, proposed States are: New Kaduna State and Gurara State from the present Kaduna State; Tiga State from the present Kano State; Kainji State from the present Kebbi State and Ghari State from the present Kano State.

From the South-East, the proposed States are: Etiti State; Adada State from the present Enugu State; Urashi State as well as Orlu State as well as Aba State from the South Eastern Region of Nigeria.

From the South-South region, the proposed States are: Ogoja State from the present Cross River State; Warri State from the present Delta State; Bori State from the present Rivers State; Obolo State from the present Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.

From the South-West region, the proposed States are: Toru-Ebe State from the present Delta, Edo and Ondo States; Ibadan State from the present Oyo State; Lagoon State from the present Lagos State; Ijebu State from the present Ogun State; Lagoon State from the present Lagos State and Ogun State; Ibadan State from the present Oyo State, as well as Oke-ogun and Ifeesha States from the present-day Ogun, Oyo and Osun States.

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

The letter stated that: “A request to the National Assembly to create a new state shall only be passed if a request supported by at least the third majority of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.

“Local Government Advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are only reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.

“Specifically, by Section 8.3 of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfilment of state demands.

“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee in Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, and Abuja.

“Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj.

“The Committee remains committed to supporting the implementing efforts that align with the constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”