National Assembly committee approves creation of 6 new states

In a major development, the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of six additional states in Nigeria.

The decision was among the key resolutions reached at the end of a two-day retreat held in Lagos, co-chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

According to reports, the joint committee reviewed a total of 69 bills during the retreat, which included 55 separate state creation requests, two proposals for boundary adjustments, and 278 applications for the creation of new local government areas across the country.

During the consideration of the 55 requests for state creation on Saturday, the joint committee unanimously resolved that six additional states be created in the country.

If it passes, it would increase the number of states in the country from 36 to 42.

The resolution reads as follows: creation of one additional state in each of the six geopolitical zones: North West, North East, North Central, South West, South South, and South East.

With the approval, South South will now have seven states; South West seven, South East six, North West eight, North East seven, and North Central seven.

The resolution will form part of the report of the joint committee that is expected to be presented to both chambers of the National Assembly in the first week of November.

A principal officer stated that the resolution on state creation was unanimously supported by all lawmakers from both chambers in the spirit of fairness and equity.

The lawmakers also resolved to create a subcommittee to identify areas from which the six additional states will be carved.

The Chief Whip of the State, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, chairs the Senate Committee to identify the areas.

A member of the subcommittee from Northwest assured that the committee will review all 55 requests submitted to the National Assembly to develop the six new state proposals.

” We will meticulously review the 55 requests for state creation to come up with the areas where the six new states will be carved from. We will be fair and just to all the promoters of state creation,” he said.