Nigeria is set to have six new states as the National Assembly joint committee on Constitutional Review has approved the proposal for their creation.
The approval was one of the major outcomes of a two-day retreat held in Lagos, jointly chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
A unanimous decision was reached by the committee after reviewing 55 separate requests for state creation from across the country.
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The lawmakers also considered 69 bills, two boundary adjustment proposals, and 278 requests for new local government areas during the retreat.
According to the joint committee, one new state will be created in each of the six geopolitical zones: North West, North East, North Central, South West, South East, and South South.
If the recommendation sails through all constitutional processes, Nigeria’s number of states will rise from 36 to 42.
Speaking during the session, Senator Barau Jibrin noted that the committee’s decision followed years of consultations, engagements, and public hearings involving citizens, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
“We have been in this process for the past two years, engaging our constituents, critical stakeholders, institutions, civil society organisations and interest groups in town hall meetings, interactive sessions and public hearings, harvesting and synthesising views and perspectives which has ultimately culminated in what we have here today – 69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments and 278 local government creation requests,” he said.
However, the proposal is expected to be forwarded to the full chambers of the National Assembly for deliberation and possible constitutional amendment.
If approved, the geopolitical balance across the country would be altered, giving each region at least six states.