Senate Receives 61 State Creation Requests — None Approved Yet

The Nigerian Senate has received 61 formal requests for the creation of new states from across the country’s six geopolitical zones, but none have advanced beyond preliminary review, according to Senator Yemi Adaramodu, spokesperson for the 10th National Assembly.

                                                                      

In July, Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed 42 proposals. Since then, 19 additional requests have been submitted, bringing the total to 61.

Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District, stressed that state creation is a constitutional process that the Senate cannot initiate unilaterally.

“The Senate cannot unilaterally create states. Such requests must go through a constitutional review, with Nigerians and other stakeholders making their positions clear,” he explained.

The process, he said, involves:

• Examining demographic, geographic, and historical data

• Collating and reviewing all proposals through the Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau

• Holding a nationwide public hearing for supporters and opponents of each proposal

• Joint approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives

According to Adaramodu, some proposals lack full support from stakeholders within the requesting states themselves, a factor that could derail approval.

“State creation is a serious matter. Even within the requesting states, there are elements who oppose it. Every demographic and historical factor must be weighed before any decision,” he said.

The public hearing on all 61 requests will take place after the Senate reconvenes from recess. Until then, no state has been recommended for creation.

“We cannot speculate on the outcome. The final report and aggregated public views will determine which, if any, of these requests move forward,” Adaramodu concluded.