Nigeria’s National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East region a significant step toward correcting longstanding political and structural imbalances in the country.
The joint committee, comprising members of the Senate and House of Representatives, reached a unanimous decision during a two-day retreat held in Lagos on Saturday.
Lawmakers considered over 55 proposals for new states across the federation but concluded that fairness required the creation of an extra state in the South-East. Currently, the region comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo remains the only geopolitical zone with five states. Other zones have six or seven.
Once created, the new state would bring the South-East to parity with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, which each have six states. The North-West currently leads with seven.
The session was chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and co-chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, both of whom emphasized that the move was motivated by fairness, equity, and national unity.
Kalu, a prominent advocate for the South-East, said the decision would finally give the region a sense of belonging in Nigeria’s federal structure. He noted that the imbalance had long fueled discontent among citizens and political leaders in the area.
A statement from the committee’s media unit confirmed that members unanimously adopted the motion for the new state. It was moved by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State).
The committee also established a sub-committee to review 278 additional proposals for the creation of new states and local governments across all six geopolitical zones. The sub-committee will submit its findings ahead of the next stage of constitutional amendment.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin urged lawmakers at all levels to build consensus in support of the proposal when it comes up for voting.
“We must strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process,” Jibrin said. “By the time we reach the voting stage, every stakeholder should already understand the purpose and benefit of this decision.”
If ratified, this would mark Nigeria’s first successful state creation since 1996, when then-military ruler General Sani Abacha established six new states.
