Breaking: Reps recieve request for 31 new states

The House of Representatives committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has received a request to create 31 additional states across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

This is contained in a letter from the committee read at Thursday’s plenary by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.

The letter also listed conditions to be met by those requesting state creation before they are granted.

The states being considered are Okun state, Okura state, and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa states from Benue; FCT state; Amana state from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi state; Savannah state from Borno; and Muri state from Taraba.

The states also include New Kaduna state and Gujarat states from Kaduna state; Tiga and Ari from Kano and Kainji from Kebbi state; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba from the South East.

They also include Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo; Lagoon from Lagos and Ogun; Ijebu from Ogun; and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.

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

The letter said, “A request to the National Assembly for the purpose of creating 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.”