The House of Representatives’ recent announcement regarding proposals for the creation of 31 new states in Nigeria has ignited intense debate across the country. The move, which emerged during the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), has drawn mixed reactions from various sectors, including political groups, socio-cultural organizations, and legal experts.
If approved, the proposed states would increase Nigeria’s total from 36 to 67. Currently, the South East has the fewest states (five), while the North West has the most (seven). The proposals cover all six geopolitical zones, with the North Central seeking seven new states, the North East five, the North West five, the South East five, the South-South four, and the South West six.
The House Committee on Constitution Review, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, has urged proponents of the new states to resubmit their requests following constitutional guidelines. Kalu assured that only proposals meeting the stipulated requirements would be considered.
However, the proposal has met significant opposition. Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-political group, dismissed the idea as unnecessary and a distraction from Nigeria’s more pressing need for restructuring and true federalism. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also criticized the move, citing financial and administrative inefficiencies.
Conversely, the Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, sees the proposal as an opportunity to address historical marginalization. The group insists that the South East, with the fewest states, should receive additional states to achieve regional balance. Similarly, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has supported state creation only if it ensures equal distribution across all regions.
Prominent lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, condemned the proposal as a “wasteful venture,” arguing that most existing states struggle financially and depend on federal allocations. He emphasized that the country should focus on addressing economic hardship, restructuring governance, and ensuring equitable development rather than creating more states.
On social media, Nigerians expressed mixed opinions. While some supported the move as a step towards better representation and governance, others dismissed it as a political strategy to increase access to federal resources.
One user, Najeeb Bello, sarcastically suggested: “Why not 311 states? Let every local government area in Nigeria just become a state.”
Another, Bashir Ahmad, argued that Kano State should be split into multiple states, citing its large population. He wrote: “With the National Assembly’s proposal, I strongly believe Kano, with its population nearing 20 million, deserves to be split into at least five states.”
Despite the ongoing debate, experts note that the constitutional process for creating new states is highly stringent. Any proposal must secure a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly before approval.
As discussions continue, it remains uncertain whether the proposal will gain sufficient traction or be shelved like previous attempts.