The Joint Senate and House Committee on Constitutional Review unanimously approved the creation of an additional state in the Southeast geopolitical zone, increasing the region’s total to six states.
The decision was made during a two-day retreat in Lagos, where the committee reviewed 55 proposals for the creation of states across the country.
Currently, the Southeast has five fewer states than the six or seven that make up other geopolitical zones in the country.
The session, chaired by the Vice President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Vice President of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, deliberated at length on the matter.
The Vice President, among many other legislators, who had consistently advocated the demand for additional statehood for the region, reiterated that the request was based on principles of fairness, justice and equity.
The Committee members who unanimously approved the request took turns deliberating on the issue and came out in favor of granting the Southeast additional status.
Following deliberations, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State).
The motion received unanimous support from committee members and was adopted.
It was further learned that in a related development, the joint committee also set up a sub-committee to further consider the creation of additional states and local government areas in the six geopolitical zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.
In his remarks, Senator Barau Jibrin urged members to enlist the support of their colleagues in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to ensure that the resolutions are passed during the vote.
According to him, “We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country participate in this process,” said Jibrin. “By the time we get to the actual vote, we should already have buy-in from all interested parties, both the Houses and the State Assemblies.”
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