The Nigerian Senate has received 61 proposals seeking the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones of the country, according to Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity.
Speaking with journalists over the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, Adaramodu described the process of state creation as highly technical, requiring in-depth evaluation of demographic, geographic, and historical factors, as well as public consultation through hearings.
He explained that while 42 requests were earlier confirmed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio in July, the number has now risen by 19, bringing the total to 61 submissions under review.
“All of these proposals must go through a rigorous vetting process. The Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, will collate, assess, and filter the submissions,” Adaramodu stated.
According to him, once the committee completes its review, a report will be presented to both chambers of the National Assembly.
“After that, the Senate and House of Representatives will hold joint public hearings where advocates and opponents of each proposal will be given the chance to present their arguments. Only after this stage will the legislature make any decisions,” he explained.
The proposals are part of the ongoing review of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, with state creation emerging as a prominent issue during recent constitutional review sessions held across northern and southern zones.
Adaramodu also addressed concerns about the 2024 budget cycle, emphasizing that the National Assembly is committed to ensuring that capital projects are not abandoned before the end of the fiscal year.
“Without a formal extension, any uncompleted projects risk being dropped from funding, and will have to wait another year to be included in the next budget,” he noted.
