NASS committee approves creation of new state in South East

The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South East region — a landmark decision aimed at correcting long-standing regional imbalance in the country’s federal structure.

The approval, reached at the end of a two-day retreat in Lagos, would increase the number of states in the South East from five to six, bringing it in line with other geopolitical zones that have six or seven states.

The retreat was co-chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

During the deliberations on 55 state creation proposals, Kalu — a vocal advocate for an additional South East state — said the decision was driven by the principles of equity, justice, and fairness.

“This is not about political convenience or emotion,” Kalu said.

“It is about ensuring fairness for a region that has, for far too long, been short-changed in Nigeria’s federal arrangement.”

The motion for the new state was moved by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State). It reportedly passed unanimously, receiving full support from members of the joint committee.

Alongside the approval, the committee also set up a subcommittee to review additional requests for new states and local government areas across the six geopolitical zones.

The subcommittee will examine 278 pending proposals and submit a harmonised report for further consideration.

In his closing remarks, Senator Jibrin urged members to embark on broad consultations across both chambers of the National Assembly and with State Houses of Assembly to build national consensus ahead of the final constitutional amendment vote.

“We must consolidate on this progress,” he said.

“By the time we get to the stage of voting, all stakeholders — from the Senate to the states — should already be on board.”

The decision marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional reform process and represents a significant step toward addressing long-standing demands for parity among the country’s six geopolitical zones.

While the name and boundaries of the proposed state have not yet been disclosed, insiders say the subcommittee will work with relevant stakeholders to finalise details before presenting a formal recommendation to the National Assembly.

If the resolution secures the support of two-thirds of federal lawmakers and at least 24 State Houses of Assembly, the new state will officially become Nigeria’s 37th.