National Assembly Committee Approves Creation of New State in South-East
By Passman Akpos
The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East geo-political zone.
The decision, reached during a closed-door session at the National Assembly on Friday, marks a major milestone in the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at addressing long-standing demands for equity and balance among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
According to sources within the committee, the move is part of efforts to correct the perceived marginalization of the South-East, which currently has the fewest number of states — five — compared to other regions.
Committee Chairperson, Senator Ahmed Sani, confirmed the development while briefing reporters after the session. “The committee has carefully considered the submissions from stakeholders, traditional leaders, and representatives across the federation. After thorough deliberations, we have approved the creation of one additional state in the South-East zone,” he stated.
Although the name and boundaries of the proposed state have not been officially disclosed, insiders suggest that several proposals, including Orashi State, Etiti State, and Adada State, were among those under consideration.
The approval by the joint committee is one of several stages required before the new state can be formally recognized. The proposal will now proceed to the full National Assembly for debate and voting, followed by ratification by two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
If successful, the move would bring the total number of states in Nigeria to 37 and mark the first state creation since 1996.
Public reaction across the South-East has been largely positive, with several socio-political groups hailing the decision as “a long-overdue step toward fairness and national integration.”
