BREAKING: House of Reps proposes creation of Apa state, 30 others

The Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has proposed the creation of 31 new states, including the much-anticipated Apa State.

IDOMA VOICE reports that if the proposal is approved, Nigeria’s number of sub-national governments will increase to 67, as the country currently has 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over Thursday’s plenary session in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, read the proposal letter, outlining the specific requirements for initiating the state creation process.

For Apa State, the proposal calls for the creation of a new state carved from Benue State, a move that could significantly impact the region’s political and economic landscape. The letter states that the new state creation will follow constitutional provisions, including receiving support from the National Assembly and local government councils in the affected areas.

With the introduction of Apa State, the committee’s plan reflects a broader initiative aimed at addressing regional imbalances and enhancing local governance across Nigeria. This proposal marks a crucial step in Nigeria’s constitutional review process, with potential benefits for representation and development in Apa and other regions.

1. New states and boundaries:
   • An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it receives support from at least a third of the members.
   • The House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area must be received by the National Assembly.
   • Advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.
   • Specifically, in accordance with Section 8 (3) of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes from the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfillment of the state creation process,” the proposal partly reads.

According to the proposal, the new states are:

• Okun, Okura, and Confluence States from Kogi
• Benue Ala and Apa States from Benue
• FCT State
• Amana State from Adamawa
• Katagum from Bauchi and Savannah States from Borno
• Muri State from Taraba
• New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State
• Tiga and Ari from Kano
• Kainji from Kebbi State
• Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East
• Adada from Enugu
• Orlu and Aba from the South East
• Ogoja from Cross River State
• Warri from Delta
• Ori and Obolo from Rivers
• Torumbe from Ondo
• Ibadan from Oyo
• Lagoon from Lagos
• Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun State
• Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States