Nigeria’s Lawmakers Propose Six New States Amid Fresh Concerns Over Equity and Regional Balance
Nigeria may be heading toward a new political structure as the Senate and House of Representatives joint committee has recommended the creation of six additional states, one for each geopolitical zone. The proposal emerged after a two-day retreat in Lagos, co-chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
If approved, the country would expand from 36 to 42 states, altering the geopolitical equation that has shaped political representation for decades.
Overview of the Recommendation
During their retreat, lawmakers reviewed:
69 constitutional amendment bills
55 requests for new states
2 boundary adjustment proposals
278 local government creation requests
The committee concluded that each geopolitical zone should receive one new state, changing the distribution as follows:
South South → 7 states
South West → 7 states
South East → 6 states
North West → 8 states
North East → 7 states
North Central → 7 states (including FCT treated as a state)
But despite getting an additional state, many stakeholders argue that the South East remains disadvantaged, increasing from five to six states while the North West rises to eight.
South East Stakeholders Express Fresh Frustrations
For years, the South East has demanded an additional state to correct historical imbalance. Instead, the newest proposal adding a state to all regions has drawn criticism.
Some leaders say it deepens the inequality rather than resolve it.
Igbo Elder Statesman Dr. Chike Obidigbo: “The rancour is needless”
Speaking to thewatch.ng, Dr. Chike Obidigbo condemned the rising tension over which of the proposed South East states “Adada, Etiti, or Anioma”should be prioritized.
“Attempts to divide the Igbo nation”
Obidigbo warned that political interests were exploiting the issue to sow division:
“There are political tricks behind this latest attempt. Some forces are trying to create disunity by pushing certain agendas that portray some Igbo as ‘core’ and others as ‘peripheral.’”
He urged the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to convene a meeting to harmonize demands and reach a united position.
Adada vs. Etiti vs. Anioma
Obidigbo acknowledged the long-standing demand for Adada State, but said Etiti State carved from homogenous Igbo communities has strong merit.
On the controversial push for Anioma State to be added to the South East, he noted that:
Anioma might struggle to pass a referendum
Delta State House of Assembly may vote against such realignment
External political interests appear to be driving the agenda
He emphasized respecting geography, saying communities in Edo, Benue, or Kogi that identify as Igbo can be integrated, but only through broad consensus.
Anambra Govt Official Dr. Chuka Nnabuife: “State creation drives development not imbalance”
Dr. Chuka Nnabuife told thewatch.ng that he supports the creation of more states, arguing that development follows administrative expansion:
“Those who lived through the eras of 12, 19, 30, and now 36 states know that the quality of life improved as states increased.”
However, he insisted that equity must guide the process.
“One state is not enough for the South East”
Nnabuife criticized the idea of giving the South East only one additional state while adding to all other regions:
“This will only sustain the existing imbalance. The South East needs two new states if others get one. And regions that already have seven should not get more.”
He argued that true fairness means correcting the long-standing deficit, not repeating it in a new form.
The recommendation still needs to pass through:
National Assembly approval
State Houses of Assembly
Referendums in affected areas
Presidential assent
Given the political calculations involved, the process may face intense lobbying, negotiations, and regional pushback.
For now, the proposal has reignited old debates about fairness, representation, and the long struggle to balance Nigeria’s federal structure.
