By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Recently, the issue of the creation of new states in Nigeria has resurfaced, which many see as a political strategy by the APC administration under President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Presently, Nigeria has 36 states, each headed by a governor.
Clamor for the Creation of New States
The South-South geo-political zone has five states, the South-East five, the South-West six, the North-Central five, the North-West seven, and the North-East six.
The recent recommendation by the House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee for the creation of 31 new states shows that people still demand additional states beyond the existing 36.
Can New States in Nigeria Survive Economically?
A question raised by many observers is whether the newly created states, if approved, would have the capacity to sustain themselves in terms of revenue generation.
Is the committee also aware of the fact that some of the existing states struggle to survive without financial bailouts from the Federal Government?
Have they considered whether the country’s resources can support the current states, let alone the 31 new states they are proposing?
Another question raised by public affairs analysts is whether lawmakers are aware of the massive resources required to establish these 31 states, particularly the funds needed to develop their capitals and bring them up to the standards befitting a state.
The New States Recommended
The House of Representatives Committee recommends three additional states from present-day Kogi, three from existing Benue, two from present-day Kano, two from Kaduna, and two from Oyo.
On the other hand, some analysts argue that highly populated states like Kano require an additional state to enhance development.
Muhammad Umar, a development expert and political analyst, supports the creation of new states at this time, stating that it would facilitate infrastructural and human capacity development in neglected areas. For instance, he cites the proposed Gari State in the Kano North Senatorial District, where a local government like Kunchi was recently renamed Gari Local Government.
“Look at Jigawa State, which was carved out from Kano decades ago. There has been significant development, including the establishment of universities and other higher institutions of learning.”
He also points to Bayelsa in the South-South, which produced a Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan.
Regarding resources, Umar suggests that federal allocations given to the existing states can be shared with the new states based on their population.
The Need for Constitutional Review to Support the Creation of New States
Comrade Abdullahi Hassan, a human rights activist and proponent of new state creation in Nigeria, has called on the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments to support the current demands. He argues that new states would contribute positively to job creation and other aspects of development while also providing opportunities for a new set of leaders to emerge.
Comrade Hassan also urges different movements agitating for state creation to renew their efforts to achieve their goals this time.
Furthermore, Hassan calls on President Tinubu to support the creation of new states, emphasizing that it would open up new avenues for development in previously neglected areas.
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