National Assembly Committee Unanimously Approves Creation of a New State in the Southeast

ONN Lagos 26.10.2025

The Joint Committee on Constitutional Review of the Senate and the House of Representatives has unanimously approved the creation of a new state in Nigeria’s Southeast region.

The approval came during the committee’s two-day retreat held in Lagos, where lawmakers reviewed proposals for the creation of 55 new states across the country.

The session was co-chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who has been a leading voice in the push for an additional state in the Southeast.

Kalu, speaking during the deliberations, reaffirmed that the call for a new state in the region was anchored on fairness, equity, and justice, noting that the Southeast remains the only geopolitical zone with five states, while all others have six.

Following extensive discussions, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Ogun State). The motion was unanimously adopted by the committee members.

This development marks a major milestone in the ongoing constitutional amendment process, which seeks to address long-standing imbalances in Nigeria’s federal structure.

The National Assembly is currently working on a comprehensive amendment of the 1999 Constitution, with the creation of new states featuring prominently among the proposals.

In January 2025, Deputy Speaker Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, announced that the amendment process would be concluded by December 2025.

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, no administration has successfully created a new state despite recurring agitations from various regions. The Southeast’s demand for parity has remained one of the most persistent, as it continues to push for equal representation within the federation