
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alighting from a vehicle
Since the return to democracy in 1999, there have been renewed calls from many sections or geopolitical zones of Nigeria for creation of additional states from the existing 36 states in the country either to make a balance for all regions or raise some regions to be at par.
Below are the states being canvassed for by various interest groups; note that their arrangements are in order of relevance to mere political jingoism.
Many analysts say for Tinubu to have done and taken far reaching policy actions since in power, he may not venture into the constitutional murky waters of new states creation without success given his political formulas’ and negotiative intelligence after all. However, the main question is whether some regions will allow for equality of regions if his aim is to balance regional equality by number of states.
Take a look at currently top ranking demands for new states and their key sponsors:
- OGOJA STATE – To be created from Cross River State, sponsored by Godwin Offiono.
- ORLU STATE – To be carved out of Imo, Abia and Anambra states, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere and 15 other lawmakers.
- ANIOMA STATE – To be carved out of Delta State, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko.
- COASTAL STATE – To be created from Ondo State, sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim.
- ADADA STATE – To be carved out of Enugu State, sponsored by Senator Okey Ezea.
- NEW OYO STATE – With Oyo town as the capital; the remaining part of the state will be renamed Ibadan State with Ibadan as its capital, sponsored by Senator Akeem Adeyemi and six others.
- ETITI STATE – To be created from the five South-East states, sponsored by Senator Amobi Ogah and four others.
- IJEBU STATE – To be carved out of Ogun State, sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel. This particular proposal is reportedly gaining significant traction and is expected to receive presidential approval soon.
- IFE-IJESHA STATE – To be created from Osun State, sponsored by Senator Oluwole Oke.
- OKE-OGUN STATE – To be created from Oyo State, sponsored by Oluwole Oke.
- TIGA STATE – To be carved out of Kano State, sponsored by Senator Kawu Sumaila AbdulRahman.
Additional Proposed States are:
– ITAI STATE – From Akwa Ibom State.
– State Status for the FCT – Federal Capital Territory.
– KATAGUM STATE – From Bauchi State.
– OKURA STATE – From Kogi East.
– GURARA STATE – From Kaduna South.
– GHARI STATE – From Kano State.
– AMANA STATE – From Adamawa State.
– GONGOLA STATE – From Adamawa State.
– MABBILLA STATE – From Taraba State.
– SAVANNAH STATE – From Borno State.
– OKUN STATE – From Kogi State.
– ORASHI STATE – From Imo and Anambra states.
– NJABA STATE – From Imo State.
– ABA STATE – From Abia State.
– TOROGBENE and OIL RIVER STATES – From Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
– BAYAJIDA STATE – From parts of Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara states.
It remains to be which of these proposed states would see the light of the day.
However, there are strong indications that President Tinubu may rally the States Houses of Assembly and get their nods to create additional states to balance equity of geopolitical regions or ease up political interests where a state may have been too strong for the centre.