The Senate committee on constitution review has recommended that 20 new states be created.

They also proposed that referendum be conducted for the 20 new states by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. 

The committee’s decision was reached after considering various factors including the ability of civilian administration to create states.

The committee also recommended state status for the FCT. The list of requests for new states is said to be quite long. They are:

1. ITAI State from Akwa Ibom

2. Katagum state from Bauchi

3. Okura state from Kogi East

4. Adada state from Enugu

5. Gurara state from Kaduna South

6. Ijebu State from Ogun

7. Ibadan state from Oyo

8. Tiga state from Kano

9. Ghari state from Kano

10. Amana state from Adamawa

11. Gongola state from Adamawa

12. Mambilla state from Taraba

13. Savannah state from Borno

14. Okun state from Kogi

15. Etiti state from the southeast zone

16. Orashi state from Imo and Anambra

17. Njaba from the present Imo state or the excision of Aba state from Abia

18. Anioma state from Delta

19. Torogbene and Oil River states, from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states

20. Bayajida state from parts of Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara

What you should know

Creation of new states tops the list of amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

Although less than five of the current 36 states are economically viable, it was gathered that the Senate Committee was determined to respect what it termed “the genuine desire of Nigerians.”

Other legislative developments on constitution amendment 

To check tax evasion, the Senate panel also approved the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for the creation of Federal Revenue Court. 

Earlier, The House of Representatives passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow creation of state police and legalise regional security outfits. The current police system will be decentralised by moving police from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.