Senate Receives 61 Requests for State Creation, None Approved Yet

 

The Senate has confirmed receiving 61 proposals from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones for the creation of new states — but says none has advanced past preliminary consideration.

Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, noting that the figure has risen from 42 requests announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio in July, with 19 more submissions since then.

Adaramodu stressed that state creation is a complex constitutional process that demands thorough auditing of demographic, geographic, and historical data, as well as a nationwide public hearing. He emphasised that the Senate has no power to unilaterally create states; such matters must be handled through the constitutional review process involving Nigerians and other critical stakeholders.

“So far, all 61 requests are still under review,” he said. “They will be collated and assessed by the Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau. Only after this process, followed by public hearings, can the National Assembly consider any genuine proposal.”

He added that the public hearing — to be held after the current parliamentary recess — will allow both supporters and opponents of each proposal to present their cases before the Senate and House of Representatives deliberate jointly.

Adaramodu reiterated that no state has been recommended or endorsed for creation at this stage, and final decisions will depend on the outcome of the hearings and the aggregation of public opinion.