Senate, Reps Joint Committee Backs Creation of New State in South East
The Joint Committee on Constitutional Review of the Senate and House of Representatives has unanimously approved the creation of a new state in Nigeria’s South East region.
The decision was reached during the committee’s two-day retreat in Lagos, where lawmakers reviewed proposals for the creation of 55 new states across the country.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who has been one of the leading advocates for the move, said the agitation for a new state in the South East was rooted in “fairness, equity, and justice.”
The South East remains the only geopolitical zone with five states, while most other regions have six and the North West has seven. Lawmakers and stakeholders have long argued that this imbalance undermines equitable representation and development.
Although the committee’s approval marks a significant milestone, it is only the first step in a rigorous constitutional process. The proposal must still secure the support of two-thirds of members of the National Assembly, two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies, and presidential assent before a new state can be officially created.
Observers say the committee’s rare unanimity signals growing political will to address long-standing structural disparities in Nigeria’s federal arrangement.
