The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment has rejected all 31 proposals for the creation of new states in Nigeria, citing that they failed to meet constitutional requirements.
The proposals, which were submitted on February 6, 2025, did not satisfy the necessary constitutional criteria for consideration, according to Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Benjamin Kalu. He made this announcement during a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, organized by the 10th House of Representatives in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
Kalu explained that while 31 requests for state creation were received, none adhered to the constitutional prerequisites. However, the committee has extended the deadline for new submissions to March 5, 2025, allowing communities to revise their proposals and meet the required standards. Further extensions may also be considered depending on the outcomes of the retreat.
In addition to the state creation proposals, the committee is reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills, addressing a range of governance issues in Nigeria. Some of these bills have already passed the second reading, while others are still at the first stage.
