The National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee has revived discussions on a proposal to create an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East region. Lawmakers say the consideration is part of ongoing efforts to promote balance and fairness in the country’s federal structure.
During a recent meeting in Abuja, committee members took note of renewed appeals from groups and leaders across the South-East, who maintain that being the only zone with five states limits the region’s political influence and access to federal opportunities. Other geopolitical zones in the country have six states each.
Officials of the committee confirmed that the proposal was among numerous submissions made by the public for inclusion in the constitutional review process. They stressed that the path to creating a new state remains complex, requiring national consensus, broad stakeholder engagement, and compliance with constitutional provisions.
Supporters of the initiative argue that an additional state would bring greater equity, enhance development, and strengthen unity within the federation. Nevertheless, some lawmakers have advised caution, urging that the process must remain transparent and free from political manipulation.
The committee is expected to include its findings on the issue in its forthcoming report to the National Assembly as part of the wider constitutional amendment deliberations.
