Politics

‘It’s comical,’ Shehu Sani faults Reps proposal for 31 new states

Adamu Jubril
Senator Shehu Sani.
Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central, has slammed the proposal to create an additional 31 states in Nigeria, calling it both “ironic and comical.”

The proposal, announced on Thursday by the House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, was read out by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during plenary. The plan, if approved, would increase Nigeria’s number of states from 36 to 67.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, Sani questioned the need for new states, given that many of the current states are heavily dependent on federal allocations for survival. He argued that the proposal serves only the political interests of those pushing for it.

“While many states are dependent on federal allocation for their survival, the House of Representatives’ proposal for 31 new states is both ironic and comical. Politicians just want to carve out mini colonies for themselves,” Sani wrote.

The proposal, which would create new states across all geopolitical zones in the country, has sparked mixed reactions from both political leaders and citizens.

Proposed New States:

North-Central:

  1. Benue Ala State (from Benue)
  2. Okun State (from Kogi)
  3. Okura State (from Kogi)
  4. Confluence State (from Kogi)
  5. Apa-Agba State (from Benue South Senatorial District)
  6. Apa State (from Benue)
  7. Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (proposed as a state)

North-East:

  1. Amana State (from Adamawa)
  2. Katagum State (from Bauchi)
  3. Savannah State (from Borno)
  4. Muri State (from Taraba)

North-West:

  1. New Kaduna State (from Kaduna)
  2. Gurara State (from Kaduna)
  3. Tiga State (from Kano)
  4. Kainji State (from Kebbi)
  5. Ghari State (from Kano)

South-East:

See also
  1. Etiti State (6th state for the South-East)
  2. Adada State (from Enugu)
  3. Urashi State (6th state for the South-East)
  4. Orlu State (from South-Eastern region)
  5. Aba State (from South-Eastern region)

South-South:

  1. Ogoja State (from Cross River)
  2. Warri State (from Delta)
  3. Bori State (from Rivers)
  4. Obolo State (from Rivers and Akwa Ibom)

South-West:

  1. Toru-Ebe State (from Delta, Edo, and Ondo)
  2. Ibadan State (from Oyo)
  3. Lagoon State (from Lagos)
  4. Ijebu State (from Ogun)
  5. Lagoon State (from Lagos and Ogun)
  6. Ife-Ijesha State (from Oyo)
  7. Oke-Ogun State (from Ogun, Oyo, and Osun)