The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. This decision, made during a two-day retreat in Lagos, aims to address regional imbalances by increasing the zone's states from five to six. The approval received unanimous support from the committee.
In a significant step toward equitable federal structure, the Joint Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin and co-chaired by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, concluded a two-day retreat in Lagos on October 25, 2025. The committee deliberated on 55 proposals for state creation from across the country and unanimously approved adding a sixth state to the South East, which currently has five, aligning it with zones that have six or seven states.
Kalu, a prominent advocate for this change, emphasized fairness in his remarks: “This decision is not about politics or sentiment. It is about fairness to a region that has, for too long, been short-changed in the federation’s structure.” The motion was moved by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State).
Additionally, the committee formed a subcommittee to examine 278 proposals for new states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones. Senator Jibrin, in closing, called for consultations: “We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process. By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the State Houses of Assembly.”
The proposed state's name and boundaries remain undisclosed, with the subcommittee tasked to finalize details through stakeholder engagement. For the change to take effect as Nigeria's 37th state, it requires approval by two-thirds of the National Assembly and at least 24 State Houses of Assembly. This move responds to longstanding demands for parity among Nigeria's zones, featured in prior constitutional efforts.