In a historic development, the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review
has unanimously approved the creation of a new state in Nigeria’s South-East geo-political zone.
The decision, which marks a major milestone in the ongoing constitutional amendment process, is aimed at
ensuring equity and balance among the country’s six geo-political zones.
Once the proposed state is officially created, the South-East region currently made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi,
Enugu, and Imo States will now have six states, placing it on equal footing with the South-South, South-West, North-
Central, and North-East zones, each of which already has six states.
According to members of the committee, the move is part of efforts to address long-standing demands for fairness,
representation, and political inclusion for the people of the South-East, who have for years called for the creation of an additional state to bring the region in line with others.
Lawmakers present at the session described the decision as a significant step toward national unity and
constitutional justice, emphasizing that the imbalance in state distribution across the regions has been one of the issues
fueling agitations and feelings of marginalization in the South-East.
The approval follows extensive consultations, public hearings, and review sessions conducted by the
committee as part of the broader process of amending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Further legislative steps, including debates, adoption by both chambers of the National Assembly, and eventual
assent by the President, are expected to follow before the new state officially comes into existence.
The decision has already sparked excitement and optimism among stakeholders in the South-East, who see it
as a long-awaited recognition of the region’s importance in Nigeria’s socio-political structure.
Political observers say the development could reshape political representation, resource allocation, and regional development once finalized.
The Joint Constitution Review Committee, co-chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, and his
counterpart in the House of Representatives, is expected to provide more details on the timeline and implementation process in the coming days.
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