The agitation for the creation of more states in the country has entered a new phase following a proposal by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
According to the Nation, the Senate Committee on Constitution Review has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to conduct referendum for the creation of the 20 new states. The committee’s decision was reached after considering various factors including the ability of civilian administration to create states.
A highly placed source said the Senate panel will soon meet with the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review for joint consultations on some of the approved amendments. Creation of new states tops the list of amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
Some of the states proposed for creation include ITAI State (from Akwa Ibom State); State status for the FCT; Katagum State from Bauchi State; Okura State from Kogi East; Adada State from Enugu State; Gurara State from Kaduna South; and Ijebu State from Ogun State.
Others include Ibadan State from Oyo State; Tiga State from Kano State; Ghari State from Kano State; Amana State from Adamawa; Gongola State from Adamawa; Mambilla State from Taraba State; Savannah State from Borno State; Okun state from Kogi State, Etiti State from the South East Zone; Orashi State from Imo and Anambra states; Njaba from the present Imo State or the excision of Aba State from Abia State; Anioma State from Delta State; Torogbene and Oil River States, from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states; and Bayajida State from parts of Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara states.