National Assembly Approves New State for South-East

In a landmark decision aimed at promoting equity and fairness, Nigeria’s National Assembly has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East region.

The approval came during a two-day retreat in Lagos, where lawmakers reviewed over 50 proposals for new states across the country.

The South-East, previously the only zone with five states, will now have six — aligning it with other geopolitical zones.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu jointly presided over the constitutional review session, emphasizing that the decision was driven by justice and national balance.

The motion was sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ogun State). It received unanimous backing from members of the joint committee.

A sub-committee has also been set up to assess the 278 pending proposals for new states and local governments across Nigeria.

Lawmakers are expected to push for wider legislative and state-level support before the process can be finalized.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin described the development as “a significant step toward inclusive governance,” adding that the new state would correct long-standing regional disparities.