By Fatima Mukhtar
The National Assembly has begun deliberations on a new constitutional amendment bill that could pave the way for the creation of 55 new states and 278 additional local government areas across Nigeria.
According to a report by The PUNCH, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, who chairs the Constitution Review Committee, disclosed this during a joint retreat of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held in Lagos.
Senator Barau revealed that the National Assembly has spent the last two years consulting widely with citizens, interest groups, and stakeholders across the country. He said a total of 69 amendment bills have now been compiled, including proposals for the creation of new states and local governments as well as adjustments to existing boundaries.
He noted that the committee aims to transmit the first phase of the constitutional amendment proposals to state Houses of Assembly before the end of the year, urging lawmakers to approach the process with patriotism and a strong sense of national unity.
“This exercise is not just about politics; it is about nation-building. We must work together to strengthen our federation and ensure fairness for all regions,” Barau said.
The renewed push comes after several previous attempts to create new states failed due to political disagreements and lack of consensus among various regions. However, some notable reforms, including financial autonomy for state legislatures and the judiciary, have successfully passed in earlier constitutional amendments.
Analysts say this latest move could reshape Nigeria’s political and administrative structure if approved, though it may also reignite debates over resource allocation, representation, and regional balance.
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