To comprise Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and FCT, Abuja
A lawmaker representing Buruku Federal Constituency in Benue State at the House of Representatives, Hon. Kpam Sokpo of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] stock has presented a bill seeking to create a new “Middle Belt Zone” in Nigeria.
The bill titled “Geo-political Zones of the Federation Bill 2020“, which was was read the first time on Tuesday, seeks to include states from other geo-political zones.
The lawmaker sought an amendment to Section 3 of the Principal Act as amended.
He proposed the following as the new geo-political zones:
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Middle Belt — Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
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Northeast — Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States
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Northwest — Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States
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Southeast — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States
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South-south — Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States, and,
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Southwest — Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.
Hon. Sokpo argued that the Middle Belt region is long overdue for constitutional recognition and that such recognition would ensure equity, fairness and Justice