By Muhammad Mamman
In a landmark decision, the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has unanimously approved the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East geo-political zone.
The move, widely hailed as a step towards balancing regional representation, will bring the South-East in line with other zones — the South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-East — each of which currently has six states.
This development marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s long-running constitutional review process, which aims to address issues of equity, inclusion and political fairness among the country’s federating units.
Although the committee did not disclose the proposed name or capital of the new state, sources within the National Assembly suggest that consultations are ongoing with stakeholders, traditional leaders and representatives from the five existing South-East states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
The recommendation will now proceed to the full plenary of both chambers for consideration and eventual passage, before being sent to state assemblies for ratification, as required by the constitutional amendment process.
Supporters of the decision have described it as “historic”, noting that the South-East has long been the only region with five states, a disparity many say has contributed to political and economic marginalisation.
If ratified, the creation of the new state will mark the first adjustment to Nigeria’s 36-state structure in nearly three decades, reshaping the country’s political map and reigniting debates about federal balance and regional development.
