The Nigerian Senate says it cannot create new states — at least not for now.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu told reporters in Ilawe Ekiti that while the Red Chamber has received 61 proposals from across the six geopolitical zones, the power to approve such requests does not rest solely with lawmakers.
“State creation can only happen during a constitutional review process, with full input from Nigerians and other stakeholders,” Adaramodu explained.
He said all proposals gathered from constituency consultations will be sent to the constitutional review committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, for vetting before a report goes to the Senate.
“This is a serious matter requiring thorough audits of population, geography, and history,” he warned, noting that in some cases, even people within the requesting states are divided on the issue.
For now, he stressed, “No state has been recommended for creation. We’ll decide only after public hearings once the National Assembly resumes.”
