On Thursday, the House of Representatives Committee that is currently reviewing the provisions of the 1999 Constitution made a significant proposal regarding the administrative structure of Nigeria. They put forward the idea of creating an additional 31 states across the country. This suggestion has sparked a range of reactions from various stakeholders in the political arena.
Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central during his tenure, has openly criticized this new proposal. He characterized it as both ironic and comical, expressing disbelief over the rationale behind suggesting the establishment of new states when numerous existing ones are currently functioning under dire circumstances and are heavily reliant on federal allocations for their economic survival.
Sani articulated his concerns by questioning the practicality of such a proposal, highlighting the fact that many of the states in Nigeria today do not operate independently and instead depend largely on financial support from the federal government to meet their basic needs and obligations. He remarked, “While many states depend on federal funding, the proposal for 31 new states seems ironic and comical. Politicians just want to carve out mini colonies for themselves.”
Should this proposal receive approval, it would lead to a significant increase in the number of states in Nigeria, bringing the total to 67. This potential expansion raises further questions about governance, resource allocation, and the management of state affairs in a country where many regions are already struggling economically.
