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Nigerian Senate Denies Approving Creation of 31 New States, Labels Reports as False

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 22nd, 2025.

Nigerian Senate Denies Approving Creation of 31 New States, Labels Reports as False

The Nigerian Senate has refuted circulating claims that it has approved the creation of 31 new states across the federation, calling such reports “fake news.”

Speaking to BBC News Pidgin, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu clarified that the National Assembly does not possess the sole authority to create new states. According to him, any attempt to establish new states must pass through a rigorous constitutional amendment process, which includes multiple stages and public consultations.

Adaramodu emphasized that a proposal for state creation must not only undergo legislative scrutiny but also receive approval from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s state Houses of Assembly. “It is a detailed and thorough procedure,” he said.

This clarification comes after widespread messages on platforms like WhatsApp claimed the Senate had already greenlit the formation of 31 new states. These claims have since been dismissed by lawmakers.

Back in February 2025, the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review acknowledged receiving proposals for the creation of 31 states. Committee Chairman Benjamin Kalu proposed a regional breakdown, suggesting:

Six new states for the North Central

Four for the North East

Five for the North West

Five for the South East

Four for the South South

Seven for the South West

Should these proposals eventually pass through the constitutional process, Nigeria would expand from 36 to 67 states—surpassing the 50 states of the United States.

However, there is currently no timeline for when or if this process will be completed, as it involves several complex legislative and democratic steps.

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What the Nigerian Constitution Says About State Creation

According to Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution, the process of creating a new state includes several stringent requirements:

1. The proposal must first gain support from at least two-thirds of:

National Assembly members representing the area

Members of the area’s State House of Assembly

Local government councils in the region

2. Following this, a referendum must be held in the affected area. At least two-thirds of voters must support the creation of the ne

w state.

3. The result of the referendum