From three to 36: Evolution of state creation in Nigeria

The House of Representatives committee on constitutional review on Thursday revealed that it has received proposals for the creation of 31 new states. If the proposals are approved, the states of the federation will move from 36 to 67.

Nigeria’s journey from a colonial entity with three regions to a federation of 36 states has been shaped by political, economic, and social factors.

The demand for state creation has often been driven by ethnic, regional, and administrative considerations, aimed at bringing governance closer to the people.

This article traces the evolution of state creation in Nigeria, from independence to the present.

1. The three-region structure (Before 1963)

Before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the country was divided into three regions:

Northern Region

Western Region

Eastern Region

These regions were largely autonomous, with significant control over their resources and governance under a federal system inherited from colonial rule. However, ethnic and political tensions led to demands for more administrative divisions.

Read also: Full list: 36 Nigerian states, their dates of creation and how they were created

2. The first state creation exercise (1963)

The Mid-Western Region was carved out of the Western Region on August 9, 1963, making Nigeria a four-region country:

Northern Region

Western Region

Eastern Region

Mid-Western Region

This was the only state created during Nigeria’s First Republic (1960–1966).

3. The 12-state structure (1967)

Following Nigeria’s first and second military coups in 1966 and rising ethnic tensions, General Yakubu Gowon abolished the regional system and introduced 12 states on May 27, 1967:

North-Western State

North-Central State

North-Eastern State

Kano State

Benue-Plateau State

Kwara State

Western State

Lagos State

Mid-Western State

East-Central State

South-Eastern State

Rivers State

This restructuring played a major role in the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), as it was seen as an attempt to weaken the Eastern Region, which later declared independence as Biafra.

4. The 19-state structure (1976)

In an effort to further decentralise power and promote national unity, the Murtala Muhammed regime created seven additional states on February 3, 1976, bringing the total to 19 states:

Anambra, Bauchi, Bendel, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Gongola, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Sokoto.

5. The 21-state structure (1987)

Under General Ibrahim Babangida, two more states were created on September 23, 1987:

Akwa Ibom State (from Cross River State) and Katsina State (from Kaduna State)

This move was partly in response to demands for greater representation by minority ethnic groups.

6. The 30-state structure (1991)

On August 27, 1991, Babangida increased the number of states to 30, creating:

Abia (from Imo State)

Adamawa (from defunct Gongola State)

Delta (from defunct Bendel State)

Enugu (from old Anambra State)

Edo (from Bendel State)

Jigawa (from Kano State)

Kebbi (from Sokoto State)

Kogi (from Benue and Kwara States)

Osun (from Oyo State)

Taraba (from Gongola State)

Yobe (from Borno State)

7. The current 36-state structure (1996)

The last state creation exercise occurred under General Sani Abacha on October 1, 1996, when six more states were added:

Bayelsa State (from Rivers State)

Ebonyi State (from Abia and Enugu States)

Ekiti State (from Ondo State)

Gombe State (from Bauchi State)

Nasarawa State (from Plateau State)

Zamfara State (from Sokoto State)

This brought the total to 36 states, a structure that remains in place today.

Full list: 31 new Nigerian states proposed by House of Reps

The demand for more states

Despite the 36-state structure, various ethnic and political groups continue to demand more states, arguing for better representation, economic benefits, and administrative efficiency.

However, critics have argued that while state creation has helped bring administration closer to the people, it has also contributed to economic dependency on the federal government.