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 has undergone several state creation exercises since independence. These divisions were primarily made to bring governance closer to the people and address administrative challenges. Here’s a list of all Nigerian states and their dates of creation:
1. Abia State – August 27, 1991
Created from Imo State by General Ibrahim Babangida’s military government.
2. Adamawa State – August 27, 1991
Carved out of Gongola State by the Babangida administration.
3. Akwa Ibom State – September 23, 1987
Created from Cross River State under General Ibrahim Babangida.
4. Anambra State – August 27, 1991
Previously part of the old Anambra, it was split to form Enugu State.
5. Bauchi State – February 3, 1976
Created from the former North-Eastern State during General Murtala Muhammed’s regime.
6. Bayelsa State – October 1, 1996
Carved out of Rivers State under General Sani Abacha.
7. Benue State – February 3, 1976
Formed from Benue-Plateau State by Murtala Muhammed.
8. Borno State – February 3, 1976
Created from North-Eastern State.
9. Cross River State – May 27, 1967
Originally South-Eastern State, renamed Cross River in 1976.
10. Delta State – August 27, 1991
Split from Bendel State under Babangida’s government.
11. Ebonyi State – October 1, 1996
Formed from parts of Abia and Enugu States.
12. Edo State – August 27, 1991
Carved out of the former Bendel State.
13. Ekiti State – October 1, 1996
Split from Ondo State under General Sani Abacha.
14. Enugu State – August 27, 1991
Created from the old Anambra State.
15. Gombe State – October 1, 1996
Carved out of Bauchi State.
16. Imo State – February 3, 1976
Formed from the old East Central State.
17. Jigawa State – August 27, 1991
Created from Kano State.
18. Kaduna State – May 27, 1967
Initially part of North-Central State, renamed Kaduna in 1976.
19. Kano State – May 27, 1967
One of the 12 states created from the former Northern Region.
20. Katsina State – September 23, 1987
Carved out of old Kaduna State.
21. Kebbi State – August 27, 1991
Created from Sokoto State.
22. Kogi State – August 27, 1991
Formed from parts of Benue and Kwara States.
23. Kwara State – May 27, 1967
One of the original 12 states.
24. Lagos State – May 27, 1967
Among the first 12 states created from the Western Region.
25. Nasarawa State – October 1, 1996
Carved out of Plateau State.
26. Niger State – February 3, 1976
Created from North-Western State.
27. Ogun State – February 3, 1976
Split from the old Western State.
28. Ondo State – February 3, 1976
Carved out of the old Western State.
29. Osun State – August 27, 1991
Created from Oyo State.
30. Oyo State – February 3, 1976
Formed from the old Western State.
31. Plateau State – February 3, 1976
Created from Benue-Plateau State.
32. Rivers State – May 27, 1967
Carved out of the Eastern Region.
33. Sokoto State – February 3, 1976
Split from North-Western State.
34. Taraba State – August 27, 1991
Carved out of Gongola State.
35. Yobe State – August 27, 1991
Created from Borno State.
36. Zamfara State – October 1, 1996
Created from Sokoto State.
Read also: Full list: 31 new Nigerian states proposed by House of Reps
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.
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