House Of Reps Advances Bill To Create Ibadan State From Oyo
A bill seeking to carve out Ibadan State from the present Oyo State has advanced to the second reading stage in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by Abass Adigun, representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency, the proposed legislation scaled through on Thursday after a heated plenary debate. Adigun argued that Ibadan’s population size, land area, and long-standing historical relevance justify its recognition as a state. He pointed out that former regional capitals like Enugu and Kaduna had already attained state status and that Ibadan deserved the same treatment. “This bill represents a monumental step toward equitable development through federalism and the realisation of the long-held aspiration of the people of Ibadan,” Adigun said. The session briefly turned tense when Adigun claimed that a single local government area in Ibadan was larger than three in Bayelsa State combined. His comment drew a sharp response from Obuku Ofurji (Yenagoa/Opokuma, Bayelsa), who described the comparison as “irrelevant and disrespectful.” Adigun later apologised but maintained that his figures were accurate. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review, which he chairs. He also reiterated that the ongoing amendment to the 1999 Constitution would be concluded by December 2025. The creation of a new state in Nigeria remains a complex process. Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution requires such a proposal to obtain two-thirds support from federal lawmakers representing the affected area, approval by the state assembly and local councils, endorsement by two-thirds of the residents in a referendum, majority consent from state assemblies nationwide, and final passage by two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly. Despite numerous similar efforts in the past, Nigeria has not created a new state since its return to democratic rule in 1999.
