Any meaningful exercise in state-creation must be guided by specific and well-defined political considerations. First, there is the need to maintain and strengthen our federal system of government, which must continuously reduce suppression and discord in every new step taken. In our earnest attempt to redraw the political map of Nigeria and satisfy the legitimate yearnings and aspirations of the generality of our people, we must guard against the proliferation of states that would not only reduce states to glorified local governments but also enable the Federal Government to become stronger and stronger, through which process the country may inadvertently revert to a unitary system of government.
Although the creation of new states would bring state governments closer to the people, thereby making government at the state level more accountable and more efficient, each new state must be in a position to function effectively in a federal structure where the constituent units are usually coordinated and mutually independent. In applying this political consideration to the present exercise in state creation, however, we must remember that the United States of America with 50 states and Switzerland with 25 cantons have adhered strictly to the principles of federalism. Furthermore, both the Constitution and revenue allocation systems have clearly defined the structural, functional, and relationships between the various levels of government in Nigeria.
Secondly, there is the need to promote peace and political stability in the country. Today, the issue of state creation is so crucial and fundamental that peace and stability cannot be guaranteed without some action taken about it. Apart from the ever-increasing desire to attract more revenue, political and other appointments, and patronage from the federal establishments, state creation promoters are vigorously envisaging the successful emergence of a political structure that shall perpetually disallow any ethnic group to hold a position that can enable it to dominate all the others put together.
State creation exercise must be sufficiently related to the needs and aspirations of the various groupings in Nigeria. The continued agitations for creation of more states are a direct result of bad government—leadership and discriminatory policies of the various state governments. Indeed, even if the National Assembly were to make every hamlet in this country a state, there would continue to be demands for state creation so long as there is a corrupt, autocratic, and purposeless government or governments, particularly at the state level.
The basic motivation in the demands for state creation is the promotion of accelerated and balanced economic development. State creation, it is often argued, makes for the greatest possible diffusion of economic power, which in itself guarantees even development. It is also often asserted that some state creation demands are masterminded by a few selfish individuals with the hope of becoming big fish in small waters if and when the new state is created. Be that as it may, certain specific dimensions of economic viability constitute relevant considerations in any sensible exercise in state creation. The proliferation of states, for instance, may lead to high administrative cost and acute shortage of high and middle level manpower, particularly in the less developed areas of the country. The present economic trend in the country, the low revenue generating capabilities of the existing states, and their heavy dependence on statutory grants from the Federal Government call for caution and calm assessment of Nigeria's economic and political potentialities in the area under consideration.
There are some areas that should have become states by now, judging by their past history. I have in mind Ijebu, Ogoja, Anioma, Ghari, Tiga, Okura, Lautai, Ngaba, Katagum, and several others. Tiga state should have comprised Bebeji, Gwarzo, Rano, Tudun-Wada, and Rogo, all in Kano state, while Ghari state should have comprised Kazaure, Bichi, and Dambatta, also in Kano state. Okura state should have comprised Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, and Omalla, while Katagum state should have comprised Shira, Gamawa, Misau, Katagum, and Jama'are. Njaba state should have been created from Imo state. Lautai state should have comprised Ringim, Kaugama, Garki, Gumel, Maitagari, Hadeija, Keffin-Hausa, and Birniwa.
Ibadan state should comprise the present eleven local government areas. Ibadan is the largest metropolitan area in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano. The city of Ibadan has 11 Local Government Areas: Egbeda, Ibadan North, Akinyele, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West, Ido, Lagelu, Oluyole, and Ona-Ara. With a population of 3.1 million and a land area of 3,850 square kilometers (2013), Ibadan city is the largest metropolitan geographical area in West Africa, housing almost half of Oyo State's population (45 percent). From around 60,000 in the early 1800s, Ibadan's population grew to 200,000 in 1890, and to a million by 1930. The population is projected to reach 5.6 million people by 2033. Ibadan state deserves to be created.
Anioma state was long advocated many years ago. I remember in 1979, Senator Nosike Ikpo along with Chief Martin Nwoseh, Chief Michael Agbamuche, A. N. Iduwe, and G. N. Nwechue submitted a strongly worded memorandum to the National Assembly. Senator Ikpo was a friend and lobbied his colleagues then for the creation of Anioma state. At that time, Anioma comprised four local government areas: Ndokwa, Ika, Aniocha, and Oshimili. His argument at that time was that the creation of Anioma state would enhance the participation of the Igbos in a more united Nigeria.
By 1945, the British created 13 Provinces in Northern Region, eight in Western Region, and seven in Eastern Region. These Provinces existed until self-government in 1954. The Northern Provinces were Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Bornu, Ilorin, Kabba, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zaria; the Western Region Provinces were Abeokuta, Benin, Ijebu, Ondo, Oyo, and Warri; while Eastern Region Provinces consisted of Calabar, Cameroons, Ogoja, Onitsha, Owerri, and Rivers. As of today, most of these Provinces have become autonomous states except Ogoja and Ijebu. Remo was of course grouped under Ijebu Province while Abeokuta has since become a state capital.
Some of these old Provinces have been split into states. Take for example Ondo Province. It had four divisions namely Ekiti, Okitipupa, Ondo, and Owo. Now the old Province has been split into two states, Ekiti and Ondo. The old Calabar Province consisted of Ikot Ekpenne, Uyo, and Eket. Now the old Calabar Province has become two states: Cross River and Akwa Ibom. Even the old Benue Province, comprised of Lafia, Idoma, Nasarawa, and Wukari, now has two states: Benue and Nasarawa. The only exception in the old Western Region is Ijebu Province, which has not been granted an autonomous state. So, the demand for Ijebu state is needful. If other Provinces can become autonomous states, why not Ijebu?
Before he died, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (10 May 1934 – 13 July 2025), Ogbagba II, not only canvassed for unity among the Ijebu and Remo people but also canvassed for the creation of Ijebu state. It is now left for the leaders of Ijebu and Remo to press on for the legitimate demand of Ijebu state. A proposed Ijebu state will comprise Shagamu, Ikenne, Iperu, Odogbolu, Ago-Iwoye, Ogberre, Atan, Ijebu-Igbo, Irewon, Mobalufon, Imoru, Ijebu Mushin, Aboyin, Eriwu, Egbe, Ikala, Kelewe, Okepo, Ososa, Omidudu, Lapara, Imosan, Ikoto, Iperin, Ijebu-Ife, Molipa, Ikangba, Latogun, Ogbo/Imaweje, Itamarun, Isiwo, Iloti, Igbokutu, Igasa Odo, Igara, Okelamuren, Ogere, Iloti, etc. At present, the proposed state has the following local governments: Shagamu, Remo North, Ogun Waterside, Odogbolu, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu North East, Ijebu North, and Ijebu East.
That of Ogoja is another example. The following divisions made up the old Ogoja Province: Abakaliki, Afikpo, Ikom, Obubra, and Ogoja. Ogoja lost narrowly from becoming a state in 1975. On August 7, 1975, General Murtala Mohammed set up a committee on the creation of more states in the country. At that time, Nigeria had twelve states. The committee was headed by Chief Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe, GCON (3 March 1922 – 1 August 1996). Other members of the committee were Brigadier General Godwin Ally, Dr A. D. Yahaya, Mr Solomon Daushep Lar, Mr C. Audifferen, while Dr Dele Cole was named as the secretary of the committee. The expectation was that Brigadier General Ally, as a member of the committee, who is from Ogoja area, would work for the actualization of Ogoja state. That was not to be. At that time, it was easy to create states under a military regime unlike now.
Teniola, a former Director in the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.
