The Senate has reeled out the requirements that have to be met before the proposed states would come into being.
Recall that there has been agitation for creation of states in tens, with the proposals before the National Assembly.
Senate Spokesman and Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said 61 requests for state creation have so far been received.
Adaramodu told Tribune this in an interview where he shared insight into what it would take to realise it.
“So far, the Senate has received about 61 requests for state creation. During our interactions with constituents from the six geopolitical zones, these demands were formally submitted. As we have stated, all of them will be reviewed and examined.
“We will collate them, after which the Constitutional Review Committee, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, will aggregate, assess, and filter them before preparing a report for the Senate.
“Once that report is ready, the Senate, in conjunction with the House of Representatives, will hold a comprehensive public hearing. This will allow all stakeholders — both those in support and those opposed — to present their arguments. Afterward, the two chambers will jointly decide which requests are genuine.
“State creation is a serious matter that requires auditing demographic, geographic, and historical data. In some cases, even within the requesting states, there is no full consensus. All these factors must be considered. Until then, the National Assembly — not just the Senate — cannot recommend any state for creation.
“As it stands, no state has been recommended or suggested for creation. We cannot be certain of the final reports or aggregated public views until the public hearings are concluded when we resume,” he told the publication.
