Uzor Kalu Mentions 6th Southeast State That Should Be Created
- Abia North Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu has given his view on where a sixth Southeast state should be created from
- Senator Kalu said Anioma people from Delta State should become the sixth state for the Igbo-speaking people
- He argued that the South-East is the only zone in Nigeria with only five states and the Anioma people are Igbos
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 7 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international events
FCT, Abuja - The Senator representing Abia North believes the sixth state in the Southeast should be created from Anioma in Delta state.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has declared his support for the creation of the same state.
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The former Abia state governor said the Anioma people are Igbos and have never denied this.
He re-emphasised the fact that the South-East is the only zone in Nigeria with only five states.
He stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Anioma should produce 6th Southeast state
According to Kalu, the creation of Anioma as a sixth state in the Southeast would help douse anger over the perceived marginalisation of the Igbo people.
“Of course, Anioma State should be created as the sixth South-East state. It’s the only state that will be viable to be created. Anioma are Igbos and they never said they are not Igbos. The sixth South-East state should be created, and it should be from Anioma.”
Legit.ng recalls that Senator Ned Nwoko said the Anioma state agitation has always been driven by the Anioma people who are of Igbo descent and reside in the northern part of Delta state.
The lawmaker, representing Delta North in the 10th National Assembly, said the people in that region shared a distinct Igbo cultural identity that was remarkably different from the Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic groups in the state.
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Nwoko asserted that state creation has historically been a tool for promoting unity, addressing ethnic grievances, and fostering development, and Igbo ancestors endorsed Anioma state.
The new Anioma state proposed by Senator Nwoko is made up of nine local government areas, in the present Delta State.
Proposals for creation of 31 new states
Legit.ng also reported that a committee in the House of Representatives received proposals for the creation of 31 new states in Nigeria.
This would include five in North Central, North West and South East, four in North East and South South, and seven in the South West.
Kalu stated that certain conditions needed to be met before any requests to create stats could be approved by the National Assembly.
State creation: A matter of cost and benefits
Ayo Teriba, an economist whose interest lies on the outlook of the Nigerian economy, national, regional, state, and sector issues has weighed in on the ongoing debate over state creation in Nigeria.
Speaking with Legit.ng, he emphasised that the decision should be based on cost-benefit analysis rather than mere administrative expansion.
“This is something that has more to do with administrative effectiveness or administrative convenience,” he stated.
He explained that Nigeria should be driven by the need for equitable governance.
“So it’s not a question of cost, it’s a question of cost and benefits. If the benefits are adjudged to outweigh the cost, why not?” he added.
The economist noted that state creation could accelerate development by bringing governance closer to the people and unlocking economic opportunities.
“Any city that is designated as a state capital almost invariably becomes transformed. It means that the states will be better able to effectively harness the resources available in the states,” he explained.
He concluded by stressing the need for careful deliberation, stating that the approach should be based on verifiable facts and regional balance.
House of Reps gives update on 31 proposed state
As Legit.ng also reported that Nigeria's House of Representatives gave an update on requests to create new states.
Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, said no state creation requests had met the constitutional requirements.
According to the senator, the committee had extended the submission date to Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from an economist for this report.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
