Senator Shehu Buba Umar of Bauchi South has debunked reports claiming that the Senate has approved the creation of 12 new states in Nigeria. He described the claim as false and baseless.
Speaking to journalists in Bauchi over the weekend, Buba clarified that the Senate has not taken any decision regarding the creation of new states or local government areas.
According to him, what the Senate has done so far is to hold public hearings across different parts of the country to collect suggestions from Nigerians as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
“These suggestions include calls for the creation of new states and local governments,” he explained, “but the committees handling the hearings have not yet submitted any report to the National Assembly.”
The senator emphasized that no official document has been presented before the Senate for discussion, let alone approval. “The Senate has not met to discuss or approve the creation of any new state or local government,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the circulating reports, which he said were misleading. “Before the public hearings even started, the Senate received over 46 requests for state creation, including the demand for Katagum State from Bauchi. That Katagum did not appear on the so-called approved list has led to confusion and concern among residents.”
He stressed that the entire report was false.
Another senator from Bauchi, Abdul Ningi, has also denied the claim, aligning with Buba’s position that no state creation has been approved.
Buba used the opportunity to restate his long-standing call for the creation of additional local government areas in Bauchi South, noting that existing LGAs like Toro, Alkaleri, and Bauchi are too large to be effectively managed. “Toro alone is nearly the size of an entire state in the South,” he said.
He detailed the proposals submitted for the creation of new LGAs in the region.
In Toro LGA, requests were made for Lame and Jama’a; in Bauchi LGA, there were proposals for Galambi, Birshi, Zungur, and Bauchi Munsifa; in Alkaleri, Gwana and Yankari were suggested; and in Tafawa Balewa, Lere North, Lere South, and Bula were proposed.
Buba noted that several new federal wards were also recommended in a technical report led by former Minister of Justice, Hon. Ibrahim Umar.
He acknowledged that creating new states or LGAs is a complex process that requires involvement from the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, the judiciary, and the President. Still, he maintained that such restructuring is necessary.
“With Nigeria’s population now over 250 million, especially in the North, we need more local governments to bring governance closer to the people.”
