President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has firmly denied circulating claims on social media suggesting that the National Assembly has approved the creation of new states in Nigeria.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary session, Akpabio addressed the matter in response to concerns raised by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), who sought clarification amid growing public speculation and misinformation.
The Senate President clarified that while the Constitution Review Committee has indeed received over 42 proposals for the creation of new states, none have advanced beyond preliminary consideration in the legislative process.
“I have seen over 42 proposals, but not one has gone through full deliberation,” Akpabio stated. “The process of creating a state is very rigorous and has not been completed in any instance.”
He emphasized that the procedure for creating new states in Nigeria involves several complex constitutional steps, including legislative approvals, referendums, and presidential assent, none of which have been fulfilled for any current proposal.
Akpabio issued a stern warning to communities and advocacy groups against convening meetings or mobilising efforts around proposed states that have not been officially recognized or sanctioned by law.
“No new state has been approved by the Senate,” he reiterated. “It is premature and misleading for anyone to act otherwise.”
The Senate President urged Nigerians to disregard unverified claims circulating on social media and to rely solely on official communications from the National Assembly regarding constitutional amendments and state creation matters.
