Reps Move to Create Ijebu State as Bill Scales Second Reading

A bill seeking the creation of a new Ijebu State from the present Ogun State has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Olufemi Ogunbanwo, who represents Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu Federal Constituency of Ogun State, alongside three other lawmakers, was debated and approved for further consideration during Thursday’s plenary session.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the sitting, referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative input.

If passed, the bill will amend the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the creation of Ijebu State — a proposal that joins a growing list of demands for new states across the federation.

The move comes amid the ongoing constitutional amendment process at the National Assembly.

However, creating a new state in Nigeria is a complex and lengthy process. Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution outlines strict requirements that must be met before a new state can be created.

The bill must first receive a two-thirds majority approval from lawmakers representing the proposed area in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as from members of the affected State House of Assembly and local government councils.

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After this stage, a referendum must be conducted in the proposed area, with at least two-thirds of residents voting in favour of the new state.

The outcome of the referendum must then be endorsed by a simple majority of all state Houses of Assembly across the country before it returns to the National Assembly for final approval by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, no new state has been created despite numerous attempts and agitations across different regions.

If successful, the creation of Ijebu State would mark a major constitutional milestone and reshape the political and administrative structure of the South-West region.