Best in lawmaking
Nigeria might be getting 31 extra states
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This Week’s Big Question: “What do you think about Nigeria possibly getting 31 new states?” Share your responses with us, and if we think they’re fun enough, we’ll feature them in the newsletter :) so be on the lookout.
Let’s get into the news you missed during the weekend:
Nigeria might be getting 31 extra states
There’s a new outbreak in town
The Big Deal
Nigeria might be getting 31 extra states
If you think a surprise national anthem switch was crazy, you’re in for a not-so-pleasant surprise because lawmakers are talking about adding 31 extra states to the Nigerian map. On February 6, news broke that the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had received a proposal to increase the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 67. If this somehow goes through, we might have to forget everything we learned about “state and capital” in primary school.
So, who exactly is presenting this proposal? The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is the group responsible for recommending changes to Nigeria’s constitution, which is currently getting a facelift. It was formed in 2024 to oversee amendments and includes lawmakers from every state, representatives from civil society, women from each geopolitical zone, and advocates for People With Disabilities (PWDs). Basically, it’s a mix of people tasked with deciding how Nigeria’s laws should evolve.
It’s a long list, so here are some of the proposed states:
North-Central: Benue Ala, Okun, Okura, Confluence, Apa-Agba, and Apa State
North-East: Amana, Katagum, Savannah, and Muri State
North-West: New Kaduna, Gurara, Tiga, Kainji, and Ghari State
South-East: Etiti, Adada, Urashi, Orlu, Aba State
South-South: Ogoja, Warri, Bori, Obolo State
South-West: Toru-Ebe, Ibadan, Lagoon, Ijebu, Ife-Ijesha, Oke-Ogun State
Why is this a big deal?
When Nicki Minaj said, “Broke people should never laugh,” she was talking about Nigeria. Let’s not sugarcoat it—Nigeria is broke as hell. The federal government is juggling over ₦134 trillion in debt, and state governments aren’t doing any better, owing a collective sum of ₦11 trillion. Right now, 32 out of 36 states can’t even fund themselves without federal allocations. More states mean more governors, lawmakers, and government agencies who need revenue to remain in existence so, to our billion-dollar rhetorical question– where will the money come from to run 31 more states?
There’s also the fact that the creation of new states has a questionable history in Nigeria. We didn’t always have 36 states. The last time new states were added was in 1996 when Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Zamfara joined the list. Almost 30 years later, many of them are still struggling financially and administratively. In places like Ebonyi, boundary disputes have lasted for decades, leading to violent clashes and deaths. More states could mean more of these unresolved conflicts.
Typically, we wouldn’t waste our breath discussing the possibility of this actually happening because creating a new state isn’t just about drawing new borders on a map. The Nigerian constitution has a long checklist for this to happen. First, lawmakers representing the affected areas (Senators, Reps, and State Assemblies) must vote in favour. Then, residents of the proposed state must participate in a referendum, and at least two out of every three persons must say yes. After that, about 18 of Nigeria’s existing states must approve before the National Assembly gives the final go-ahead. It’s a long process, but in a country where major decisions have been made overnight (cough, new anthem, cough), anything is possible.
Will this proposal actually fly? Only time will tell, but The Big Daily will be watching.
There’s a new outbreak in town
A new disease is spreading across Nigeria, and according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), there are at least 41,336 suspected cases nationwide.
The disease, diphtheria, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that targets the throat and airways, making it hard to breathe and potentially causing organ failure if untreated. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or close contact, so outbreaks tend to hit crowded areas the hardest.
Since 2022, cases of diphtheria have been reported across 350 local government areas in Nigeria, but the situation is getting worse in some states. Kano alone has recorded 23,784 suspected cases, while Yobe (5,302), Katsina (3,708), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (2,902), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364) have also recorded cases. Together, these states account for 96.5% of all reported cases.
But the biggest concern? This disease seems to affect children more than adults. The NCDC reports that nearly 64% of confirmed cases have been found in children aged 1 to 14. The outbreak has also claimed 1,262 lives, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 5.1%.
The NCDC is currently trying its best to control the spread of the disease by organizing vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and rapid response teams, but the success of these measures depends on how quickly they can reach every state. While that’s happening, it’s important to know that you can protect yourself from this outbreak. According to NCDC, the government provides free diphtheria vaccination in every Nigerian primary healthcare centre. So schedule a date to go get yours.
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