A Bill for the creation of three additional states in the South-West region has been listed for presentation in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Hon. Oluwole Oke, the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, the Bill seeks the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa states.
It bears the title, “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
In a letter dated February 6, 2024, and addressed to the Clerk of the House, Oke wrote: “I wish to forward the abovementioned bill to your office for further necessary legislative action to enable me to move same in our great Green Chamber, sir.”
Should it sail through and becomes law, it will raise the number of states in the South-West region from six to nine.
The South-West region currently is constituted by: Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti states.
The Bill proposes the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu and Ife-Ijesa states with their capitals in Iseyin, Ijebu Ode and Ile-Ife respectively.
The Bill also proposed a reduction in the number of local government areas in the states from which the new states would be carved.
As proposed, Oke Ogun state would have 12 local government areas, including Olorunsogo, Irepo, Oorerelope, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Saki-East, Saki-West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola and Iseyin.
When created, Ijebu State would be made up of Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North and Sagamu LGAs. The proposed capital city for Ijebu State is Ijebu Ode.
While Ife Ijesa State with 11 local government areas would comprise Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Oboku and Oriade.