The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to create Ibadan State from the existing Oyo State. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Abass Adigun, who represents Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency, scaled through after a heated debate during plenary on Thursday.
Adigun argued that Ibadan’s population size, historical significance, and vast landmass make it deserving of statehood. He cited precedents, noting that former regional capitals like Enugu and Kaduna had been granted state status, adding that the move would ensure fairer development and reflect true federalism in Nigeria.
The debate, however, turned tense when Adigun claimed that a single local government in Ibadan was larger than three in Bayelsa State. His remark angered Bayelsa lawmaker Obuku Ofurji, who dismissed the comparison as “irrelevant and disrespectful.” Adigun later apologised but maintained that his figures were accurate.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further consideration. Kalu also noted that the ongoing constitutional amendment process would be concluded by December 2025.
Creating a new state in Nigeria remains an uphill task, as the 1999 Constitution demands multiple layers of approval — including legislative consent, local government endorsements, a public referendum, and final ratification by two-thirds of the National Assembly. Despite several similar efforts in the past, no new state has been created since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
