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Draft:Apa state
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Apa State | |
|---|---|
Proposed state | |
| Nickname: Heritage Riverlands of Unity | |
 Interactive map of Apa State | |
| Coordinates: 7°42′N 8°00′E / 7.7°N 8.0°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Status | Under consideration by the Senate of Nigeria |
| Proposed capital | To be determined |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Apa State is a proposed federating unit in Nigeria, listed among new state-creation requests submitted to the National Assembly during the 2024–2025 constitutional review cycle.[1]
The proposal seeks to carve a new administrative entity primarily from the nine local government areas of southern Benue State, with additional territory drawn from adjoining communities in present-day Cross River State (notably Yala), Nasarawa State (including Loko, Udege, Doma, Obi Awe and Keana), and Idoma-speaking settlements in Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State.[2]
History and political context
[edit]Proposals for restructuring the Middle Belt region have surfaced periodically since the 1980s, though the contemporary push for Apa State crystallised during the 2024–2025 constitutional review process. The House of Representatives announced in February 2025 that it had received 31 formal requests for new states, with Apa listed among them.[3] The Senate subsequently confirmed that it was examining the submissions as part of wider constitutional amendments.[4]
In a later clarification, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu stated that none of the 31 state-creation requests had met the procedural requirements stipulated in Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution.[5] Sponsors were granted additional time to regularise their documentation.[6]
Proposed geography
[edit]Although no legally defined boundaries have been issued, proponents generally envisage Apa State to include:
- The nine local government areas of Benue South; this includes Ado, Agatu, Apa, Obi, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Oju, Okpokwu, and Otukpo LGAs.[7]
- Parts of Cross River State, particularly the Yala LGA, the Yala part of Ikom and Ogoja LGAs.[8]
- Loko, Udege, Doma, Obi, Awe and Keana LGAs in Nasarawa State.[9]
- Idoma and related communities in Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State.[10]
Rationale and advocacy
[edit]Supporters frame Apa State as a means to improve representation for the Idoma, Igede, Agila, Alago, Yala and other ethnic minority groups commonly referred as Idomoid tribes who have often articulated feelings of marginalisation within Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi and Cross River States respectively. Legislator Philip Agbese has been one of the most vocal proponents, arguing that a new state would enhance administrative attention to a region with distinct cultural and economic needs.[11]
Economic considerations
[edit]The area earmarked for the proposed state is a significant agricultural zone producing yam, cassava, rice and legumes. Advocates argue that a more localised administrative structure could strengthen agro-processing, improve market access, and support road and irrigation development.
Academic scholarship provides wider context. Berebon (2024) notes that carefully managed state creation can redistribute socioeconomic amenities and bring government closer to rural communities.[12] By contrast, Onimisi (2014) argues that many existing Nigerian states remain fiscally fragile and heavily dependent on federal transfers, warning that new states may struggle without robust internal revenues.[13]
Analyses of federal restructuring likewise highlight tensions between political pressure for more states and the fiscal realities of Nigeria's federal system.[14] Ehinomen (2019) further stresses the need for stronger revenue autonomy if newly created states are to be viable.[15]
Social impact
[edit]Many supporters view the proposal as culturally significant for the Idoma people, linking it to heritage preservation and improved participation in governance. Security concerns in the region also feature prominently in public discussions. Parts of Benue South and neighbouring districts have experienced farmer–herder conflict and community attacks in recent years.[16]
A 2025 study by Ijirshar and colleagues found that rising insecurity in Benue State had measurable negative effects on agricultural output, suggesting that administrative restructuring may be seen by some communities as a path to more responsive security governance.[17]
Criticism
[edit]Economists and political scientists caution about the fiscal implications of state multiplication. A 2025 analysis estimated that creating 19 additional states could cost between ₦2.75 and ₦5.5 trillion in administrative infrastructure alone, raising questions about sustainability.[18] Historical research also shows that state creation has not always delivered improved regional equity or autonomy.[19]
Some commentators argue that Nigeria would benefit more from deepened federalism—especially fiscal decentralisation and stronger local government autonomy—rather than the creation of additional states.[20] Other analyses highlight that new states often concentrate investment in administrative capitals, leaving rural districts underserved.[21]
Legislative status
[edit]As of mid-2025, no bill for the formal creation of Apa State has been passed by either chamber of the National Assembly. The Senate Constitution Review Committee continues to hold zonal hearings on proposals for new states.[22] The proposal remains at the submission and consultation stage, pending further legislative action and review by state Houses of Assembly.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Nyiekaa, Torkwase (6 February 2025). "Reps Receive Proposal For 31 New States". Independent Nigeria.
- ^ Oyedokun, Taofeek (6 February 2025). "Full list: 31 new Nigerian states proposed by House of Reps". BusinessDay.
- ^ Akpan, Samuel (6 February 2025). "'Aba, Lagoon, Warri' — reps receive proposals for creation of 31 new states". TheCable.
- ^ Omogbolagun, Tope (21 July 2025). "Senate weighs proposals for 31 new states despite Nigeria's fiscal crisis". BusinessDay.
- ^ ChapiOdekina, Gift (21 February 2025). "None of the 31 proposals to create new states met requirements – Deputy Speaker". Vanguard.
- ^ Okhifo, Oscar (10 July 2025). "Rep Agbese Backs Creation Of Apa State, New LGAs In Benue". Independent Nigeria.
- ^ Okhifo, Oscar (10 July 2025). "Rep Agbese Backs Creation Of Apa State, New LGAs In Benue". Independent Nigeria.
- ^ Akpan, Samuel (6 February 2025). "'Aba, Lagoon, Warri' — reps receive proposals for creation of 31 new states". TheCable.
- ^ Okhifo, Oscar (10 July 2025). "Rep Agbese Backs Creation Of Apa State, New LGAs In Benue". Independent Nigeria.
- ^ Okhifo, Oscar (10 July 2025). "Rep Agbese Backs Creation Of Apa State, New LGAs In Benue". Independent Nigeria.
- ^ Okhifo, Oscar (10 July 2025). "Rep Agbese Backs Creation Of Apa State, New LGAs In Benue". Independent Nigeria.
- ^ Berebon, Charles B. (2024). "State Creation and Socioeconomic Development in Nigeria: A Political Economy Analysis". Jurnal Ilmu Sosiologi Dialektika Kontemporer. 12 (1): 59–69.
- ^ Onimisi, Timothy (2014). "The Politics of State Creation in Nigeria and the Economic Viability of the Existing 36 States". International Journal of Social Sciences and Management. 1 (2): 64–68. doi:10.3126/ijssm.v1i2.10009.
- ^ Elemo, Olufunmbi M. (2018). Fiscal Federalism, Subnational Politics, and State Creation in Contemporary Nigeria. Oxford University Press.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Ehinomen, C. (2019). "Creation of States in Nigeria and their Financial Viability in Advancing Development". Ife Social Sciences Review. 27 (1).
- ^ "At least 20 people killed in simultaneous attacks on communities in Nigeria's Benue state". AP News. 3 June 2025.
- ^ Ijirshar, Victor Ushahemba (2025). "Effect of Insecurity on Agricultural Output in Benue State, Nigeria". arXiv:2506.01525 [econ.GN].
- ^ "Nigeria's 55-State Proposal: A Costly Overhaul Amid Rising Debt, Demographic Divides". The Journal. 2025.
- ^ Alapiki, Henry E. (2014). "State Creation in Nigeria: Failed Approaches to National Integration and Local Autonomy". African Studies Review. 48 (3): 49–65. doi:10.1353/arw.2006.0003.
- ^ Adeodun, Adenike (26 June 2024). "Nigeria Needs Federalism, Not New States, Experts Say". The Nigerian Inquirer.
- ^ Adetoye, Dele (2016). "The Political Economy of State Creation and Socioeconomic Development in Nigeria" (PDF). ID Publications.
- ^ "Senate to consider 31 proposals on states creation under constitution review". Daily Post. 22 June 2025.