The National Publicity Secretary of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Christopher Ominimini, has urged Nigeria’s National Assembly to ensure fairness and equity in the proposed creation of 13 new states.
Ominimini highlighted the imbalance in the current state distribution, where past military governments have disproportionately favored the northern region over the south.
Ominimini pointed out that prior to the military interventions in Nigeria, the country had four regions. He noted that while the northern region now has 19 states, the entire southern region—comprising the South West, South East, and Mid-West—only has 17 states. He called this disparity a “clear injustice” against Southern Nigeria.
Referring to the 2014 National Conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ominimini emphasized the recommendation that each geopolitical zone should have seven states. He argued that this approach would promote balance and fairness in the Nigerian federation.
In addition to ensuring numerical balance, PANDEF stressed that any newly created states must be economically viable. Ominimini insisted that the National Assembly must guarantee that new states have the resources necessary to sustain themselves. He recalled that at independence, Nigerian leaders fought for self-sustaining governance where regions could generate revenue and pay taxes to the central government.
Ominimini also criticized Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil and gas from the Niger Delta region, noting that other regions fail to contribute equitably to the national economy. He lamented that resources like gold, lithium, and iron ore from other regions are being privately exploited, while the government continues to depend heavily on Niger Delta oil.
Reiterating PANDEF’s stance, Ominimini stressed that the creation of new states should reflect the recommendations made during the 2014 Constitutional Conference. According to these recommendations, the South East should receive two additional states, the South South one, and the North West one more, ensuring that every geopolitical zone has seven states.
As the National Assembly continues its deliberations on the proposed state creation, PANDEF and other stakeholders are advocating for a fair and sustainable process that addresses historical imbalances while ensuring economic viability.
“In the past, we had four regions before the ill-fated military interventions,” Ominimini said.
“Today, the northern region has 19 states, while the entire Southern region, including the South West, South East, and Mid-West, has only 17. This is a clear injustice against Southern Nigeria.
” The National Assembly must ensure that any state approved for creation has the resources to sustain itself,” he stated.
“At independence, our leaders fought for self-sustaining governance, where regions could generate revenue and pay taxes to the centre.”
“We are not getting any revenue from solid minerals like gold, lithium, and iron ore. These resources are being privately exploited, while the government continues to depend solely on Niger Delta oil,” he lamented.
He reiterated PANDEF’s stance that new state creation should reflect the 2014 Constitutional Conference recommendations.
“The South East should get two additional states, the South South one, and the North West one more. This way, every geopolitical zone will have seven states each,” he added.
