House of Reps Advances Bill to Split Oyo State into Two New States

A proposed bill aiming to divide Oyo State into two separate entities has successfully passed its second reading at the House of Representatives.

The constitutional amendment bill, co-sponsored by Akeem Adeyemi, representing Oyo, along with six other lawmakers, was deliberated during Tuesday’s plenary session. The bill seeks to create a new state, “New Oyo,” with Oyo town designated as its capital, while the remaining part of the current Oyo State would be renamed “Ibadan State,” with Ibadan city as its capital.

During the session, the bill was not subject to debate but was unanimously adopted after a voice vote conducted by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The proposal has now been referred to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further examination and legislative action.

This initiative joins a growing number of bills seeking to establish new states across Nigeria. Other proposals currently under consideration include the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa states in the southwest region.

As part of the ongoing process to amend Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly is expected to complete the review by December 2025. The creation of a new state involves multiple legislative hurdles, as outlined in Section 8(1) of the constitution. This includes approval by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as in the relevant state and local government councils. Additionally, a referendum with a two-thirds majority of voters in the affected area is required, followed by approval from a majority of state houses of assembly across the federation.

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, no new states have been created.