The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has rejected the proposal by the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution to create 31 additional states, calling it a political distraction that ignores Nigeria’s economic and security crises.
The group warned that increasing the number of states from 36 to 67 is financially unsustainable and aimed at influencing the 2027 elections.
Instead, CHRICED is advocating for the recognition of Abuja as the 37th state to address the marginalization of its indigenous inhabitants.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, CHRICED Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, criticized lawmakers for prioritizing state creation while Nigerians face hyperinflation, unemployment, and insecurity.
He argued that the move would worsen governance inefficiencies, increase administrative costs, and strain federal resources, as many existing states struggle financially.
CHRICED also described the proposal as a ploy to boost support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that it would likely be abandoned once campaign season begins. It noted that opposition lawmakers are already defecting to the APC, seeing the party as the only path to securing new states.
While rejecting the broader state creation agenda, CHRICED maintained that Abuja’s recognition as a state is the only constitutional amendment worth pursuing.
The group argued that indigenous residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) face statelessness, land dispossession, and political exclusion, which full statehood would address.
CHRICED urged lawmakers to focus on corruption, insecurity, unemployment, and electoral reforms instead of expanding government structures.
It also warned Nigerians against allowing the country to slide into a one-party system, calling for active political engagement to hold leaders accountable.
Zikirullahi said, "Recently, Nigerians were confronted with the unsettling news regarding the Federal House of Representatives Committee's proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution by creating an additional 31 states across the six geopolitical zones of the nation.
"The proposal to increase the number of states comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a multitude of pressing socio-economic challenges.
"At the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), we view the recent actions taken by the House of Representatives as yet another distraction that undermines the trust of the Nigerian populace.
"The sole aspect of the proposal that we believe merits serious consideration is the constitutional recognition of Abuja as the 37th State within the Nigerian federation."
"Furthermore, any constitutional amendment should focus on reducing the size of government and devolving powers to regional entities.
"Creating additional states will increase the size of government and further strain the federation account.
"Nigerians must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the democratic gains we have fought so hard to achieve."
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