The group applauds the N’Assembly committee's endorsement of extra state provisions for the South East.
The Anioma State Creation Movement has commended the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review for endorsing the proposal to establish an additional state in the South East. It characterized this action as a "courageous and significant advancement" towards attaining justice and equilibrium within Nigeria's federal framework.
It was previously reported that the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review sanctioned the formation of an extra state in the South-East geopolitical zone. As per a statement released by the committee's media unit on Saturday, this resolution was made during a two-day retreat in Lagos, where 55 proposals for state creation nationwide were evaluated.
The session, led by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, concluded that, in the interest of fairness and equity, the Federal Government ought to establish another state for the region.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Media Director, Tonnie Oganah, the group indicated that the committee's approval, revealed during the two-day retreat in Lagos, is regarded as a significant achievement in the long-standing struggle for the Southeast to attain equality with other geopolitical zones. The group praised lawmakers for acknowledging what it termed the Southeast's rightful demand for equity and inclusion within the nation's framework. "The Anioma people endorse the proposal as the initial step towards equalizing the Igbo nation in Nigeria.
“Just as Senator Ned Nwoko is working tirelessly to actualise the Anioma State creation this year, some political detractors who claim Anioma descent are attempting to frustrate this noble objective. “However, the referendum will ultimately decide whether the majority of Anioma people truly desire their own state,” the statement read. The group described Senator Ned Nwoko as the “living convener” of the Anioma cause, praising him for reviving the spirit of the movement championed in the past by Nigeria’s first Premier of the Mid-West Region, the late Dennis Osadebe.
It stated that the creation of Anioma State would not only empower the Igbo people politically and economically but also restore fairness in the country’s federal arrangement. “For fairness and stability, all six zones of Nigeria should have an equal number of seven states each, just like the Northwest. Anioma State creation should happen this year, along with five other new states,” it added. ''On the financial viability of new states, the group dismissed concerns that Nigeria cannot sustain them, insisting that the problem lies in mismanagement rather than lack of funds. “People say there is no money to create new states, but that is not true.
The latest federal allocation was over ₦2 trillion. The issue is accountability. If public funds are properly managed for the people’s welfare, Nigeria will thrive,” it said. The group argued that new states would boost employment and drive grassroots development. “The fastest way to create jobs is through state creation. More states mean more offices, more governors, more local governments, and more opportunities for Nigerians,” Oganah added.
On Anioma’s cultural identity, it reaffirmed the group’s position that the proposed state naturally belongs to the Southeast because of its shared language and traditions. “Anioma people are largely Igbo. We speak Igbo, observe the four market days, wear the red cap, eat Akpu (cassava fufu), and bear Igbo names. Even though we have lived peacefully in the South-South, our cultural identity remains clear,” it read.
The group described the National Assembly’s position as a renewed sign of hope for fairness, unity, and inclusion in Nigeria’s political system. “A balanced federation will make Nigeria stronger, more united, and more prosperous. Equity is the foundation of unity,” the statement added.
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Anioma Group Hails National Assembly for Approving New South-East State Proposal
The Anioma State Creation Movement has commended the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review for approving the proposal to create an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East region, describing it as a “bold and historic step” toward equity in the federation.
The endorsement, reached during a two-day retreat in Lagos chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, followed a review of 55 state-creation proposals nationwide.
In a statement signed by Tonnie Oganah, the group said the approval marks a major milestone in the decades-long push to give the South-East parity with other zones. It praised lawmakers for acknowledging the region’s “legitimate demand for inclusion and fairness.”
The group reaffirmed its support for the proposed Anioma State, stressing that the initiative reflects the aspirations of the Igbo people in Delta North. It lauded Senator Ned Nwoko as the “living convener” of the movement, noting his efforts to revive the vision once championed by the late Premier Dennis Osadebe.
According to the statement, creating Anioma State would strengthen political and economic representation for the Igbo nation and help balance Nigeria’s federal structure. It further argued that concerns about financial viability are misplaced, attributing Nigeria’s challenges to mismanagement rather than insufficient funds.
Oganah added that state creation would generate employment and spur grassroots development, asserting that “the fastest way to create jobs is through state creation.”
Reaffirming Anioma’s Igbo identity, the group emphasized shared traditions, language, and customs with the South-East, insisting that the proposed state “naturally belongs” there.
The statement concluded that equal representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones would promote unity, justice, and prosperity.