Gov Otti Kicks Against Additional State Creation

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By Reporter

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has cautioned against the creation of additional states in Nigeria. He made his position known on Saturday 19, July, 2025 at a public hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review on Saturday in Owerri, capital of Imo State.

Gov Otti, who was represented by Abia Statere deputy governor— Ikechukwu Emetu, cited concerns that additional states would overstretch Nigeria’s limited resources.

Instead, Mr Otti recommended inclusive governance within the existing states, advocating equitable resource allocation and political representation for all major clans and groups.

“I am more concerned about the additional burden these proposals, if adopted, would add to the lean resources of the nation through the multiplication of administrative costs and further bloating of an oversized bureaucracy.

“Except we can magically find independent sources of financing the new states outside what currently exists, I do not share the optimism of those promoting the idea of adding new states to the current 36-state structure,” he said.

Gov Otti said Nigerians should be more concerned about improving the economic structure of the states, doubling efforts to create jobs for young people outside the civil service, and prioritising the welfare of the common man.

“The time has come to put the ordinary people at the centre of decision making,” he said.

He further said the present realities in the country made the creation of state police a matter of urgent national priority.

“So, I would vote for the creation of state police but with a provision that standards be clearly defined as it relates to leadership, relationship with federal and other sub-national policing structures, recruitments, accountability, and respect for human rights,” he said.

The Abia governor also endorsed the creation of additional seats for women in the national and state assemblies, stating that it would provide females with the opportunity to shape the character of Nigeria’s governance architecture.

Mr Otti called for caution and a holistic appreciation of the broad implications on the proposal to alter the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to establish the local government councils as a separate tier of government.

“We must be mindful of further bloating an already-overfed bureaucracy,” he said.

(NAN)