The Anioma State Creation Movement has applauded the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review for approving the proposal to create an additional state in the South East.
It described the move as a “bold and historic step” toward achieving justice and balance in Nigeria’s federal system.
The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review had approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone on Saturday.
According to a statement by the media unit of the committee on Saturday, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.
The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.
In a statement on Monday signed by its Media Director, Tonnie Oganah, the group said the committee’s endorsement, announced during a two-day retreat in Lagos, is seen as a major milestone in the decades-long agitation for the Southeast to have parity with other geopolitical zones.
The group commended lawmakers for recognising what it called the Southeast’s legitimate demand for equity and inclusion in the country’s structure.
“Anioma people support the proposal as the first step to equalising 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.
