According to a report by Channels Television on Friday, July 12, 2025, Auwalu Gwalabe , the lawmaker representing Katagum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has reignited the debate on state creation in Nigeria, arguing that the country has both the economic strength and administrative need to accommodate more states.
Speaking to journalists in Gombe during the North-East public hearing of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Gwalabe questioned the government’s reluctance to create new states, especially when compared to current levels of public spending on infrastructure.
“If we can spend N17 trillion on one road from Lagos to Calabar, what stops us from creating states?” he asked. “You are all aware that the government is spending N17 trillion on one road. If you are going to invest that much, do you know how many states could be created with such resources?”
Gwalabe believes the creation of additional states would not only address existing imbalances in representation but also catalyze development in underserved regions.
According to him, Nigeria’s population growth and economic capacity make it possible for the country to sustain more states.
He proposed the creation of at least 12 additional states, noting that such expansion would enhance governance and accessibility.
“Considering the population and economic growth, I believe the country can sustain an additional 12 states,” he said.
He further pointed out the inequities in local government distribution, using Kano and Bayelsa as examples.
The lawmaker has been at the forefront of advocacy for the creation of Katagum State from the present-day Bauchi State. He emphasized that the movement is not new, tracing its origins back to 1981.
