The Anioma State Creation Movement has called for swift action to create a new state in the country’s southeast.
They described the decision by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review to unanimously endorse the creation of a new state in the Southeast as a bold and historic move toward achieving equity and restoring balance in Nigeria’s federal structure.
During a two-day retreat in Lagos, the call marks a breakthrough in the long-standing agitation for an additional state in the Southeast, currently the only geopolitical zone with five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. Other zones have six states each, except the Northwest, which has seven.
The Anioma movement said the development represents a significant step toward ensuring justice for the Igbo nation and fulfilling the constitutional promise of fairness among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The Media Director, Chief (Barr.) Tonnie Osita Oganah, in a statement issued by the movement, made available to journalists in Lagos, lauded the National Assembly for recognising the Southeast’s long-standing demand for parity, saying the decision reflects the spirit of inclusion and national balance.
“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 most Anioma people truly desire their own state,” Oganah said.
He described Senator Ned Nwoko as the current convener of the Anioma State struggle. He noted that previous representatives were not as committed as the late Dennis Osadebe, Nigeria’s first Midwest Region Premier and the Anioma cause’s original convener.
“Senator Nwoko has revived the spirit of the Anioma struggle with purpose and patriotism. Creating Anioma State is not just a local ambition—it is a step toward restoring fairness in Nigeria’s federal structure and empowering the Igbo people politically and economically,” Oganah stated.
He further said that ensuring equal state creation across all six geopolitical zones will strengthen democracy, unity, and the credibility of Nigeria’s federal system.
“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,” he said.
