Several advocacy groups from the North East region of Nigeria are calling for the creation of four new states: Savannah State from Borno, Amana State from Adamawa, Katagum State from Bauchi, and Muri State from Taraba.
These demands were presented on Friday during the opening session of a two-day zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution, held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Ahmad Sajor, Director of Media and Publicity for the Amana State Movement, said in a statement that the call for Amana State—which would include parts of Adamawa and the Uba Chiefdom in Borno—stems from what he described as a long-standing historical injustice.
He referenced a 1961 United Nations-organised plebiscite in which the region opted to join Nigeria. At the time, he said, the area was promised by Nigerian leaders, including the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, that it would be recognised as a distinct province or state, with Mubi accorded the same status as other state capitals like Kano, Katsina, and Ilorin.
“Sadly, those promises were never fulfilled by the Nigerian state,” Sajor said. He described the state creation effort as an attempt to “correct the historical injustice” inflicted on the region.
Representatives of other statehood movements attended the hearing, wearing shirts and holding placards that urged the National Assembly to approve their proposals.
A member of the Katagum State Movement, who spoke with Punch on the condition of anonymity, expressed hope in the constitutional review process.
“Our demand is simple—we want Katagum State. We have faith in the current National Assembly, and we believe they will listen and act,” the member said.
The hearing was attended by top political figures and traditional leaders from the region, including the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Usman Kadafur, who represented Governor Babagana Zulum; the senators from Borno’s three senatorial districts; former Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi State; and the Shehu of Borno.
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