31 additional States senseless, in face of economic hardship -Arogbofa, Aluko

Opinion leaders task lawmakers to prioritise national interest

By Bukola Olamona & Sade Adewale

Opinion leaders in the South west, among them chieftains of Afenifere Pan-Yoruba group have sneered at moves in the National Assembly to effect the creation of additional 31 States, describing it as profligate, unwise and of poor timing.

The proposal has, as such, elicited strong reactions from key stakeholders in Ondo State, who have described the move as another conduit pipe to waste public funds in the face of excruciating economic pains.

Elder statesman, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa; a former Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Chief Femi Aluko, and other commentators have faulted the proposal, urging lawmakers to prioritise policies that address Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges.

Arogbofa and Aluko are respected leaders of the Afenifere socio-cultural organisation.

Arogbofa, in an interview with Weekend Hope, described the initiative as a political distraction that diverts attention from more pressing national concerns.

While acknowledging the historical justification for state creation, he insisted that the country’s current realities render such an endeavour impractical.

“The principle of creating more states has been justified in the past. But this is certainly not the right time,” he said.

He noted that with Nigerians struggling under economic hardship and governance inefficiencies, the legislative focus should be on addressing these pressing concerns rather than engaging in what he termed an unnecessary expansion of administrative units.

Arogbofa recalled his role as the chairman of the sub-committee on state creation during the 2014 National Conference, where extensive consultations and deliberations led to recommendations, including the proposed Ose State from Ondo.

“Where are those recommendations today? Decades later, we are still engaged in discussions on state creation without implementing well-researched proposals from the past. Governance must be about continuity and accountability,” he remarked.

He emphasised that any attempt to create new states must be subject to widespread public participation, rather than being imposed by political elites.

“Our lawmakers must exercise greater prudence and prioritise the well-being of Nigerians, rather than embarking on actions that could exacerbate the nation’s administrative and economic burdens,” he cautioned.

He further highlighted the existing structural imbalance in the distribution of states across regions, citing the disparity between Kano and Lagos as an example of the inequities that should be addressed before considering further state creation.

On his part, Chief Femi Aluko criticised the National Assembly for failing to conduct extensive consultations before considering the proposal, warning that any meaningful state creation process must be people-driven.

“You cannot sit in Abuja and decide to create states without proper engagement with the people who will be directly affected,” he stated.

He dismissed the proposal as a misplaced priority at a time when the nation’s economic fundamentals remain fragile.

“What tangible benefits would additional states bring under the present circumstances? The country is already grappling with governance inefficiencies. Further fragmentation will not solve these problems,” he asserted.

Also speaking with Weekend Hope, former Ondo State House of Assembly member, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, questioned the economic feasibility of creating 31 additional states, noting that Nigeria’s ballooning debt profile already presents significant fiscal constraints.

“The cost of governance is currently unsustainable. Increasing the number of states will only compound the financial strain on the nation,” he warned.

Akinsoyinu proposed that rather than creating new states, the government should prioritise a review of the revenue allocation formula to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources among the existing federating units.

“At present, over 50 percent of the national allocation is controlled by the Federal Government, leaving the states and local governments with less than half. This imbalance is a major factor affecting economic development at the subnational level,” he explained.

He further noted that state creation has never been a panacea for marginalisation, pointing out that even if 100 new states were created, grievances over exclusion and resource allocation would persist.

“The real solution lies in structural reforms and governance efficiency, not in multiplying administrative divisions,” he argued.

Speaking on the financial implications, Director of Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State, Mr. Steve Otaloro, raised concerns over the fiscal implications of creating new states, warning that such an initiative would place a significant burden on national resources.

“Each newly created state will require a governor’s office, a legislative assembly, and multiple ministries, all of which will further inflate the cost of governance,” he observed.

While some proponents of state creation argue that it could enhance local governance and stimulate economic growth, Otaloro cautioned that such benefits must be carefully weighed against the financial responsibilities involved.

“Nigeria may struggle to sustain additional states without exacerbating its economic challenges. The emphasis should be on optimising the performance of existing structures rather than increasing administrative costs,” he stated.

He further warned that past experiences have shown that state creation is often politically motivated rather than being a genuine response to governance needs.

“The primary consideration should be whether this move aligns with Nigeria’s long-term development goals, rather than serving short-term political interests,” he asked.