State Creation: Should Priority Be Given To Strengthening Existing States Rather Than Creating New Ones?

The debate over state creation in Nigeria has been a long-standing issue, with various ethnic groups and regions advocating for new states to address perceived marginalization, enhance development, and bring governance closer to the people. However, an equally critical perspective suggests that rather than focusing on the creation of new states, priority should be given to strengthening the existing ones to ensure sustainable growth, economic viability, and effective governance.

*The Argument for Strengthening Existing States*

1. *Economic Viability and Sustainability*
Many existing states in Nigeria struggle to generate enough internally generated revenue (IGR) to sustain their operations, relying heavily on federal allocations. Creating new states would mean further division of already limited resources, potentially increasing financial dependency on the central government rather than fostering self-sufficiency. Strengthening the current states through economic reforms, industrialization, and investment in key sectors can help boost their financial strength and overall viability.

2. *Improved Governance and Infrastructure*
The administrative cost of running states in Nigeria is high, with significant portions of state budgets allocated to recurrent expenditures such as salaries and allowances for political officeholders. Instead of creating new bureaucracies, resources should be channeled toward improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security within the existing states to enhance the quality of life for citizens.

3. *Addressing Governance Deficiencies*
One of the primary reasons often cited for the demand for new states is the failure of governance at different levels. Many communities feel neglected or underrepresented. However, rather than creating new states, the focus should be on restructuring governance within the existing ones to ensure equitable distribution of resources, inclusive leadership, and effective representation of all groups.

4. *Strengthening Local Government Autonomy*
The local government system, which is supposed to bring governance closer to the people, has been weakened due to excessive control by state governments. Strengthening local governments and granting them more financial and administrative autonomy could address the concerns of marginalized communities without the need for new states.

*The Argument for State Creation*

1. Addressing Perceived Marginalization
Advocates for state creation argue that some regions remain underdeveloped because they are politically and economically marginalized within their current states. They believe that the creation of new states could provide greater access to political representation, infrastructural development, and economic empowerment.

2. *Cultural and Ethnic Recognition*
Nigeria is a diverse country with multiple ethnic groups. Some ethnic minorities feel that they are overshadowed within larger states dominated by majority groups. Creating new states, in their view, could help preserve their cultural identity and give them a stronger voice in national affairs.

3. *Enhanced Development Opportunities*
Proponents also argue that new states would bring governance closer to the grassroots and facilitate development, as resources would be directly allocated for the benefit of smaller, more manageable populations.

*A Middle-Ground Approach*

Rather than an outright rejection of state creation, a balanced approach should be adopted. The government should focus on strengthening the existing states by ensuring fiscal responsibility, infrastructural development, and equitable governance. At the same time, any call for state creation should be subjected to rigorous economic and developmental scrutiny to determine its viability.

Additionally, restructuring Nigeria’s governance framework—such as devolving more power to local governments and ensuring equitable distribution of resources—could address many of the concerns that drive the demand for new states.

While the creation of new states may seem like a solution to marginalization and underdevelopment, the reality is that many existing states are struggling to fulfill their mandates due to financial and governance challenges. Strengthening the current states through economic diversification, improved governance, and local government empowerment should be the priority. Only after ensuring the viability of existing states should the issue of new state creation be considered.