I would probably criticize the creation of 31 more states in Nigeria just like many people have done, too. I mean, but should we just discard this proposal without considering what’s in store for tourism in Nigeria?
This blog post will highlight the proposed new states in Nigeria, including its significance in tourism.
Overview of Nigeria’s State Expansion
Currently, Nigeria has 36 states, and recently, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution received a proposal to add 31 new states as part of Nigeria’s state expansion. This would further increase the total number of states to 67. Just like the reversal of the old national anthem, which is now what we call the New National Anthem, prepare yourself to start learning the new additional states if they eventually get approved by lawmakers.
Before then, let me make it easier for you. Below is the list of the proposed additional 31 states:
North-Central
- Benue Ala State from Benue State
- Okun State from Kogi State
- Okura State from Kogi State
- Confluence State from Kogi State
- Apa State from Benue State
- Apa-Agba State from Benue South Senatorial District
- FCT State
North-East
- Amana State from Adamawa State
- Katagum State from Bauchi State
- Savannah State from Borno State
- Muri State from Taraba State
North-West
- New Kaduna State from Kaduna State
- Gurara State from Kaduna State
- Tiga State from Kano State
- Kainji State from Kebbi State
- Ghari State from Kano State
South-East
- Etiti State is the sixth state in the South-East region
- Urashi State was proposed as the sixth state in the South-East region
- Adada State from Enugu State
- Orlu State from Imo State
- Aba State from Abia State
South-South
- Ogoja State from Cross River State
- Warri State from Delta State
- Bori State from Rivers State
- Obolo State from parts of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States
South-West
- Toru-Ebe State from Delta, Edo, and Ondo States
- Ibadan State from Oyo State
- Lagoon State from Lagos State
- Ijebu State from Ogun State
- Ife-Ijesha State from Oyo State
- Oke-Ogun State from parts of Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States
According to a news report by Channels Television, the creation of the new states can only take effect if a two-thirds majority of members of the Senate and House of Representatives (National Assembly) and the House of Assembly in respect the area, the Local Government Council in respects the area, are received by the National Assembly
Beyond these, what potential do the new states in Nigeria have for Nigeria’s tourism growth?
Potential Tourism Growth in the New States
Amidst several arguments and opposing opinions about the proposed creation of the new states, I think the new states can boost tourism in several ways. But before I highlight potential growth opportunities, let’s take a look at what people are saying.
This tweet by an influencer opines that Nigeria needs fewer states rather than more states, but efforts should be concentrated to strengthen them.
Nigeria needs fewer states, not more states. Rather than create 31 new states, there needs to be a concerted effort to merge certain states back and structure the country around 6 geo-zones, the FCT and give real power back to local governments.
Our lawmakers need to be…
— -valar morghulis- (@eldivyn) February 7, 2025While another influencer opines that if some states are divided into more states, it will foster good governance and enable equal distribution of resources.
With the National Assembly's proposal to create 31 new states in Nigeria, I strongly believe Kano, with its population nearing 20 million, deserves to be split into at least five states for better governance, development, and equitable resource distribution.
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) February 6, 2025Another influencer called this line of thought “mastery of madness,” considering that the existing states rely heavily on the FCT for survival.
The Proposed 31 New States: A Masterclass in Madness!
The idea of creating 31 additional states in Nigeria isn’t just senseless-it’s economic insanity.
The U.S. operates with 50 economically self-sustaining states, none of which rely on Washington for survival. Meanwhile,…
— EBITU ™ (@EbituPromise) February 6, 2025Below are potential growth opportunities for tourism with the proposed development.
- Transformation of lesser-known destinations into popular travel hotspots.
- Discover more destinations with a diverse array of natural landscapes.
- Discover more cultures, which will further highlight Nigeria’s rich traditions and history.
- New experiences for tourists in local markets where local artisans showcase their work.
- Immersive culinary tour experience for Tourists.
- Celebration of more traditional festivals that tourists can enjoy.
The image below shows a hill, for Tourists attraction.
Image Source: Canva
Economic Impact on Local Tourists
According to a report by Statista 2022, travel and tourism contributed 3.6% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2022, which was about 17.3 billion U.S. dollars.
The creation of the new states will also present an immense economic impact on local tourism. This would also mean more for travel organizations like ours, Travelradio.live
I’ll be highlighting some of the benefits below.
- Infrastructure development: With the creation of new states, there will be a growing need for improved infrastructure, such as roads, airports, and hospitality services. People will have access to remote destinations, and this would encourage more travelers to explore hidden gems in Nigeria. States with abundant natural resources, such as states with water, can further identify the need for a seaport or a means of transportation on the sea.
The image below shows a highway depicting infrastructural development.
Image Source: Freepik
- Events and Festivals: The addition of new states can boost tourism when the states host international festivals, cultural events, and even competitions like sports. It will showcase our local culture more and further attract global visitors, which is a means of increasing tourism revenue and promoting cultural exchange.
- Job creation: As the new states attract more visitors, there will be a demand for tourism-related services such as accommodation, transportation, food, and entertainment. There will be increased demand for staff in hotels, resorts, restaurants, car rentals, tour buses, sales of traditional crafts, clothing, tour guides, and many more.
- Cultural Preservation: Communities in the new states will be propelled to preserve their cultural heritage, especially when they’ve observed its economic incentives. This would further promote cultural pride.
- Environmental Conservation: Eco-tourism initiatives will be developed to fund ecological conservation efforts, which will ensure the preservation of natural attractions for future generations.
Final Thoughts
The proposal to create 31 new states has sparked many reactions on social media as there are different opinions, both positive, in the form of good governance and proper distribution of resources, and negative responses, considering that the resources available currently do not satisfy the entire states. But you might want to throw a stone at me here because in TravelRadio.live, we are engineered to see things more from the perspective of tourism.
From a tourism perspective, the creation of new states presents several opportunities, which include identifying good spots for travel and celebrating more traditional festivals. Economically, it will also stimulate infrastructural development, create jobs, preserve cultural heritage, and more.
Share your thoughts and opinions with Travel radio.live in the comment below.
