Senate Has Not Approved Creation Of New States, LGs-Bauchi Senator

Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South in the Nigerian Upper Chamber, has denied reports that the Senate has approved the creation of 12 new states, described the claims as false and baseless, reports Business Today NG.
Umar, who made the denial during an interview with newsmen over the weekend in Bauchi, explained that the Senate has not made any decision on new states or local government areas.
According to him, what the Senate has done is to organize public hearings in different parts of the country to gather suggestions from citizens as part of the review of the 1999 Constitution.
The lawmaker, who said these suggestions include requests for creating new states and local governments, however, added that the committees handling these hearings have not yet submitted any final report to the National Assembly, he stressed.
He pointed out that no report has been presented to the Senate, and the lawmakers have not met to discuss or approve the creation of any new state or local government.
Umar advised Nigerians to ignore the viral news, which falsely claimed that 12 new states had been approved.
According to him, before the hearings even began, the Senate received more than 46 different requests for state creation, including a proposal to create Katagum State from Bauchi.
He stated that the fact that Katagum was not included in the reported list caused confusion and concern among residents of the area.
Recall that the false report claimed that the Senate had approved new states in each of the six geopolitical zones as follows:
From Ogun and Oyo: Ijebu and Ibadan
From Anambra, Imo and Enugu: Anim and Adada
From Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom: Toru-Ibe and Obolo
From Borno and Adamawa: Savanna and Amana
From Kano and Kaduna: Tiga and Gurara
From Kogi and Benue: Okura and Apa