Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his firm stance against the creation of more states in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s existing structure is already facing significant economic and administrative challenges.
In a statement released through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti emphasized his long-held belief during the Constitution Review meeting held in Owerri for Imo and Abia States. He warned that creating additional states without first ensuring the viability and sustainability of existing ones could worsen Nigeria’s economic woes and undermine governance effectiveness.
“Governor Otti’s position over the years on the creation of additional states in Nigeria hasn’t changed and will not change. His position is that the country doesn’t require additional States, especially when most of the already existing states lack the viability for economic self-sustainability,” the statement explained.
While the governor acknowledged the injustice in the current geopolitical structure—particularly the fact that the South East is the only region with just five states—he made it clear that his support only extends to balancing that disparity, not to a wholesale expansion of Nigeria’s state count.
“We support one more state in the South East to ensure parity with other regions, but we do not believe the answer lies in creating new states all across the federation without first addressing foundational economic and political issues,” he added.
Otti expressed concern that further subdivision of the country could create more divisions and lead to duplication of governance structures without real developmental impact. He likened such moves to “laying a foundation for further division and dichotomy.”
He also paid tribute to past leaders like M.I. Okpara and Sam Mbakwe, who governed larger regions yet delivered impactful and visionary leadership. Their achievements, he said, should inspire a focus on strong leadership and strategic planning rather than administrative fragmentation.
Finally, Otti cautioned political actors against using state creation debates to pursue selfish or short-term goals. “Guard against selfish interests, as they do not advance the long-term interest and welfare of the citizenry,” the governor’s statement concluded.