Nigerian media personality and rapper Nnamdi Nwabasili, widely known as N6, has sharply criticized recent proposals to expand the country’s political geography by creating new states, calling the move economically reckless and a potential catalyst for corruption. His comments follow reports that Nigeria’s House of Representatives has received 31 requests for statehood, while unverified claims about the Senate approving 12 new states circulate on social media.
In a Friday post on X (formerly Twitter), the entertainer argued that expanding Nigeria’s current 36-state structure would institutionalize fiscal waste. “Creating 12 new states in today’s Nigeria is madness,” he wrote, outlining his concerns. “Twelve new governors and deputy governors. Twelve new government house construction projects. Twelve new white elephant airport projects. Lord have mercy.” The phrase “white elephant projects” refers to costly infrastructure ventures with limited public utility, a recurring concern in Nigerian governance.
His critique aligns with longstanding debates about Nigeria’s subnational governance model. Since gaining independence in 1960, the country has periodically created new states, often to address ethnic representation or administrative efficiency. However, critics like N6 warn that further fragmentation could strain public finances. Each new state requires a full administrative framework, including legislatures, judiciaries, and bureaucracies, funded largely by allocations from the federal government’s oil revenue.
While Nigeria’s 1999 constitution allows for state creation, the process is stringent, requiring approval from two-thirds of the National Assembly and state legislatures. The House of Representatives confirmed receiving over 30 proposals this year, though no formal legislative steps have been announced. Social media claims about Senate approval of a dozen states remain unverified, sparking confusion amid broader discussions about governance reforms.
Nwabasili’s remarks resonate with advocates of restructuring who argue for merging existing states rather than expanding them. Economists have noted that 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states rely on federal allocations to cover basic expenses, raising questions about fiscal sustainability. Proponents of state creation, however, often cite the need to empower marginalized regions and improve local governance.
The rapper’s intervention highlights tensions between political aspirations and economic realities in Africa’s most populous nation. With 63% of its 230 million citizens living in poverty, according to World Bank data, calls for leaner governance structures have intensified. Analysts suggest Nigeria’s recurrent budget shortfalls and infrastructure gaps could worsen with additional administrative layers, echoing N6’s warnings about duplicated costs.
As debates unfold, the focus remains on whether legislative efforts will prioritize constitutional amendments or economic pragmatism. While social media amplifies voices like Nwabasili’s, official channels have yet to clarify the status of statehood proposals, leaving questions about Nigeria’s political future unanswered.
