Nigeria should fix existing states not create new ones Abia State Governor says

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has explained why Nigeria does not need more states, arguing that most of the existing ones cannot sustain themselves economically.

Otti made his position clear during the recent constitution review session for Imo and Abia states held in Owerri. He stressed that creating more states without first fixing the economic structure of the country would only deepen Nigeria’s challenges rather than solve them.

He pointed out that many of Nigeria’s current states struggle to survive without federal support. For him, adding more states when the country is already dealing with financial strain is a move that could weaken national unity and increase the burden of governance.

However, Otti made an exception for the South East region. He said that since the zone has only five states—compared to six or seven in other regions—there should be one more added to bring balance. He maintained that this would help address the long-standing concerns about unfair representation in the region.

Responding to online criticisms, Otti clarified through his media adviser, Ferdinand Ekeoma, that he is not against equal treatment for the South East. He simply believes Nigeria must focus on building stronger foundations for its current states instead of multiplying weak ones.

He pointed to past leaders like Michael Okpara and Sam Mbakwe who, despite managing large regions, made impactful progress without relying on multiple state structures. Otti believes their legacy proves that visionary leadership matters more than the number of states.

The governor warned that rushing into state creation without economic groundwork could cause deeper division. He urged political leaders and others pushing for new states to avoid selfish motives and instead focus on decisions that will truly improve citizens’ lives.

He concluded by calling for national focus on solving core economic issues, streamlining governance, and building stronger regions—rather than expanding administrative units that could strain Nigeria’s already stretched resources.