Communities across Nigeria are seeking new local government areas, with proposals covering states in all 6 geopolitical zones. From Adamawa and Kogi to Imo, Ogun, Lagos, Bayelsa and Rivers, the reported demands feature dozens of towns and communities seeking separate administrative status.
The issue gained attention on October 24, 2025, when Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin announced that the National Assembly had received 278 requests for additional local government areas as part of its constitutional review. In 2026, a publication released a state by state list of communities reportedly seeking new councils, bringing attention to the scale of the proposals.
The names span communities seeking greater access to government services, local administration and development. Here is the reported list of proposed new local government areas across the states, alongside the constitutional process guiding their creation.
Adamawa State
The proposed new local government areas reported for Adamawa State are Bidoma, Borrong, Yadim, Gurum, Gombi, Giyawana, Suwa Waduku, Tola, Michika South, Vulpi and Dumne.
Bauchi State
Bauchi State has 3 reported proposals, namely Boi Tapshin, Dass West and Balma.
Borno State
The proposed areas listed for Borno State are Banki, Darajamal, Gulumba, Soye and Woloji.
Gombe State
The reported proposals for Gombe State are Cham, Dadiya and Tula.
Yobe State
Yobe State’s proposed new local government areas are Gudi, Jajere and Daya.
Jigawa State
The proposed areas listed for Jigawa State are Ayama, Diginsa, Karanga, Fagam, Kadira, Bulangu, Sarawa, Dakaiyawa, Jarkasa, Fadama and Biram.
Kaduna State
Piriga is the proposed new local government area listed for Kaduna State.
Katsina State
Dankama is the name reported for Katsina State.
Zamfara State
The proposed areas listed for Zamfara State are Moriki, Kurya Madoro and Moroni.
Benue State
Benue State’s reported proposals are Agasha, Nzorov, Saghev, Orokam, Otakom and Sambe.
Kogi State
The proposed new local government areas listed for Kogi State are Itobe, Olla, Igalogba, Odane, Biraidu, Okura, Gboloko, Mozum, Ojoku, Enjema, Odolu, Imane, Ibaji East, Ogugu and Egbe.
Kwara State
The proposed areas for Kwara State are Ifedapo, Kajola, Isokan and Gwanara.
Nasarawa State
Nasarawa State’s reported proposals are Akwanga West, Azara, Ekye, Karshi, Panda, Giza, Agwada, Lafia East, Lafia North, Loko, Udege, Agidi, Akun, Jenkwe, Gadabuke, Farin Ruwa and Assakio.
Niger State
Diko is the proposed new local government area listed for Niger State.
Plateau State
The proposed areas reported for Plateau State are Kakakena, Munval, Daffo, Kwande East, Gindiri, Quaan, Ganawuri, Lamba and Tim.
Abia State
Abia State’s proposed new local government areas are Abiriba and Bende North.
Anambra State
The proposed areas listed for Anambra State are Obosi West, Obosi South and Obosi East.
Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State’s reported proposals are Ekumenyi, Okpuitumo, Ozibo, Izzikworo, Imoha, Ikwo South, Ikwo North, Ishielu South, Ebyia, Igbeagu, Nnodo, Ohaozara East, Ohaozara South, Effium and Oshiri Ukaba.
Imo State
The proposed new local government areas reported for Imo State are Alaoma, Afor Enyiogugu, Meziama Oparanadim, Umuelegwa Onicha, Ndiawa, Ohaeke Umuopia, Ogboko, Nkwo Ihitte, Nkwunaghaba, Umuchie Atta, Ehime Court (Wuzari), Isi Isu, Umuechem, Ubomiri, Orie Mbieri, Umuowa, Okpala, Umuaka, Isi Nwangele, Egboghere, Umukanne, Asoba, Acharaba, Achi, Ikpa Nwerere, Ubulu, Otunne (Awo Cmamma), Eziawa, Imenyi Ihittenansa, Orie Uvuru, Umulolo, Agbala, Okolochi, Mbaraoha, Nkwo Mbaa, Obudi, Mgbara, Anara, Okwelle, Isi Owerri Nkworji, Obollo, Mbara Eru Eru, Akwakuma, Umuokoroma Umungwa, Amiri, Akatta, Ozuh Omuma, Akuma, Amaokpara, Aboshi and Ezeogwu.
Ekiti State
The proposed new local government areas listed for Ekiti State are Eso Obe, Gbonyin and Omolore.
Ogun State
Ogun State’s reported proposals are Otta Northwest, Ogijo, Ijebu North Central, Orile Oko and Agbado.
Osun State
The proposed areas listed for Osun State are Binukonu, Ijero Municipal, Ire Akari, Osogbo and Osogbo East.
Oyo State
Oyo State’s proposed new local government areas are Ifeloju, Atiba West, Atiba Northwest, Atiba North, Oyo West, Alowolodu, Agunloye, Oyo East, Asabari, Weewe, Mua and Okerete.
Lagos State
The 37 proposed additional local government areas for Lagos State are the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the Lagos State Government in 2003. A bill seeking to recognise them as full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs) passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on March 26, 2025.
Full List of the 37 Proposed Additional LGAs in Lagos State are Agboyi-Ketu, Agbado-Oke-Odo, Ayobo-Ipaja, Apapa-Iganmu, Bariga, Badagry West, Coker-Aguda, Eredo, Egbe-Idimu, Ejigbo, Eti-Osa East, Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Ifelodun, Ikosi-Ejinrin, Ijede, Igando-Ikotun, Ikosi-Isheri, Iganmu, Ikorodu West, Itire-Ikate, Iru-Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ikorodu North, Iba, Imota, Lagos Island East, Mosan-Okunola, Oto-Awori, Olorunda, Onigbongbo, Odi-Olowo-Ojuwoye, Orile-Agege, Oriade, Ojokoro, Ojodu, Yaba, Lagos Island West.
Bayelsa State
The proposed areas listed for Bayelsa State are Akassa, Kaiko/Ibe Awo, Aleibiri, Mini Ikensi/Oluasiri, Okoroma/Tereke, Ogbia North, Ogbia West, Mein/Oyiakiri, Toru Abubo, Bomo, Ogboin, Bassan, Gbarain/Ekpetiama, Alabini, Kolo Creek, Okordio, Zarama, Biseni and Okun South.
Cross River State
The proposed new local government areas reported for Cross River State are Mbube, Calabar Central and Calabar North.
Delta State
Ughievwen is the proposed new local government area listed for Delta State.
Edo State
Edo State’s reported proposals are Nosaibo, Orhionmwon East, Orhionmwon South, Akugbe, Akoko Edo North, Akoko Edo South, Akoko Edo Central, Agbelor East, Agbelor West and Olodiama.
Rivers State
The proposed new local government areas listed for Rivers State are Ataba, Abaji Toru, Obio, Akpor, Nkoro, Unyeada, Asamara, Evo and Alesa.
Previous National Assembly Proposals for New Local Government Areas
The push for additional local government areas gained momentum in March 2025, when the House of Representatives passed several constitutional amendment bills seeking to create new councils in different states. On March 27, 2025, reports identified proposals for Bende North in Abia State, Ughievwen in Delta State, Ideato West in Imo State and Zurmi in Zamfara State, alongside a proposal to create additional local government areas in Enugu State. These bills advanced to the second reading stage, allowing lawmakers to continue considering their provisions.
One of the prominent proposals concerned Lagos State, where lawmakers considered granting full local government status to the state’s 37 Local Council Development Areas. On March 26 and 27, 2025, the House of Representatives considered the proposal, which sought to increase the number of constitutionally recognised local government areas in Lagos from 20 to 57. The proposal would require a constitutional amendment before the development areas could become fully recognised local government areas.
The National Assembly’s legislative records also contain proposals introduced in 2025 to create additional local government areas in Enugu, Edo and other states. The bills include proposals to establish new councils in Enugu State, create Uselu Local Government Area from Egor in Edo State and divide the former Ikpoba Okha local government structure into Ikpoba, Okha and Sakponba. These records show that demands for additional councils had already entered the legislative process before the January 2026 list was published.
However, a bill passing its second reading does not mean the proposed local government area has been created. Constitutional amendments must satisfy the applicable requirements, including approval by the required majority of State Houses of Assembly. The creation of new local government areas must also comply with the specific procedure established under Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
These earlier proposals provide useful context for the 2026 list because they demonstrate that requests for new councils have been under legislative consideration for several years. The proposals cover different states and communities, but their inclusion in National Assembly records should not be confused with final constitutional approval or the formal creation of additional local government areas.
Constitutional Process for Creating New LGAs
Section 8(3) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, establishes the procedure for creating new local government areas. The process begins with the required support from members of the relevant State House of Assembly and local government councils representing the affected area.
A referendum must then be held in the area where the demand originated, with approval from at least a two thirds majority of the people participating in the process. The result must receive the required approval from local government councils across the state, followed by a resolution supported by at least a two thirds majority of the State House of Assembly.
The constitutional procedure also requires the relevant arrangements for recognising the new areas, including their names and administrative headquarters. These steps determine how a proposal progresses from a community demand to a legally recognised local government area.
National Assembly’s Constitutional Review
On October 24, 2025, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin announced that the National Assembly’s joint constitutional review committees had received 278 requests for additional local government areas, 55 requests for new states and 2 boundary adjustment requests.
The review also covered 69 constitutional amendment bills addressing various aspects of Nigeria’s governance structure. The proposals formed part of a broader legislative exercise involving local government administration, state policing, electoral reforms and other constitutional issues.
The proposed new local government areas remain part of the wider discussion on Nigeria’s administrative structure.
Final Takeaway
From Lagos’s 37 proposed additional local government areas to the lengthy lists reported for Imo, Kogi and Nasarawa, the proposals reflect the scale of demands for changes to Nigeria’s grassroots administrative structure.
Previous bills considered by the National Assembly also show that several communities had sought new councils before the January 2026 list emerged. The key development to watch is which proposals advance through the legislative process and ultimately receive the approvals required to become recognised local government areas.
