Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, representing Ondo South Senatorial District, has urged the National Assembly to support the creation of a new Coastal State, describing it as a viable and economically strategic addition to Nigeria’s federal structure.
Speaking at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on Constitutional Amendment held in Lagos, Ibrahim said the proposed Coastal State would serve over two million people from the Ondo South region.
The public hearing, chaired by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, was attended by traditional rulers, lawmakers, and other stakeholders.
Ibrahim, who also chairs the Senate Interparliamentary Committee, told the gathering that Ondo South accounts for over 60 percent of Ondo State’s internally generated revenue and contributes at least 11 percent to the country’s oil revenue.
“The demand for Coastal State is not emotional but backed by verifiable data,” the senator said. “Ondo South is home to $48 billion worth of bitumen — the second-largest deposit in the world — which the Senate has recently legislated on.”
He argued that the proposed state has the resources, capacity, and population to thrive as an independent economic unit within the federation, and would further enhance national development.
According to him, 64 Senators have already signed a Memorandum of Support backing the bill for state creation, including two lawmakers from Ogun State who also see the potential economic value of the proposal.
“Coastal State, when created, will be self-reliant and economically strong,” Ibrahim noted. “The state will consist of Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, and Odigbo local government areas, with Okitipupa serving as the capital.”
He also mentioned that boundary adjustments involving parts of Ogun and Edo States would be necessary to accommodate the new state.
The public hearing is part of the ongoing constitutional review process by the National Assembly to address critical issues of governance, development, and inclusivity.
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