By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAIDUGURI, Borno State – A  federal lawmaker from Borno State, Dr. Usman Midala Balami, has renewed calls for the creation of “Savannah State” from the existing Borno State, at the ongoing House of Representatives Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

Dr Balami hinged the basis of his call by arguing that  it is an “imperative” step to enhance resource utilization, development, and security within the region.

The law maker who  represents the Hawul/Askira-Uba federal constituency presented his case to newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri, on the sidelines of the House of Representatives’ ongoing constitution review process.


Dr. Balami highlighted Borno’s significant population and its 27 local government areas, the highest in the North-East geopolitical zone, as key justifications for the proposed new state. “If you look at all the states in the North-East, Borno State has the largest population; and it has 27 local government areas, which also is the highest number in the geopolitical zone,” Balami stated.


He posited that a smaller administrative unit would lead to more efficient governance and resource allocation. “We want to ensure effective utilization of resources in this country; and when we talk of that, the smaller the size of the component, the easier and most-effective the management of the resources it has,”  he contended.


According to him, the creation of Savannah State would be a “win-win situation” for all residents of Borno. “Once Southern Borno has Savannah, Borno itself will have a population it can easily manage in terms of development, resource utilization and even in terms of security,” he asserted.


The federal parliamentarian urged broad support for the proposal, emphasizing that the agitation aligns with the “yearnings and aspirations of our people.”

“I want to say today to all lovers of democracy and to all citizens of Borno State that the agitation and yearning for the creation of Savannah State is a clarion call for all to support, whether you are from Northern, Central or Southern Borno,” Balami declared. He further assured that “the yearning for the creation of Savannah State is not a yearning that goes against anybody in Borno State.”


Balami concluded by asserting that Southern Borno is the most deserving area in the entire North-East for state creation.
Similar calls for the creation of Savannah State were also strongly presented at the recent Senate public hearing on the constitution review, indicating a growing and persistent demand for the proposed new entity within the state.