IN SHORT: A bill seeking to divide Nigeria's Oyo state into two has passed its second reading. However, it hasn't been signed into law, and many steps remain to be taken.
In October 2024, a bill sponsored by Akeem Adeyemi, a member representing Oyo federal constituency, passed its second reading in Nigeria’s house of representatives.
Nigeria has two legislative chambers: the senate and the house of representatives.
The bill proposes dividing Oyo state into two distinct states due to its large land area and administrative size, which includes 33 local governments – the most in the southwestern region.
If passed, it would create Oyo state with Oyo city as its capital, while the remaining area would become Ibadan state with Ibadan as its capital.
The state of Oyo was initially created in 1976 under the military government of General Murtala Mohammed. Located in the south-west geopolitical zone, it was one of the three states carved out of the former Western state of Nigeria.
The state has a total land area of 28,454 square kilometres and a population of around six million people.
Previous attempts to carve out new states from Oyo, such as Oke-Ogun and Ibadan, have failed.
Although the bill is still making its way through the house, some Facebook posts falsely claim that the split has already taken place.
One post reads: “Oyo State has been divided into two States. Oyo is a State that has Oyo Town as its Capital, and Ibadan State has Ibadan City as its Capital.”
The same claim appeared here and here. (Note: See more instances of the claim at the end of this report.)
But has Oyo state been broken up into two? We checked.
Oyo state division bill yet to be passed
In Nigeria’s legislative process, a bill must undergo three readings, a public hearing, and committee discussions before it is passed by both chambers and signed into law by the president.
The Oyo state bill has had two readings and is still under legislative review.
During a legislative session in the lower house on 22 October 2024, speaker Tajudeen Abbas informed lawmakers that the bill had been submitted for first reading on 10 October and called for a vote.
After the vote passed, Abbas announced that the bill would be referred to the committee on constitutional review for further legislative action.
At the time of writing, we couldn't find any credible media organisation reporting that it had become law, which would be expected as a major national development.
A search of the Oyo state government website turned up no evidence of the state being divided.
The false claim also appeared here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
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