- The proposed legislation is sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, representative of Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, and co-sponsored by other lawmakers
Move to create a new State in Nigeria’s South East region is in top gear as the nation’s lower legislation chamber considers a bill pushing for the actualisation of such geographical alteration and subnational fine-tuning.
The bill seeking the creation of the new state, which will be known as Orlu State, passed first reading at The House of Representatives on Thursday.
The proposed legislation is sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, representative of Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, and co-sponsored by other lawmakers.
According to the draft bill, which is set for second reading, the creation of Orlu State will lead to increase the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37, altering the Nigerian constitution.
The new state will be carved out from Imo, Abia, and Anambra states, with Orlu as its capital city.
The bill also seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by inserting a new paragraph, which will include 28 local government areas, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Ihiala, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.
Hon. Ugochinyere, the lead sponsor of the bill, appealed to his colleagues at the National Assembly to support the bill to ensure its passage through a second reading.
He stated that the creation of Orlu State would lead to the emergence of Ideato as a senatorial district.
It should be noted that all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria have at least 6 states except the southeast which has 5 states
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