Bill for New State in South-East Passes First Reading

A bill advocating for the creation of Etiti State in the South-East geopolitical zone has successfully passed its first reading in the House of Representatives during Tuesday’s plenary session.

The bill, sponsored by five House members—Amobi Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, Kama Nkemkama, Chinwe Nnabuife, and Anayo Onwuegbu—proposes carving out Etiti State from the existing states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. The new state is slated to include 11 local government areas, with its capital at Lokpanta.

To facilitate the creation of Etiti State, the bill seeks amendments to three sections of the 1999 Constitution, including changing the number of states from 36 to 37 and adding “Etiti” after “Enugu” in the list of states.

Additionally, the bill proposes the reallocation of local government areas to the new state. The affected local governments include Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra), Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Awgu, and Oji River (Enugu), as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).

Further details to follow…