Bill For The Creation Of Additional State In South East Region Passes First Reading

The bill for the creation of additional state in the South East region of Nigeria on Thursday, passed first reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.

South East region currently has the least number of states in the country (5) with others having six and north West having 7 states.

The bill which seeks the creation of Orlu state is sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere Imo, who represents Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, and co-sponsored by other lawmakers

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According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will alter the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.

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.