The House of Representatives has advanced a bill to establish a new state in Nigeria’s southeastern region.
On Thursday, lawmakers in the lower chamber passed a bill for the creation of Orlu State through its first reading.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, representative of Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, along with other co-sponsors, is now set for a second reading.
According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will amend the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.
The new state will be carved out of Imo, Abia, and Anambra states, with Orlu as its capital city.
The bill also proposes amending the 1999 Constitution to include a new paragraph, listing 28 local government areas: 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, urged his colleagues at the National Assembly to support the bill to ensure its passage through a second reading.
He emphasized that the creation of Orlu State would result in Ideato becoming a senatorial district.
It is noteworthy that all geopolitical zones in Nigeria have at least six states, except the southeast, which has five.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
