State Creation Bill Progresses to Public Hearing Stage in House of Reps

A bill proposing the creation of Etiti State in the South-East region passed its second reading on Thursday in the House of Representatives.

The House will now conduct a public hearing on the bill before it proceeds to a third and final reading, after which it will be sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The bill, titled “A bill for an Act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the creation of Etiti State out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States and for Related Matters,” was sponsored by Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, and four other members.

Introducing the bill, Ogah emphasized that it aims to address regional parity and administrative efficiency within the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

“The bill proposes an alteration to the 1999 Constitution to accommodate the creation of Etiti State, increasing the number of states in the South-East to six,” Ogah stated.

He argued that establishing Etiti State is essential for balanced regional development and effective governance, aligning with the principles of equity and inclusivity.

Ogah further noted that the current structure of the South-East, with only five states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—compared to at least six states in other regions, has been a longstanding issue.

“The creation of Etiti State is a necessary step to align the region with the structural realities of other regions, fostering equitable representation, enhancing governance efficiency, and promoting socio-economic development,” he said.

The bill seeks to amend Section 3(1) of the 1999 Constitution to increase the number of states from thirty-six to thirty-seven by adding “Etiti” immediately after “Enugu.” The First Schedule, Part I, would also be altered to carve out Isuikwuato and Umunneochi LGAs from Abia; Orumba North and Orumba South LGAs from Anambra; Ivo and Ohaozara LGAs from Ebonyi; Aninri, Awgu, and Oji River LGAs from Enugu; and Okigwe and Onuimo LGAs from Imo States to form the new Etiti State, with Lokpanta designated as the capital.

Ogah urged his colleagues to support the bill, stressing that “The creation of Etiti State represents an opportunity to strengthen our federal structure, empower communities, and foster national unity. I urge all honourable members to support this bill to reshape the socio-political landscape of the Southeast for the betterment of all.”

Currently, two other bills in the National Assembly seek the creation of additional states in the South-East.