The bill proposing the creation of Etiti State from the existing five South-Eastern states has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, which aims to address regional parity and enhance administrative efficiency in the South-East zone, was introduced by Amobi Ogah (Labour Party, Abia), Miriam Onuoha (All Progressives Congress, Imo), Kama Nkemkama (Labour Party, Ebonyi), Chinwe Nnabuife (Young Progressives Party, Anambra), and Anayo Onwuegbu (Labour Party, Enugu).
During the plenary session on Thursday, the bill advanced to the next stage without debate, following a voice vote in which lawmakers expressed their support. Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, subsequently referred the bill to the Committee on Constitution Review for further consideration.
Challenges and Competing Proposals
The proposal for Etiti State faces competition from another bill sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), which seeks to create Orlu State. Additionally, Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta) is contemplating sponsoring a bill to create Anioma State from the current Delta State, which would then be incorporated into the South-East region.
Context of State Creation in Nigeria
The South-East region currently has the fewest number of states, with five. In comparison, the North-West has seven states, while the South-West, South-South, North-East, and North-Central regions each have six states. The creation of Etiti State is part of ongoing efforts to achieve a more balanced distribution of states across the country.