The House of Representatives has introduced a bill seeking to a create a new state named Etiti State, from the South East, with the capital being at Lokponta.
The bill has scaled through the first reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 2nd.
The proposed bill, which is sponsored by by Amobi Ogah and four others was read for the first time at Tuesday’s plenary.
The other sponsors of the bill are Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha representing Okigwe and Onuimo Federal constituency; Kama Nkemkama representing Ivo/ Ohaozara Federal constituency; Princess Chinwe Nnabuife, representing Orumba South and North Federal Constituency and Anayo Onwuegbu representing Oji River/ Awgu/ Aninri Federal Constituency.
This bill makes the proposal for new states in the South East to be two. The other proposal is for the creation of Orlu state out of the present Anambra, Abia and Imo states.
According to the bill, the proposed Etiti State, which is to be carved out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Ebonyi states, when created is to consist of 11 local government areas.
Specifically, the proposed legislation seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution, to delete the word 36 and replace it with the word 37 to accommodate the new state and to insert the word Etiti, immediately after Enugu in the list of states contained in the Nigerian Constitution.
It is also proposing the alteration of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended) to list the 11 local government areas that will make up the proposed Etiti, under the new state.
The local government areas that will make up the new state, if created are Isuikwuato and Umunneochi (Abia); Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra); Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu and Oji River (Enugu) as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).
Chinedum Anayo