NEW STATE FOR SOUTH-EAST: ANIOMA, ETITI BATTLE FOR ENDORSEMENT

The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-east geopolitical zone, which will bring it at par with the majority of the geopolitical zones in the country. 

The decision was reached during the committee’s two-day retreat held in Lagos and jointly chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, 

Lawmakers deliberated on 55 separate proposals for state creation submitted from across the country and Kalu, who has been one of the most vocal advocates for a sixth state in the South East, said principles of equity, justice, and fairness drove the approval. 

Members from both chambers of the national Assembly reportedly reached a consensus that the South-east’s request met the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, which have guided the current constitutional review process.

The South-east is currently the only geopolitical zone in Nigeria with five states, compared to seven in the North-west zone and six in the remaining four zones.

After prolonged debate, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun State).

The motion received unanimous approval from members of the joint committee, signalling rare bipartisan consensus on what has long been a politically sensitive issue.

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review also approved the creation of six new states, one in each of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, as part of its resolution in the ongoing review of the nation’s constitution.

If ratified, the number of states in the country will rise from 36 to 42, with the North-west having eight, and the North-east, North-central, South-west, and South-south having seven each, and the South-east six.

Following this landmark request, aimed at correcting a long standing regional imbalance, two new proposed states; Anioma State and Etiti State respectively, have been shortlisted, and only ONE of the two will be officially created next year — becoming Nigeria’s 37th State.

The proposal for Etiti State at the House of Representatives was sponsored by Hon. Amaobi Ogah, while Senator Prince Ned Nwoko is the sponsor of the Anioma State proposal at the Senate.

It could be recalled that agitations for new states in the South-East had included strong proposals for; Orlu, Aba, Etiti, Anioma, Adada, Orashi and Okigwe states, out of which the Etiti and Anioma proposals have now been approved.

(Important: Both states scaled approval at committee level, but only one will be selected.)

Proposed LGAs for ETITI STATE

IMỌ STATE:

• Okigwe

• Onuimo

• Isiala Mbano

• Ehime Mbano

• Obowo

• Ihitte/Uboma

• Ideato North

ABIA STATE:

• Isuikwuato

• Umunneochi

EBONYI STATE:

• Onicha

• Ohaozara

• Ivo

ANAMBRA STATE:

• Orumba North

• Orumba South

ENUGU STATE:

• Awgu

• Oji River

• Aninri

Proposed LGAs for ANIOMA STATE (Delta North)

• Aniocha North

• Aniocha South

• Ika North East

• Ika South

• Ndokwa East

• Ndokwa West

• Oshimili North

• Oshimili South

• Ukwuani