Bill to create Etiti state in South East passes first reading

A bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create Etiti State (equity) in the South East passed through the first reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday during the Plenary session.

The bill is being sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, and four others, representing the affected communities.

They include Hon. Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha, representing Okigwe and Onuimo Federal Constituencies; Hon. Kama Nkemkama, representing Ivo/Ohozara Federal Constituencies; Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuife, representing Orumba South and North Federal Constituencies; and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, representing Oji River, Agwai, and Aniri Federal Constituencies.

The proposed state is to be created out of the present Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

When created, the new state will have 11 local government areas drawn from the five states, with headquarters at Lokpanta.

The bill seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 Constitution: to delete the word “36” and replace it with “37” to accommodate the new state, and to insert the word “Etiti” immediately after “Enugu” in the list of states contained in the Constitution.

It also seeks to alter the listing of local governments according to states and transfer the 11 local government areas from their current states to the new state.

The local governments to be affected are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra), Ivo and Ohozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu, and Oji River (Enugu), as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).

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