A bill advocating the establishment of Etiti State in Nigeria’s South-East geo-political zone has successfully passed its first reading in the House of Representatives. The plenary session on Tuesday marked the initial step towards potentially creating the new state.
This bill, sponsored by representatives Amobi Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, Kama Nkemkama, Chinwe Nnabuife, and Anayo Onwuegbu, proposes carving out Etiti State from the existing territories of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.
Should the bill be enacted, Etiti State will encompass 11 local government areas currently part of the five aforementioned states. The proposed capital for Etiti State is Lokpanta.
The bill aims to amend three sections of the 1999 Constitution. It seeks to change the number of states from 36 to 37 and to include Etiti in the list of states following Enugu. Additionally, it proposes reassigning the affected local government areas to the new state.
The specific local government areas involved in the creation of Etiti State are as follows:
- Abia: Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi
- Anambra: Orumba North and Orumba South
- Ebonyi: Ivo and Ohaozara
- Enugu: Aninri, Awgu, and Oji River
- Imo: Okigwe and Onuimo
Further details will be provided as the bill progresses through the legislative process.
