December 04, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Nigerian Senate has taken a bold step towards creating new states in the country which includes the creation of a coastal state from the present Ondo State.
The bill has scaled its first reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South Senatorial District, aims to amend the constitution to allow for the creation of the new state.
According to Senator Ibrahim, the creation of the coastal state will facilitate the speedy development of riverine communities in the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State.
He expressed optimism that the bill would pass through the second and third readings when presented in the next sitting of the Upper Chamber.
This proposal is not an isolated one. There are several other bills in the National Assembly seeking the creation of new states across Nigeria.
For instance, a bill sponsored by Senator Kawu Suleiman Abdurrahman, representing Kano South Senatorial District, seeks to create Tiga State from the current Kano State.
Another bill proposing the creation of Anioma State in the South-East has also passed its first reading, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North.
The proposed Anioma State would comprise Local Government areas from Delta State, with Asaba as the state capital.
Similarly, a bill seeking the creation of Etiti State, to be carved out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states, has been proposed by five lawmakers from the South-East.
The bill aims to alter Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution to accommodate the new state.
In addition, a bill seeking the creation of Orlu State from Imo, Abia, and Anambra states has passed its first reading in the Green Chamber.
The bill is sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, a lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State.
