The House of Representatives has taken the first step towards the creation of a new state, Orlu State, in the southeastern part of Nigeria.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the proposed legislation, sponsored by Representative Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere and co-sponsored by other lawmakers, passed its first reading on Thursday.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.
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Orlu State will be carved out from Imo, Abia, and Anambra states, with Orlu as its capital. The new state would comprise 28 local government areas.
The lead sponsor, Hon Ugochinyere, urged his colleagues to support the bill, adding that the creation of Orlu State will lead to the emergence of Ideato as a senatorial district.
Also, the move will address the imbalance in the number of states in the southeast region, currently having only five states compared to six in other geopolitical zones.
