Bill for South-East sixth state passes second reading in Senate

South east map

A bill seeking the creation of a new state in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country has passed its second reading in the Senate and is now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review.

Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West, disclosed this development on Friday during a media parley in Abuja, where he marked his two-year milestone in the National Assembly.

He revealed that the proposed state, tentatively named ANIM State will be carved out from parts of Anambra and Imo States.

“It’s not a favour, it’s a matter of equity,” Izunaso declared. “Every other region in the country has six states, except the South-East, which has only five.

“We’re not asking for too much,just for the balance Nigeria’s federal character demands,” the lawmaker said.

Currently, Nigeria’s geopolitical configuration gives the North-West seven states, while the North-East, North-Central, South-West, and South-South zones each have six. The South-East remains the only region with five.

Addressing newsmen, Izunaso stated that he was excited about the development. Punch