The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to create a new Ethiope State.
The sponsor of the bill, Mr. Benedict Etanabene, led the debate on the bill on the floor of the House at plenary.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Constitution 1999 (as amended) is hereby amended as set out hereunder. Section 3(1) of the Constitution is hereby amended Section 3(1) by deleting the phrase “Thirty Six States” and insert the phrase “Thirty Seven States. Moreso, the word “Ethiope” should be inserted immediately after the word “Enugu”. Section 3(6) of the Constitution is hereby amended Section 3(6) by substituting “Seven Hundred and Sixty Eight” as it appears in line one with “Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven” Part 1, of the First Schedule to the Constitution is Part 1, First hereby amended by inserting the word “Ethiope” Schedule to after the word “Enugu” with its proposed Local the Constitution. Government Areas and Capital Cities thus;
“State Local Government Area Capital City Ethiope Abraka, Agbon, Jesse, Mosogar, Orerokpe Oghara, Okpe Rural, Okpe Urban, Sapele Rural, Sapele Urban, Udu North, Udu South, Ughelli North-East, Ughelli North-West, Ughelli South Urban, Ughelli South Rural, Uvwie North, Uvwie South,” the motion said.
Mr. Etanabene also said that consequently, some Local Government Areas would be deleted from the column “Delta”.
He said that the Bill may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), 6th Alteration Bill, 2025.
“This Bill, seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic 1999 (As Amended), to amongst other things, create Ethiope State out of the existing Delta State. This was, born out of the quest for equity in the distribution of States within the six geopolitical zones of our country and to achieve this for South South, Delta State is the most suitable to have a State being carve out from. The Urhobo Nation, being one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria with population of over eight (8) million people, vast natural resources, viable in economic activities, vast land mass, abundant academic institutions and other economic viability like seaports and airports, deserves and is capable for a statehood,” he added .
Confidence Okwuchi