The House of Representatives has taken a step towards the creation of a new state in the southeastern region of Nigeria.

Lawmakers in the lower chamber of the national assembly on Thursday passed a bill for the establishment of Orlu State through its first reading.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, representative of Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, and co-sponsored by other lawmakers, is now set for second reading.

According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will alter the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.

The new state will be carved out from Imo, Abia, and Anambra states, with Orlu as its capital city.

The bill also seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by inserting a new paragraph, which will include 28 local government areas, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Ihiala, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.

Hon. Ugochinyere, the lead sponsor of the bill, appealed to his colleagues at the National Assembly to support the bill to ensure its passage through a second reading.

He stated that the creation of Orlu State would lead to the emergence of Ideato as a senatorial district.

It should be noted that all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria have at least 6 states except the southeast which has 5 states.