A significant development has taken place in the Nigerian Senate. A bill to make a new coastal state from the current Ondo State has passed its first reading. The bill, supported by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo South, wants to change the Nigerian Constitution to help create this new state.
Senator Ibrahim stated that the main goal of establishing the coastal state is to speed up the growth of riverine communities in the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State. He is confident that the bill will move forward easily during its second and third readings when it is discussed in the next session of the Upper Chamber.
This proposal is not the only one; there are several other bills being discussed in the National Assembly that also want to create new states. For instance, a bill by Senator Kawu Suleiman Abdurrahman, who represents Kano South Senatorial District, is trying to create a new state called Tiga from the current Kano State..
Also, a bill to create Anioma State in the South-East has already had its first reading. This bill is by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North. The proposed Anioma State would include several local government areas, with Asaba as the state capital.