ASABA:The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed strong support for the creation of Anioma State from the present Delta State, stating that the proposed state would have Asaba as its capital.
Akpabio made the disclosure while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party’s South-South zonal congress held in Asaba.
According to him, the creation of Anioma State is receiving legislative backing at the National Assembly and could significantly boost development and administrative efficiency in the region.
The Senate President also revealed that if Anioma State is created, Warri may emerge as the capital of the remaining Delta State.
Akpabio explained that Warri already possesses key infrastructure required for a state capital, including an airport, government facilities, major oil company headquarters, a seaport and a stadium.
He said these facilities make the city strategically positioned to assume administrative responsibilities should the state be restructured.
The proposed creation of Anioma State has been championed by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District.
Nwoko has consistently argued that establishing the new state would address developmental imbalances and provide greater political representation for communities in the Anioma region.
According to the senator, the creation of the state could also serve as a historic opportunity for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen inclusion and development among ethnic communities in the region.
Akpabio stated that the proposal ranks among the priorities of the 10th Senate, noting that lawmakers recognise the potential socio-economic benefits associated with creating the new state.
He said dividing Delta into two states could improve governance, encourage decentralisation and bring development closer to the people.
Anioma State will be created, with Asaba as its capital. The Senate fully supports the initiative spearheaded by Senator Ned Nwoko, Akpabio said.
This step will usher in a new era of development and shared prosperity for the people of the area.
The proposal has also triggered debate among political leaders regarding the geopolitical alignment of the new state.
Some political stakeholders have suggested that Anioma State should be integrated into the South-East region because of the cultural and linguistic ties between the Anioma people and Igbo communities.
However, leaders and political stakeholders from Delta North have strongly rejected that proposal, insisting that the state should remain within the South-South geopolitical zone.
They argue that the Anioma people share long-standing historical, political and administrative ties with the Niger Delta region.
Nigeria has witnessed increasing calls for the creation of additional states as communities seek greater political representation and access to federal resources.
Currently, the country operates a 36-state structure, but several proposals for new states have been submitted to the National Assembly over the years.
Political analysts say any proposal to create a new state would require extensive constitutional amendments, approval by the National Assembly and endorsement by the president.
For now, supporters of Anioma State say consultations and political lobbying are ongoing as stakeholders continue to push for the proposal to move forward.
If approved, the creation of Anioma State would mark one of the most significant administrative changes in the Niger Delta region in recent years.
