Public Hearing Nears for Anioma State Bill -Ned Nwoko
By Kenneth Orusi
OGWASHI-UKU/Nigeria: The long-standing agitation for the creation of Anioma State has reemerged at the forefront of Delta State’s political dialogue, with Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, spearheading a renewed campaign to actualize the dream.
Speaking during a high-level community engagement on April 10 in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Senator Nwoko disclosed that the legislative effort for Anioma State has reached an advanced stage, having passed both the first and second readings in the Senate without a single dissenting voice. He announced that the bill is now at the committee review stage, marking what he described as “a significant step forward.”
“I serve on the Constitutional Amendment Committee, which comprises 37 senators from across Nigeria. The fact that the proposal for Anioma State has reached this committee is no small feat,” Nwoko told stakeholders and supporters gathered at the event jointly organized by the APC Women Support Group, the Rita Daniels Single Parenthood Initiative, the Girl Child Initiative, and the Regina Daniels Charity and Development Foundation.
The senator further disclosed that preparations are underway for a public hearing in the coming months, calling on constituents and supporters of the Anioma State project to participate actively in the process.
“Your voices matter. I encourage every Anioma son and daughter who can make it to Abuja during the hearing to show up. This is a defining moment for our people,” he said.
Nwoko noted that the creation of Anioma State—carved out of the Delta North Senatorial District with Asaba as the proposed capital—would bring governance closer to the people, unlock more federal opportunities, and address historical marginalization.
“If Anioma becomes a state, we will have our own governor, three senators, and a full complement of commissioners and other top officials. That means more jobs, better infrastructure, and stronger representation at the federal level,” he added.
According to the senator, the push for Anioma State is no longer just a local aspiration but a nationally recognized cause that has garnered backing from the presidency, party leaders, and lawmakers from various geopolitical zones.
“The leadership of this country is aware of what we’re doing. From the President to the National Woman Leader and my colleagues in the Senate, there is real support. They’ve all said the same thing: ‘Push it from your end, and we’ll help finish it,’” he revealed.
Reflecting on the legislative legacy of his predecessors, Nwoko emphasized that while the dream of Anioma State predates his tenure, he is determined to take it to the finish line.
“We’ve had senators like Osakwe, Okowa, and Nwaoboshi before me. They contributed in their ways. But this time, we are determined to see it through. I didn’t start this race, but I will finish it,” he declared to loud applause.
Supporters of the initiative have expressed optimism that the legislative gains made so far could reshape Delta State’s political map ahead of the 2027 general elections, with issues of equity, identity, and representation gaining renewed prominence.
Observers believe the current national mood, coupled with Nwoko’s momentum at the Senate, could give the Anioma cause its most realistic shot in decades.
Closing his address, Nwoko called for unity among the Anioma people and urged other stakeholders across Delta State to see the project not as a divisive agenda but as a collective opportunity for growth.
“This is not about breaking away. It’s about development, about fairness, and about giving our people a platform to thrive. Anioma State will be a symbol of inclusion and a beacon of progress for our children and generations to come,” he said.
As the bill moves toward its final stages in the National Assembly, the political spotlight now shifts to Abuja, where the future of Anioma State hangs in the balance.
