Chief Tonnie Oganah Outlines Economic and Cultural Vision for Proposed Anioma State Amid Renewed Legislative Momentum

Chief Tonnie Oganah highlights the legislative progress and economic benefits of creating Anioma State from nine local government areas in Delta.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 4:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Vanguard News.

Renewed Legislative Hope for Statehood

The decades-long aspiration for the creation of Anioma State has reached a critical juncture in Nigeria's constitutional discourse. According to Chief Tonnie Oganah, the Media and Publicity Director of the Anioma State Creation Technical Committee, recent progress at the National Assembly has transformed a long-standing dream into a tangible possibility. Oganah credited the steady advancement of the proposal to the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the active advocacy of Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.

The Constitutional Road to Anioma State

The path toward statehood involves a rigorous multi-stage legislative and public process. According to Oganah, the proposal has already been read in the National Assembly, signaling its formal advancement. The next critical steps include a third reading and concurrence between both chambers. Following legislative approval, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will organize a referendum. In this vote, the people of the designated local government areas will be asked a binary question regarding their support for the new state’s creation.

Composition and Economic Potential

The proposed Anioma State would be carved out of the current Delta State, encompassing nine specific local government areas: Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Ukwuani. Oganah highlighted that these areas are exceptionally rich in both human and natural resources. He argued that statehood would unlock economic growth by facilitating improved infrastructure and reducing commercial pressure on existing regional hubs.