A bill aimed at creating a new state in Nigeria’s South-West zone cleared its second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Olufemi Ogunbanwo, representing Ijebu Ode/Ijebu Northeast/Odogbolu Federal Constituency in Ogun State, along with three other lawmakers, proposes amending the 1999 constitution to form Ijebu State from Ogun State.

The proposal is among several pending efforts to create new states in the country. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further scrutiny.