Ebonyi Assembly Passes Street Naming Bill, Sports Festival Bill Clears First Reading

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to establish a Street Naming and Property Addressing System across the state, a move lawmakers say will enhance planning, ease navigation, and improve revenue generation.

The bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Establish Ebonyi State Street Naming and Property Addressing System and for Other Matters Connected Therewith,” was passed during Thursday’s plenary at the Assembly Complex, Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki. The session was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa.

While reading a letter from the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Speaker explained that the initiative aims to create a comprehensive property database for urban planning, revenue management, and efficient emergency response services.

The Majority Leader, Chief Kingsley Ikoro, who moved for the bill’s consideration, described it as crucial to the state’s development. “This bill will introduce a systematic addressing system, improve navigation, and enhance emergency services. It’s long overdue,” he stated.

Other lawmakers, including Hon. Victor Nwoke (Abakaliki North), Hon. Aloysius Nwodo (Ebonyi North West), and Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu (Ivo), echoed support for the bill and urged for its accelerated passage.

Following a motion moved by Chief Ikoro and seconded by Hon. Henry Eze (Ishielu North), the plenary dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to deliberate more extensively. After considerations, the committee reconvened in plenary, and the Speaker announced the progress.

The newly passed law will be cited as HAB. NO. 006 of 2025. Speaker Odunwa directed the Clerk, Mrs. Edene Uche Blessing, to formally notify the governor of the bill’s passage.

In a related development, a private member bill titled “A Bill for a Law to Provide for Ebonyi State Annual Sports Festival and the Establishment of Ebonyi State Sports Festival Committee and for Other Related Matters” passed its first reading. The bill was sponsored by Hon. Victor Chidi Nwoke (Abakaliki North), who also chairs the House Committee on Youths and Sports.