The controversial South East Development Commission bill has passed the crucial second reading in the Senate.

A lawmaker from Imo State and the sponsor of the bill, Senator Sam Anyanwu, told the Senate that it would tackle issues of infrastructure deficit, unemployment and environmental issues in South-East Nigeria.

The passage of the bill on Wednesday at the Upper House comes a week after it was rejected by lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

A member of the Lower Chamber from Imo State, Honourable Chike Okafor expressed delighted that the bill scaled second reading at the Upper Chamber.

Some lawmakers also vowed that they would re-introduce the bill to give it another chance in the House of Representatives.