IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC) WORLD-WIDE.

PRESS STATEMENT, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025, AT IJAW HOUSE, YENAGOA

DEMAND FOR THE CREATION OF TORU-EBE AND OIL RIVERS STATES (FROM DELTA, EDO, AND ONDO STATES, AND RIVERS AND AKWA-IBOM STATES, RESPECTIVELY): A THOUGHTFUL ACTION FOR PEACE AND PROGRESS OF THE NIGERIAN STATE.

INTRODUCTION
1. The Ijaw National Congress (INC), on behalf of the Toru-Ebe State and the Oil Rivers State Creation Movements, the Ijaw people of Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom States, hereby issue this Press Statement in respect to our formal request to the National Assembly for the creation of two (2) New states, namely Toru-Ebe State and Oil Rivers State for the Ijaw people of Nigeria. The creation of these two (2) additional states is one of the crucial, sensitive and prescient irreducible conditions for the continuous commitment of the Ijaw people to the Nigerian project.

2. For decades, successive Nigerian governments have attempted to address the Ijaw and Niger Delta crisis through interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) in 1961, the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) in 1976, the Presidential Task Force on Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1992, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2000. However, these agencies have failed to provide a lasting solution to the fundamental issues affecting the Ijaw people. As the late Chief Dr. Harold Dappa-Biriye rightly observed, “Physical development cannot be an answer to the political aspirations of a people.”

3. The Ijaw, despite being the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, have only one homogenous state (Bayelsa), which represents less than one-third of the Ijaw population. State creation is the basis for federal representation, and without Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States, the Ijaw people will continue to be politically sidelined.

4. This demand is also in line with Section 8(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and follows previous submissions to various constitutional review committees, including the Mbanefo Committee on State Creation (1996), the National Political Reform Conference (2005), the 2014 National Conference and Senate/House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment (2021 and 2024).

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR TORU-EBE STATE CREATION

a. The Ijaw people in Delta, Edo, and Ondo States have been systematically balkanized into different states and local government areas, thereby reducing their political influence and preventing fair representation. Despite being the majority in certain areas, they remain politically suppressed, and unabled to hold key leadership positions.

b. Since the colonial era, Ijaw communities have been arbitrarily divided across multiple States. This fragmentation has left them as permanent minorities, who are unable to fully participate in governance and other decision making processes.

c. The proposed Toru-Ebe State is rich in oil and gas, timber, fisheries, and other natural resources, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economy. However, this territory has suffered severe environmental degradation and lacks commensurate infrastructure development.

d. The ongoing ethnic tensions between the Ijaw and their neighbours in Delta, Edo, and Ondo States stem from political exclusion and resource control struggles. Creating Toru-Ebe State will address these grievances, and ensure long-term peace and stability.

e. The principle of co-terminosity, as emphasized by the political legend Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1980, states that no ethnic group should be fragmented in a way that makes them minorities in multiple States. The creation of Toru-Ebe State will allow the Ijaw people to govern themselves and determine their future.

5.1 COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED TORU-EBE STATE

The proposed Toru-Ebe State will comprise the following local government areas:
Delta State: (Bomadi LGA, Burutu LGA, Patani LGA, Part of Warri South West LGA, Part of Warri South LGA, and Part of Warri North LGA)
Edo State: (Part of Ovia South West LGA, Part of Ovia North East LGA, and Part of Ikpoba-Okha LGA)
Ondo State: (Ese-Odo LGA, and Part of Odigbo LGA)
PROPOSED STATE CAPITAL
The Capital of Toru-Ebe State shall be Burutu Township, the Headquarters of the current Burutu LGA of Delta State.

6. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CREATION OF OIL RIVERS STATE

a. The failure to provide a political solution to the Ijaw question has led to the persistent crises in the area. The creation of Oil Rivers State will provide the missing political framework necessary to achieve lasting peace, stability, and meaningful development in the Ijaw territory.

b. This territory remains one of the most environmentally degraded areas in the world, with massive oil spills, gas flaring and ecological destruction, threatening the very survival of its people. Existing environmental laws are inadequate and poorly enforced. A state of our own will give us the autonomy to enforce policies that protect our environment and ensure sustainable development.

c. The Willinks Commission Report (1958) acknowledged that development in the (Ijaw) Niger Delta is uniquely challenging due to its difficult terrain. The current state structure has failed to address this, leaving the area without basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and healthcare. Oil Rivers State will give us the opportunity to take charge of our own development.

d. Despite being a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy, the Ijaw people receive disproportionately low federal allocations. With only one state of our own, federal funds are distributed unfairly, deepening poverty and underdevelopment. The creation of Oil Rivers State will help correct this economic imbalance.

e. There is no significant federal presence in the entire Ijaw territory – no federal roads, no universities, no specialized hospitals, no infrastructure projects of national significance. Oil Rivers State will serve as a vehicle for attracting much-needed federal investment and infrastructure.

f. Due to political fragmentation, many Ijaw communities face cultural extinction, with some losing their native language and traditions. The establishment of Oil Rivers State will create an environment where Ijaw heritage and identity can thrive.

g. By addressing the political and economic marginalization of the Ijaw people, the creation of Oil Rivers State will foster national unity and strengthen the Nigerian Federation.

6.1 COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED OIL RIVERS STATE

The proposed Oil Rivers State consists of the Ijaw LGAs in Rivers State and Akwa-Ibom State viz;

Rivers State: (Engeni LGA, ABUA/Odua LGA, Akuku Toru LGA, Degema LGA, Okrika LGA, Ogu – Bolo LGA, Bonny LGA, Andoni LGA and Opobo LGA)
Akwa-Ibom State: (Eastern Obolo LGA and Ibeno LGA)

PROPOSED STATE CAPITAL
The Capital of the proposed Oil Rivers State is Southern Port Harcourt City.

The proposed Oil Rivers State is endowed with abundant natural and human resources, making it economically viable. The state has:
a. Vast Mangrove Forests – Supporting timber, boat building, and furniture industries.
b. Rich Fisheries and Agricultural Potential – Supporting large-scale food production and export.
c. Oil Palm Industry – Reviving the palm oil sector as a major revenue source.
d. Tourism Opportunities – Development of world-class coastal resorts and wildlife parks.
e. Natural Harbours – Enabling trade, commerce, and industrial development.
f. Oil and Gas Resources – With over 30 oil and gas fields, contributing significantly to national revenue.

OUR PRAYER:

We hereby call upon the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to give serious and favorable consideration to our request for the creation of Toru-Ebe State and Oil Rivers State.

The demand for these states is not new. It is a demand rooted in history, fairness, and the survival of our people. We are confident that the creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States will be a historic step towards justice, equity, and sustainable peace in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

We commend the leadership of the National Assembly for its commitment to transparency, good governance, and national development. We urge them to seize this moment in history and act in the interest of justice.

CONCLUSION

The creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States is an urgent necessity, not a privilege. It will correct historical injustices, promote political inclusion, foster economic development, and secure a better future for the Ijaw people. Just imagine, the four (4) major oil export terminals in Nigeria are all located in Ijaw territory (Bonny, Forcados, Escravos and Qua-Iboe terminals), still with nothing meaningful to show for this.

We call on the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all distinguished members of the National Assembly to prioritize this demand in the ongoing constitutional review process. The Ijaw people have endured decades of political marginalization, and the time for justice is now.

We urge all Ijaw sons and daughters, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to support this demand for the sake of fairness, equity, and justice.ENDORSEMENT: The originating documents were duly endorsed by Traditional Rulers, Elected Officials, Chiefs, and Eminent Persons of the Proposed Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States.

Signed:
Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba
President, Ijaw National Congress (INC) World-wide.