Akwa Ibom State | |
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Nicknames: | |
![]() Location of Akwa Ibom in Nigeria | |
Coordinates: 05°00′N07°50′E / 5.000°N 7.833°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Date created | 23 September 1987 |
Capital | Uyo |
Government | |
• Body | Government of Akwa Ibom State |
• Governor | Pastor Umo Eno (PDP) |
• Deputy Governor | Akon Eyakenyi |
• Legislature | Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly |
• Senators | NE: Aniekan Bassey (PDP) NW: Godswill Akpabio (APC) S: Ekong Sampson (PDP) |
• Representatives | List |
Area | |
• Total | 7,081 km2 (2,734 sq mi) |
• Rank | 30 of 36 |
Population (2016) [1] | |
• Total | 5,450,758 |
• Rank | 15 of 36 |
• Density | 770/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
Demonym | Akwa Ibomite |
GDP (PPP) | |
• Year | 2021 |
• Total | $50.30 billion [2] 3rd of 36 |
• Per capita | $7,739 [2] 4th of 36 |
Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
Dialing Code | +234 |
ISO 3166 code | NG-AK |
HDI (2021) | 0.608 [3] medium · 17th of 37 |
Website | akwaibomstate |
Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe River which bisects the state before flowing into the Bight of Bonny. [4] Akwa Ibom was split from Cross River State in 1987 with her capital Uyo and with 31 local government areas.
Of the 36 states, Akwa Ibom is the 30th largest in area and fifteenth most populous, with an estimated population of nearly 5.5 million as of 2016. [5] Geographically, the state is divided between the Central African mangroves in the coastal far south and the Cross–Niger transition forests in the rest of the state. Other important geographical features are the Imo and Cross rivers which flow along Akwa Ibom's eastern and western borders respectively while the Kwa Ibo River bisects the state before flowing into the Bight of Bonny. In the southeast corner of the state is the Stubb Creek Forest Reserve , a heavily threatened wildlife reserve that contains declining crocodile, putty-nosed monkey, red-capped mangabey, and Sclater's guenon populations along with potentially extirpated populations of African leopard and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. [6] [7] [8] [9] Offshore, the state is also biodiverse as there are large fish populations alongside various cetacean species, including bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, humpback whales, and killer whales.[ citation needed ] [10]
Modern-day Akwa Ibom State has been inhabited by various ethnic groups for hundreds of years, primarily the closely related Ibibio, Annang, and Oron peoples in the North-East, North-West, and Southern zones of the state, respectively. [11]
Economically, Akwa Ibom State is based around the production of crude oil and natural gas as highest oil-producing state in the country. [12] Key minor industries involve agriculture as the state has substantial cocoyam, yam, and plantain crops along with fishing and heliciculture. Despite its vast oil revenues, Akwa Ibom has the seventeenth highest Human Development Index in the country in large part due to years of systemic corruption. [13] [14] [15]
Akwa-Ibom State's economy is based on the production of crude oil and natural gas. It produces the most oil of any state in the country. [16] It includes the following oil- producing Local Government Areas: Ibeno, Mbo, and Eastern Obolo. [17]
Key minor industries are based on agriculture; the state has substantial cocoyam, yam, and plantain crops, along with fishing and heliciculture.
Despite its vast oil revenues, Akwa Ibom ranks as seventeenth among the states List of Nigerian states by Human Development Index#2019 in the Human Development Index. Years of systemic corruption have resulted in such revenues being diverted from improving infrastructure, education and welfare of the people. [18] [19] [20]
In the pre-colonial period, what is now Akwa Ibom State was divided into various city-states like the Ibom Kingdom and Akwa Akpa before the latter became a British protectorate in 1884 as a part of the Oil Rivers Protectorate. [21] Prior to the British colonization, no central government had existed among the people of what is now Akwa Ibom State. The various ethnic peoples were largely organized into clan communities, based on kinship and relations.
Several Scottish missionaries went to Calabar in 1848, and Ibono in 1887. The British government did not attempt to establish more control over the area until 1904. In that year, they organized the Enyong Division, encompassing the area of the current state of Akwa Ibom, with headquarters at Ikot Ekpene, a predominately Annang city. Noted Africanist Kaanan Nair, noted this city as the cultural and political capital of the Annang and Ibibio peoples. The greater Southeast was largely dominated by the majority Igbo people. The creation of Enyong Division encouraged collaboration among the numerous minority ethnic groups in the area. They created the Ibibio Welfare Union, later renamed Ibibio State Union. This social organization was first established as a local development and improvement forum for educated African persons and groups who in 1929 were still excluded from the colonial administration. It was dominated by British colonists and their appointees.[ citation needed ] [22]
In the early 1900s, the British actually gained formal control of the area before incorporating the protectorate (now renamed the Niger Coast Protectorate) into the Southern Nigeria Protectorate which later merged into British Nigeria; after the merger, much of modern-day Akwa Ibom became a centre of anti-colonial resistance during the Women's War and political activism through the Ibibio State Union. [23]
After independence in 1960, the area of now-Akwa Ibom was a part of the post-independence Eastern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the South-Eastern State. Less than two months afterwards, the Igbo-majority former Eastern Region attempted to secede as the state of Biafra; in the three-year long Nigerian Civil War, now-Akwa Ibom was hard-fought over in the prelude to the Invasion of Port Harcourt while people from Akwa Ibom were persecuted by the Biafran forces as they were mainly non-Igbos. [24] At the war's end and the reunification of Nigeria, the South-Eastern State was reformed until 1976 when it was renamed Cross River State.
Eleven years later, Cross River State was divided on 23 September 1987, by the Military Administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. [25]
This division resulted in the creation of the state of Akwa Ibom, Uyo was chosen as the state capital in order to encourage development in all regions of the state. [26]
Akwa Ibom has a tropical monsoon climate (Classification: Am) and is 42.58 meters (139.7 feet) above sea level. The city's average annual temperature is -0.99% lower than Nigeria's averages at 28.47 °C (83.25 °F). 342.56 millimeters (13.49 inches) of precipitation and 294.37 rainy days (80.65% of the time) are typical annual totals for Akwa Ibom. [27] [28]
The Akwa Ibom region regularly has tropical monsoons. All year long, there are high temperatures and a lot of rain. The region of Akwa Ibom has an average yearly temperature of 60 degrees and 672 inches of precipitation. The average humidity is 80% and the UV-index is 7. It is dry for only 52 days of the year. [29]
The climate of Akwa Ibom is tropical with significant rainfall and a short dry season. [30] [31] [32]
Politics in Akwa Ibom State are dominated by the three main ethnic groups: the Ibibio, Annang, and Oro. Of these three, the Ibibio remain the majority and have held sway in the state since its creation.
The list of ministries in Akwa Ibom State include the following: [33]
Akwa Ibom State consists of thirty-one (31) local government areas. They include:
The main ethnic groups of the state include: Ibibio, Anaang, Oro and Obolo.
The people of Akwa Ibom are predominantly Christians.
976,791 Catholics (2020) in the two dioceses of Uyo (1989) with 74 parishes under Bishop John Ebebe Ayah (2014), and Ikot Ekpene (1963) with 53 parishes under Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh (2010), both suffragans of the Archdiocese of Calabar.
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Uyo within the Church of Nigeria is Prince Asukwo Antai (2014). [35]
Like their Efik neighbors of Cross River State, people of Akwa Ibom speak various dialects of the Ibibio-Efik languages, which belong to the Benue–Congo language family, forming part of the Niger–Congo group of languages.
The following table lists languages of Akwa Ibom State, and the local government areas in which they are spoken: [36]
Language | LGA(s) spoken in |
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Anaang | Abak, Essien Udim, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Oruk-Anam, Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Obot Akara. |
Obolo | Eastern Obolo |
Ekid | Eket, Esit Eket |
Etebi | Esit Eket |
Ibibio | Etinan, Ibiono Ibom, Ikono, Ikot Abasi, Itu, Ibesikpo-Asutan, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai, Nsit-Ibom, Nsit-Ubium, Onna, Uruan, Uyo, Ini. |
Ibuno | Ibeno |
Ika Oku | Ika |
Nkari | Ini |
Itu Mbon Uso | Ini |
Idere | Itu |
Efik | Itu, Uruan |
Ebughu | Mbo, Oron |
Efai | Mbo |
Enwan | Mbo |
Oro | Mbo, Oron, Udung Uko, Urue-Offong-Oruko |
Iko | Eastern Obolo |
Okobo | Okobo |
Ilue | Oron |
Khana | Oruk-Anam |
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education is tasked with monitoring the education sector of the state.
The current part of Akwa Ibom State that was within the former Calabar Kingdom, was the first site of Western education in Nigeria. The Hope Waddell Training Institute was founded at Calabar in 1895, and the Methodist Boys' High School, Oron in 1905. Other top schools, such as the Catholic seminaries Holy Family College at Abak and Regina Coeli College in Essene, were also soon founded.
Some educational institutes in the state today are:
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Federal highways
Other major highways include:
Airports:
Victor Attah International Airport (2009) 24 km southeast of Uyo has services to Abuja and Lagos, and Eket Airstrip for domestic flights.
The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with the state house of assembly. The capital city of the state is Uyo. [72]
The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas. [73]
Notable places.
Four points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene. It's a hotel located at the heart of Ikot Ekpene town. Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a terrace and restaurant in Ikot Ekpene, with free WiFi access as well.
Akwa Ibom state has one of Nigerians international stadiums situated in Uyo which was named after the former Governor Godswill Akpabio. The stadium has hosted both local and international matches of the Nigeria football team. [74]
The Ibibio people are a coastal people in Southern Nigeria. They are mostly found in Akwa Ibom, and the Eastern part of Abia State. During the colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation.
Anaang is an ethnic group in Southern Nigeria, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State. The Anaang are the second largest ethnic group after the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom state.
Abak is a town and Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The LGA was previously part of Cross River State. It was later sub divided into other local government areas such as Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun and Ika. Notable tribes include the Annang. Abak consists of five clans: Abak Urban, Afaha obong, Ediene, Midim and Otoro. The major economic activities of the people of this area before and after the Nigerian Civil War was palm produce exported through river port at Ekpene Okpo, Ntak Ibesit, a distance of about 8 km from Abak town. Abak town, the local government headquarters is located about 18 kilometres from Uyo, the State capital. It has a landmass of 304 square kilometers. Abak to say the least, is the shadow of its former self due to politically motivated neglect by successive governments in Akwa Ibom state. Abak was the economic hub of the former Southeastern Nigeria before the civil war. The Nigerian Army barrack that is popularly known as Ibagwa Barrack is located or can be found in the Abak. The Ime Umana Campus of the university of Uyo which accommodates the Pre-Degree, JUPEB and other special courses is located in Ediene Abak, Abak
Ikot Ekpene, also known as The Raffia City, is a historic town in south-southern state of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. It is the political and cultural capital of the Annang ethnic group in Nigeria. The town is located on the A342 highway that parallels the coast, between Calabar to the southeast and Aba to the west, with the state capital, Uyo, on this road just to the east. Umuahia is the next major town to the north. The population of the Ikot Ekpene Local government area was estimated to be 180,500 in 2022.
Eket is one of the 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The name Eket or Ekid also refers to the indigenous people of the region who are the Ibibio people of the southern part of Ibibioland and to their dialect which is Ekid. The Eket people use the endonym Ekid for themselves and their language, but Europeans spell and pronounce the name as "Eket".
The Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Akwa Ibom comprises three Senators representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Akwa Ibom North-West, and Akwa Ibom South and ten Representatives representing Ukanafun/Orukanam, Etinan, Itu/Ibiono Ibom, Eket, Ikot Ekpene/ Essien Udim/ Ubot Akara, Abak, Ikono/ Ini, Oron/Mbo/Okobo/UrueOffong Oruko/Udung-Uko, Ikot Abasi, Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan.
Etinan is located within the South South part of Nigeria and constitutes one of the Local Government Areas in the oil rich Akwa Ibom State. Known for its agricultural and arts craft products, the area forms one of the most peaceful locations in the West African State of Nigeria.
The Oron people are a multi-ethnic tribal grouping that make up the Akpakip Oro or Oron Nation. The Oron people (Örö) are located primarily in southern Nigeria in the riverine area of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State and in Cameroon. Akpakip Oro are regarded as an ancient warrior people, speaking the Oron (Oro) language which is in the Cross River language family of the Benue–Congo languages. They are ancestrally related to the Efik people of the Cross River State, the Ibeno and Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom, the Andoni people in Rivers State, Ohafia in Abia State and the Balondo-ba-Konja in the Congo.
Ibeno is located in the south of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Ibeno town lies on the eastern side of the Kwa Ibo River about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the river mouth, and is one of the largest fishing settlements on the Nigerian coast. Ibeno lies in the Mangrove Forest Belt of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, bounded to the west by Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, to the north by Onna, Esit Eket and Eket, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.
Ibiono-Ibom is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State in the south-south region of Nigeria. It has its administrative headquarters at Oko Ita.
Itu is located in the South South of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The Local Government Area occupies a landmass of approximately 200 square kilometers. It is bounded in the North and North-East by Odukpani in Cross River State and Arochukwu in Abia State, in the West by Ibiono Ibom and Ikono Local Government Areas, in the South and southeast by Uyo and Uruan Local Government Areas, respectively.
Ukanafun is a Local Government Area located in the South South of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State.
Uruan is a Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, south of Nigeria.
John James Akpan Udo-Edehe was elected Senator for the Akwa Ibom North East District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.
Ika is a Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The headquarters of the Ika local government area is Urua Inyang. Ika is subdivided into clans, Ito, Achan and Ikananang (Odoro) and over 50 villages in totality with an identical cultural display called Akakum/Asakom nicknamed Afum. Displayed mostly at Christmas.
Ikot Udoma is a village in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It is one of the villages under Abikpi (Ebikpi) sub-clan of Eket Offiong clan. It is bounded by Afia Nsit, Ofriyo and Odoro Enen villages to the north, Ikot Ibiok and Mkpok villages to the south, Idua Village to the west and Ata Idong Ikot Usoekong village to the east.
Akon Etim Eyakenyi ; born 24 February 1960) is a Nigerian politician who is the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State. She served as the senator for Akwa Ibom South from 2019 to 2023. Before being elected to the senate, she was the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ini Ememobong is a Lawyer, Linguist, a thoroughbred Public Relations expert, a Political Strategist, Conflict analyst, chartered mediator and conciliator, a Community development enthusiast and author.. He is the current commissioner for information and strategy in Akwa Ibom State and the immediate past state publicity secretary of Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. He is the founder of Ini Ememobong Foundation.
The 2019 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly election was held on March 9, 2019, to elect members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in Nigeria. All the 26 seats were up for election in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election in Akwa Ibom State will be held on 25 February 2023 as part of the nationwide 2023 Nigerian presidential election to elect the president and vice president of Nigeria. Other federal elections, including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, will also be held on the same date while state elections will be held two weeks afterward on 11 March.