The Ijaw National Congress, the foremost socio-cultural organization representing the Ijaw people, has renewed its demand for the creation of two additional states—Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers—citing prolonged political marginalization and environmental degradation.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, emphasized that despite being Nigeria’s fourth-largest ethnic group and hosting four major oil export terminals, the Ijaw people have been systematically neglected.
Prof. Okaba, accompanied by prominent INC leaders, unveiled the proposed map for the two new states.
Toru-Ebe State is proposed to cover local government areas in Delta, Edo, and Ondo states, with Burutu as its capital.
Oil Rivers State is intended to encompass Ijaw LGAs in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, with Southern Harcourt City proposed as its capital.
He underscored that the creation of these states is essential for political representation, environmental protection, and sustainable development in the Ijaw region.
“The creation of these two additional states is one of the crucial, sensitive, and prescient irreducible conditions for the continuous commitment of the Ijaw people to the Nigerian project,” Okaba stated.
He decried the lack of federal presence in Ijaw territories, pointing to the absence of federal roads, universities, and other critical infrastructure, despite the region’s immense contributions to the national economy through oil and gas resources.
Prof. Okaba also highlighted the severe environmental degradation caused by oil spills, gas flaring, and ecological destruction, warning that these challenges threaten the very survival of Ijaw communities. He argued that achieving statehood would empower the Ijaw people to enforce environmental regulations and drive sustainable development.
The INC called on the National Assembly to prioritize the demand for Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers states in the ongoing constitutional review process.
“We call on the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all distinguished members of the National Assembly to seize this moment in history and act in the interest of justice,” Okaba urged.
He described the demand as a historic step toward justice, equity, and peace in the Niger Delta, asserting that it would correct historical injustices, promote economic development, and secure a better future for the Ijaw people.
The INC expressed confidence that creating the states would address political exclusion and strengthen national cohesion. The group also called on all Ijaw sons and daughters, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to support the movement for fairness and equity.
