Ijaw National Congress (INC) has submitted a proposal to the National Assembly seeking the creation of two new states, Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers, as part of Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review process.
Gatekeepers News reports that the organisation also called for the establishment of 33 additional local government areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State, citing long-standing marginalisation and underrepresentation.
The president-general of INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, presented the demands at the South-South zonal hearing on the constitution review.
According to him, the proposed states would unify the culturally and geographically contiguous Ijaw populations currently split across Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states.
Okaba explained that Toru-Ebe would consist of Ijaw communities in Delta, Edo, and Ondo, while Oil Rivers would include Ijaw groups in Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
He described the move as a response to years of political fragmentation, neglect, and infrastructural deficit in Ijaw communities, despite their significant contributions to Nigeria’s oil revenue.
The INC expressed concern that, in many parts of Edo and Akwa Ibom, basic amenities such as schools, healthcare facilities, and potable water remain scarce in Ijaw areas.
In addition, the group warned that fragmentation has led to cultural erosion, with some Ijaw communities losing their language and traditions.
The proposed Oil Rivers state, with Isaka Town (Okrika LGA, Rivers State) as the suggested capital, is said to possess vast natural resources including oil, gas, fisheries, mangrove forests, and tourism potential. Despite this, Okaba said the region suffers from severe environmental degradation due to oil spills and gas flaring.
The INC also called attention to Bayelsa State’s limited number of LGAs, just eight, saying it is grossly inadequate for a major oil-producing state.
Okaba pointed out that Bayelsa contributes 35–45% of Nigeria’s crude oil output, yet receives disproportionately low federal allocations and representation due to its limited administrative units.
To address this, the INC proposed the creation of 33 new LGAs in Bayelsa, bringing the total to 41. The group linked this demand to a broader call for federal equity, environmental justice, and regional autonomy.
Furthermore, the INC proposed a structural amendment to Section 3(1) of the 1999 Constitution, advocating for a shift to a regional governance system. The recommendation includes replacing the current six geopolitical zones with 10 federating units to promote equity and true federalism.
The House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee revealed it has received 46 new state creation proposals and 117 requests for new LGAs from various groups across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
