The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has renewed its demand for the creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States, emphasizing that the move is essential for political representation, economic development, and lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.
At a press conference held at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, the INC, speaking on behalf of the Ijaw people across Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom States, reiterated that the formation of these two states is a non-negotiable condition for the continued commitment of the Ijaw people to the Nigerian federation.
Led by it President, Proffessor Benjamin Ogele Okaba, the INC highlighted that past government interventions—such as the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB), the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), have failed to address the region’s fundamental political and economic issues.
Quoting the late Ijaw leader Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, the INC emphasized that “physical development cannot be an answer to the political aspirations of a people.”
Despite being Nigeria’s fourth-largest ethnic group, the Ijaw people currently have only one homogenous state, Bayelsa, which they said, accounts for less than one-third of their total population.
The demand for new states, as emphazied bu them, aligns with Section 8(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and follows previous submissions to constitutional review committees, including the 1996 Mbanefo Committee, the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, the 2014 National Conference, and the 2021 and 2024 Senate/House of Representatives Committees on Constitutional Amendment.
The group who affirmed that the proposed Toru-Ebe State would unite Ijaw communities currently divided among Delta, Edo, and Ondo States,. argued that this fragmentation has left the Ijaw people as political minorities in multiple states, depriving them of fair representation and governance.
The INC pointed out that both proposed states are rich in oil, gas, timber, fisheries, and agriculture, making them economically viable.
They noted that despite being a major contributor to Nigeria’s oil wealth, the Ijaw homeland receives disproportionately low federal allocations, stating that, the creation of new states would help correct this economic imbalance and attract federal investment.
The INC urged the National Assembly to prioritize the demand for Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States in the ongoing constitutional review process, emphasizing that, this call is not just about state creation but about correcting historical injustices and ensuring fair political representation.
“The time for justice is now,” said Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba, President of the INC. “We call on all Ijaw sons and daughters, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to support this cause in the interest of fairness, equity, and national unity.”
The INC pledged to continue its advocacy at all levels of government, engaging with lawmakers and other stakeholders to push for the realization of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States.