The former Western State of Nigeria was formed in 1967 when the Western Region was subdivided into the states of Lagos and Western State. Its capital was Ibadan , which was the capital of the old region. The largest ethnic group here are the Yoruba.
31-581: Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria . Named after the Niger Delta —a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State , on 27 August 1991. Bordered on the north by Edo State , the east by Anambra and Rivers states, and that south by Bayelsa State while to the west is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of
62-400: A mean rainfall of 36.9 mm, as well as an increase in rainfall which in the year 2015 resulted in inundation of farmlands in the state. 2015 was also the year the state had the highest rainfall, amounting to 3183.6 mm. In the year 2007, the state had the lowest rainfall over the 11-year period, amounting to an annual rainfall of 2030.58 mm. While January has the lowest rainfall in
93-546: A member of the People's Democratic Party , was elected Governor and chief executive of Delta State in March 2023. His deputy is Monday Onyeme . The state has three National Senatorial Districts (South, North and Central). In 2011 and 2013, the elected senators were James Manager , Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi and Emmanuel Aguariavwodo who replaced Pius Ewherido who died in 2013 at National Hospital, Abuja. In 2015, Chief Ighoyeta Amori
124-573: A prominent town within the "Northwestern Lower Niger" as capital city. The proposed capital was a virgin land in the heart of the two constituent divisions that constitutes the Northwestern Lower Niger. Delta state was once integrated in the Mid Western state from 1963 to 1976 and later Bendel state, from 1976 to 1991. The name " Bendel " (Ben-Del) was coined from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect
155-551: A 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. Delta State is predominantly inhabited by the Urhobo , Anioma , Isoko , Uvwie , Okpe , Ijaw , Ukwuani , Ika , Enuani , Igbo , Itsekiri and the Olukumi people . The population of other groups in the state are negligible. The Urhobo-Isoko are basically
186-772: Is one of the richer and more developed ones in Nigeria and has the second-lowest incidence of extreme poverty (around 3% of the population against a national average of 31%) according to World Bank data from 2018. There are various solid mineral deposits within the state - industrial clay , silica , lignite , kaolin , tar sand , decorative rocks, limestone , etc. These are raw materials for industries such as brick making, ceramics , bottle manufacturing, glass manufacturing, chemical/insulators production, chalk manufacturing and sanitary wares , decorative stone cutting and quarrying , but these minerals are under-utilized. Delta state also has huge deposits of crude oil and
217-548: Is also one of the largest producers of petroleum products in Nigeria . Sales of petroleum products is what majorly drives its economy. Institutions of higher learning in Delta state include: Federal Highways are: Other major roads include Airports: Warri Airport or Osubi Airstrip, built by Shell Oil in 1999. Delta State has some historical, cultural and socio-political tourist centres that attract visitors from around
248-542: Is geographically located in Nigeria's Midwest , bounded in the north and west by Edo State for 350 km (218 miles), the east by Anambra , and Rivers States for about 93 km and about 50 km respectively, southeast by Bayelsa State across the Niger River for 17 km and the Forçados River for 198 km, and on the southern extreme is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of
279-637: The Biafran forces and the mainly non-Igbo inhabitants of now-Delta State with Biafran forces committing atrocities against ethnic Hausa , Urhobo , and Ijaw people; similarly, upon the liberation of the Mid-West, Nigerian forces committed the Asaba massacre against ethnic Igbos in Asaba . At the war's end and the reunification of Nigeria, the Mid-Western Region was reformed until 1976 when it
310-1061: The Diocese of Warri (1964) with 135 parishes under Bishop Anthony Ovayero Ewherido (2022), and parts of Bomadi (1991) under Bishop Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo (2009), both suffragans of the Archdiocese of Benin City . The Bendel Province of the Anglican Church of Nigeria under Archbishop Cyril Odutemu (2020) includes the Dioceses of Asaba (1977) led by Bishop Kingsley Chukwakanadu Obuh (2022), Ika (2001) led by Bishop Godfrey Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi (2018), Ndokwa (2008) led by Bishop Festus Nwafili (2023), Sapele (2009) led by Bishop Blessing Erifeta (2009), Ughelli led by Bishop Cyril Odutemu , Warri (1980) led by Bishop Christian Esezi Ide (2006) and Western Izon (2005) led by Bishop Victor Okporu (2021). Sheriff Oborevwori ,
341-778: The Edo from neighbouring Edo state , as well as the Urhobo , and Ijaw . The Okpe is a dialect of the Urhobo language. The Okpe people occupy two local government areas ( Sapele and Okpe) in Delta Central. The Ijaws are a group of people related to the predominant people of neighbouring Bayelsa State , while the Olukumi are becoming culturally and linguistically extinct, due to acculturation and assimilation. The vast majority of inhabitants are Christian , with very few practicing traditional religions . The Catholic Church includes
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#1732773308831372-682: The Forçados River , which flow along Delta's eastern and southern borders, respectively; while fellow Niger distributary, the Escravos River , runs through Warri and the coastal areas are riddled with dozens of smaller Niger distributaries that make up much of the western Niger Delta . Much of the state's nature contains threatened dwarf crocodile , Grey parrot , African fish eagle , mona monkey , and African manatee populations along with potentially extirpated populations of African leopard and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee . Offshore,
403-586: The Igbo -majority former Eastern Region attempted to secede as the state of Biafra and invaded the Mid-Western Region in an attempt to capture Lagos and end the war quickly; Biafran forces were halted and eventually pushed back but briefly declared the captured Mid-Western Region (including now-Delta State) as the Republic of Benin . During the occupation there were widespread hostilities between
434-963: The Ijaw , Itsekiri , and Urhobo , in the southwest. In the pre-colonial period, the now-Delta State was divided into various monarchial states like the Kingdom of Warri and Agbor Kingdom before the area became a part of the British Oil Rivers Protectorate in 1884. In the early 1900s, the British incorporated the protectorate (now renamed the Niger Coast Protectorate ) into the Southern Nigeria Protectorate which later amalgamated into British Nigeria . However, colonial forces did not gain permanent control of modern-day Delta State until
465-452: The fourth highest Human Development Index in the country; however, disputes between oil companies and local communities along with years of systemic corruption have led to hostilities that are often tied to the lack of development in host communities. Delta State covers a landmass of about 18,050 km (6,970 sq mi), of which more than 60% is land. The state lies approximately between 5°00' and 6°45' E and 5°00' and 6°30' N. It
496-538: The 1910s, due to the uprisings of the Ekumeku Movement . Notably, Delta has one of the few parts of now-Nigeria to have been under French control as the UK leased the enclave of Forcados to France from 1903 to 1930. After independence in 1960, the area of now-Delta was a part of the post-independence Western Region until 1963 when the region was split and the area became part of the Mid-Western Region . In 1967,
527-576: The Nigerian Constitution, the 36 states enjoy substantial autonomy but are not sovereign entities, as ultimate authority lies with the federal government. Amendments to the constitution can be proposed by the National Assembly, but for an amendment to be valid, it must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the 36 state legislatures, as required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. States of Nigeria have
558-608: The area and twelfth most populous with an estimated population of over 5.6 million as of 2016. Geographically, the state is divided between the Central African mangroves in the coastal southwest and the Nigerian lowland forests in most of the rest of the state as a small portion of the Niger Delta swamp forests are in the far south. The other important geographical features are the River Niger and its distributary,
589-664: The federal government as enumerated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . In addition to the states, there is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in which the capital city of Abuja is located. The FCT is not a state, but a territory of the federal government, governed by an administration headed by a minister . Each state is subdivided into local government areas (LGAs). There are 774 local governments in Nigeria. Under
620-516: The globe. Some of these sites of tourism include: Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women, notably Stephen Okechukwu Keshi , Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh , Austin Jay-Jay Okocha , Wilson Oruma , Efetobore Sodje Blessing Okagbare , Jonathan Akpoborie , and Ogenekaro Etebo . States of Nigeria Nigeria is a federation of 36 states, each of which is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares powers with
651-427: The head of the executive is the governor, who has the power to appoint people to the state executive council, subject to the advice and consent of the state house of assembly (legislature). The head of a ministry at the state level is the commissioner, who is assisted by a permanent secretary, who is also a senior civil servant of the state. The Judiciary is one of the co-equal arms of the state government concerned with
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#1732773308831682-497: The integration of Benin and Delta provinces. The State government is governed by an elected governor who works closely with members of the state's House of Assembly. 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-thirds of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes
713-635: The interpretation of the laws of the state government. The judiciary is headed by the chief justice of the state appointed by the governor subject to the approval of the state house of assembly. States And Capital In Nigeria, Their Slogans & Current Governors A comprehensive list of all states in Nigeria and their current governors. Western State (Nigeria) In 1976, the state was subdivided into three new states, Ogun , Ondo and Oyo . The region now consists of nine states, across three geopolitical zones : Delta , Edo , Ekiti , Kwara , Lagos , Ogun , Ondo , Osun , and Oyo States . Oyo State
744-467: The right to organize and structure their individual governments in any way within the parameters set by the Constitution of Nigeria . At the state level, the legislature is unicameral , with the number of its members equal to three times the number of legislators it has in the Federal House of Representatives . It has the power to legislate on matters on the concurrent list. At the state level,
775-525: The same people and are the most predominant people inhabiting the state and currently about 3.3 million spanning across 13 local government areas, followed by Ukwuani , Ika and Aniocha-Oshimili ( Igboid / Igbo ) people of Delta State with a population of about 1.8 million spanning across 9 Local government areas who are sometimes referred to as the Anioma people . The Itsekiri speak a language very closely related to Yoruba but have been culturally influenced by
806-503: The state is also biodiverse as there are populations of Lesser African threadfin , crabs , and blue mussel along with various cetacean species . What is now Delta State has been inhabited for years by various ethnic groups, including the Isoko and Eruwa in the centre of the state; Ukwuani in the east; the Ika , Enuani , and Olukumi in the northeast; the Anioma in the northwest; and
837-635: The state's coastline . Delta State is generally low-lying without any remarkable hills. The state has a wide coastal belt inter-laced with rivulets and streams, which form part of the Niger Delta . An important characteristic of the Climate of Delta State is flooding. The ecological attributes of Delta State also include heavy rainfall, which makes the state, like other states in the Niger-Delta Nigeria to be regarded as lowland rainforest , freshwater swamp and mangrove swamp. Delta State has
868-413: The state's coastline . The state was initially created with 12 local government areas in 1991, but was later expanded to 19 and now has 25 local government areas . Its capital city is Asaba which is located along the River Niger on the northeastern end of the state, while the state's economic center is the city of Warri on the southwestern coastline. Of the 36 states , Delta is the 23rd largest in
899-559: The state, in July, rainfall is very high at 423.2 mm. Delta State was defined out of the former Bendel State on 27 August 1991. The state was actualized following agitations for the realization of a separate distinct state by the peoples of the old Delta Province. There was yet another state request proposed as "Anioma State" comprising the Asaba and Agbor Divisions of the old Midwest region. The then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida , recognized Delta state but chose " Asaba "
930-564: Was elected Senator of Delta Central but his election was annulled and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege sworn in as Senator of Delta Central, James Manager retained his position and Chief Peter Nwaoboshi was elected Senator of Delta North. The Executive , Legislative and Judicial Chambers are housed in Asaba with a government house annex in Warri . Delta State consists of 25 Local Government Areas (shown with 2006 population figures): Indigenous ethnic groups of Delta State listed by LGA: The state
961-484: Was renamed Bendel State . In 1991, Bendel State was split with the north becoming Edo State and the south becoming Delta State. Economically, Delta State is based around the production of crude oil and natural gas as one of the main oil-producing states in the country. Key minor industries involve agriculture as the state has substantial oil palm , yam , and cassava crops along with fishing and heliciculture . In large part due to its vast oil revenues, Delta has