Delta State


Delta State is an oil and agricultural producing state in Nigeria. It is situated in the region known as the South-South geo-political zone with a population of 4,112,445. The capital city is Asaba, located at the northern end of the state, with an estimated area of, while Warri is the economic nerve center of the state and also the most populated. It is located in the southern end of the state. The state has a total land area of.

Geography

The state covers a landmass of about, of which more than 60% is land. The state lies approximately between Longitude 5°00 and 6°.45' East and Latitude 5°00 and 6°.30' North. It is geographically located in Nigeria's Midwest, bounded in the north and west by Edo State, the east by Anambra, Imo, and Rivers States, southeast by Bayelsa State, and on the southern extreme is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state's coastline. Delta State is generally low-lying without remarkable hills. The state has a wide coastal belt inter-lace with rivulets and streams, which form part of the Niger River Delta.

History

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 "Niger State" comprising the Asaba and Aboh divisions of the old Midwest region. The then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, recognized Delta state but chose "Asaba" 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" coined from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.

Demographics

Delta State is predominantly inhabited by the Urhobo, Isoko, Ika, Igbo, Ukwani, Ijaw, Itsekiri and the Olukumi people. The population of other groups in the state are negligible. The Urhobo-Isoko are the most predominant people inhabiting the state and currently more than 3 million. The Igboid group populating Delta State are referred to as
Anioma
The Itsekiri speak a language very closely related to Yoruba but have been culturally influenced by the
Edo from neighbouring Edo state, as well as the Urhobo, and Isoko. 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 Religion.

Administration

, a member of the People's Democratic Party, was elected Governor and chief executive of Delta State in April 2015. His deputy is Barr. Kingsley Otuaro. The state has three National Senatorial Districts. 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 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.

Past & Present Administrations

Delta State consists of 25 Local Government Areas :
Delta Central Senatorial District1,575,738Delta North Senatorial District1,293,074Delta South Senatorial District1,229,282
Ethiope East200,942Aniocha North104,062Bomadi86,016
Ethiope West202,712Aniocha South142,045Burutu207,977
Okpe128,398Ika North East182,819Isoko North143,559
Sapele174,273Ika South167,060Isoko South235,147
Udu142,480Ndokwa East103,224Patani67,391
Ughelli North320,687Ndokwa West150,024Warri North136,149
Ughelli South212,638Oshimili North118,540Warri South311,970
Uvwie188,728Oshimili South150,032Warri South West116,538
Ukwuani119,034

Languages

Languages of Delta State listed by LGA:
LGALanguages
Aniocha NorthEnuani
Oniocha SouthEnuani
BurutuIzon
BomadiIzon
Ethiope EastUrhobo
Ethiope WestUrhobo
Ika North EastIka
Ika SouthIka
Isoko NorthIsoko
Isoko SouthIsoko
Ndokwa EastUkwani-Ndoni-Isoko
Ndokwa WestUkwani
Oshimili NorthEnuani
Oshimili SouthEnuani
OkpeUrhobo
PataniIzon, Urhobo
SapeleUrhobo
UduUrhobo
Ughelli NorthUrhobo
Ughelli SouthUrhobo
Ukwuaniukwuani, Enuani
UvwieUrhobo
Warri NorthItsekiri, Izon
Warri SouthUrhobo, Itsekiri
Warri South WestIzon, Itsekiri

Natural resources

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 is also one of the largest producers of petroleum products in Nigeria. Sales of petroleum products is what majorly drives its economy.

Higher education

Delta state has one of the highest numbers of tertiary institutions in any Nigerian state. This is a product of the people's thirst for knowledge and academic work. Some of these institutions are:
Delta State has some historical, cultural and socio-political tourist centers that attract visitors from around 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 Oliseh, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Efetobore Sodje Blessing Okagbare and Jonathan Akpoborie, Cindy Ofili.

Notable people