IPND

19/07/2025

Nigerian National Assembly Quest for Creation of New States is Pathetically Misplaced

19th July 2025.

I have read in the news that The Nigerian House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee has proposed the creation of additional thirty one States in Nigeria. The proposal is in addition to the nation's existing thirty six states and the Federal Capital Territory.6 Feb 2025. Nigerians have to ask themselves how would creation of additional States to increase the administrative cost of Nigeria solve our problems?

Let us compare Nigeria Administrative Structure with other developed societies in the world. Nigeria is a federation of thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory, which are divided into 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in total and with an estimated population of about 200 million people. Nigeria's GDP in 2024 was around $187.64 billion USD in current prices.

In comparison with China, the Administrative Divisions of China is divided into 33 province-level divisions, including provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and two special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). The Provinces are divided into Township-level (Local Government): At the lowest level of local administration are townships, ethnic townships, and towns, with more than 40,000 of these units. China is a country with about 1.4 billion people and a GDP of about 18.7 trillion dollars in 2024. As a fact the Province with the least GDP in China Qinghai Province has a GDP higher than Nigeria but instead of Nigerian Government and people to be thinking of growing industrially and economically, they are thinking of how to create countless numbers of States.

Let us now look at another country. Canada's administrative divisions consist of ten provinces and three territories, forming a federal system where power is shared between the federal government and the governments of each province and territory. over 3,600 local authorities, also known as local governments. Canada has a population of about 41 million people and it has GDP in 2024 is estimated at $2.171 trillion USD.

You can see the statistics yourself. Comparing the Administrative Divisions of Nigeria, China and Canada , there are obvious conclusions that can be made:

1. Nigeria does not need more States but Local Government Areas. What we call communities in Nigeria are Local Government in other countries and they are used to drive grassroots development.
2. Nigeria priorities should be driven by Industrial Development, manufacturing, agriculture development and economic development and how to boost Revenues. The idea of State creation would only results into it increase of national administrative cost that will further weaken the potentials to boost wealth creation.
3. Nigeria should restructure into Federal State with resource control and the States should have powers to create Local Government Areas on their own just like the case with Canada. So the States can create Local Government Areas to drive grassroots development. What we have now with few Local Government Areas created by the Federal Government is abnormal and the country cannot be developed with such structure.

Ediri R. IDIMI (UBIOMOR)
IPND

19/07/2025

Statement by the Indigenous People of the Niger Delta IPND

Date: July 19, 2025
Subject: Rising Insecurity and Targeted Violence Against Indigenous Communities in Northern Nigeria

We, the Indigenous People of the Niger Delta (IPND), express deep concern and unwavering condemnation of the continued wave of gruesome violence, targeted killings, and mass abductions perpetrated by terrorist bandit gangs operating in the Northwest region of Nigeria, particularly the most recent bloodshed in Jangebe, Zamfara State.

Reports confirm that heavily armed criminal groups, many operating under the guise of ethnic or ideological cover, slaughtered innocent Hausa farmers and abducted several civilians, disrupting rural livelihoods and once again exposing the failure of the Nigerian state to secure its most vulnerable communities.

This heinous act, like many others before it, reflects a dangerous trend of impunity, lawlessness, and ethnic profiling that continues to deepen distrust and fracture national unity. It is unacceptable that indigenous communities—whether in Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, or the Niger Delta remain unprotected, under-resourced, and under siege, while the central government appears either unwilling or incapable of responding with decisive force.

Our Position as IPND
1. We stand in solidarity with all indigenous and rural communities under attack across Nigeria—whether Hausa farmers in Zamfara or Tiv villagers in Benue—who have become collateral victims in an escalating security crisis rooted in state failure and historical negligence.
2. We condemn the growing militarization of ungoverned spaces, where forest-based criminal networks now operate with sophisticated weapons, coordinated intelligence, and total disregard for human life.
3. We reject any ethnic or religious justification for terrorism. Crime has no tribe. No community should bear collective blame for the actions of rogue actors or be subjected to blanket reprisals.
4. We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and its security agencies to:
• Deploy specialized security operations in rural zones across the Northwest, Northcentral, and South-South regions.
• Establish a Permanent Indigenous Security Taskforce (PIST) made up of trained personnel from affected communities.
• Accelerate intelligence-led policing, satellite surveillance, and drone reconnaissance in ungoverned territories.
• Implement justice and compensation mechanisms for families affected by attacks.

A Call for Equity and True Federalism

The persistent violence in the North only reinforces what we in the Niger Delta have long asserted: Nigeria must restructure for justice, equity, and effective governance. If states had true control over internal security aligned with community realities, these atrocities would not occur unchecked.

Just as we demand resource control and economic freedom, so too do we demand territorial protection, cultural dignity, and indigenous safety across all regions.

To the victims in Zamfara and other afflicted regions, we offer our heartfelt condolences. Your pain is our pain. Your blood, shed unjustly, will not be forgotten. The time has come for all oppressed and endangered communities in Nigeria to rise in common voice and demand security, equity, and accountability.

We, the Indigenous People of the Niger Delta (IPND), reaffirm our commitment to justice—not just for the Niger Delta—but for all indigenous peoples of this fractured nation.

Signed:
IPND Secretariat
Indigenous People of the Niger Delta
📍Port Harcourt | Yenagoa | Warri

19/07/2025

19/07/2025

IPND Endorses Governor Diri’s Call for True Federalism and Resource Control

The Indigenous People of the Niger Delta (IPND) wholeheartedly support the bold and principled stand taken by Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, during the public hearing on the 1999 Constitution review held in Yenagoa.

Governor Diri’s call for true federalism, resource control, and constitutional equity speaks directly to the long-standing grievances of the Niger Delta people. We commend his leadership in demanding a system that reflects justice, fairness, and development for oil-producing communities.

Why We Support This Call
• Resource Control is a Right, Not a Privilege:
For too long, the Niger Delta has fueled the Nigerian economy with little to show in return. The current federal arrangement—where states like Bayelsa contribute heavily to national revenue but remain underdeveloped due to limited local government areas (LGAs) and limited autonomy—is unjust and unsustainable.
• LGA Allocation Must Reflect Economic Contribution:
It is an affront to justice that Bayelsa, a major oil-producing state, has only 8 LGAs, while less productive states have over 40 LGAs, granting them greater access to federal allocations and political leverage. This skewed structure must be corrected through constitutional amendment.
• Decentralization Strengthens Democracy:
States must have the autonomy to create and manage LGAs based on their unique needs and available resources. Decisions affecting local communities should not be dictated from Abuja.

IPND Demands
1. Immediate Constitutional Amendment to enshrine resource control and true fiscal federalism.
2. LGA restructuring based on population, resource input, and local demands—not political manipulation.
3. An end to parasitic federalism, where non-productive states rely solely on oil revenue from the Niger Delta while contributing little or nothing in return.
4. A sovereign right for states to manage their natural resources and remit agreed taxes to the central government—mirroring successful federal models globally.

We caution against continued systemic injustice. The path to peace, progress, and stability lies in equity not exploitation.

The Niger Delta cannot continue to carry the weight of the federation while being shortchanged politically and economically. It is time to restructure Nigeria into a true federation that rewards productivity, upholds justice, and allows every region to flourish on its own merit.

Indigenous People of the Niger Delta (IPND)
“For Justice, Equity, and True Federalism”

IPND

19/07/2025

Breaking: Appeal Court Slams Nigeria Police, Orders ACP’s Swift Reinstatement.

19/07/2025

The Plateau State Government has demanded the withdrawal of military personnel from flashpoints, calling for deployment of mobile police personnel in the areas.

19/07/2025

18/07/2025

18/07/2025

🧾 Executive Summary

The call for the creation of TORU-EBE STATE is a long-standing and legitimate aspiration of the Ijaw people spread across Delta, Edo, and Ondo States. This demand stems from decades of systemic marginalisation, underdevelopment, and political fragmentation. As seen in the memorandum submitted to the National Assembly and signed by traditional rulers, lawmakers, and community leaders, the goal is to create a state that reflects the shared cultural identity, historical continuity, and developmental needs of the Ijaw people.

🧭 Geographical and Political Background
• The proposed TORU-EBE STATE will be carved from:
• Delta State: (e.g., Bomadi, Burutu, Patani, Warri South-West, Warri North, Warri South LGAs)
• Edo State: (e.g., Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Ikpoba-Okha)
• Ondo State: (e.g., Ese-Odo, Odigbo LGAs)
• Proposed capital: Burutu Township

📌 Key Justifications for TORU-EBE STATE

1. Historical Marginalisation
• The Ijaw nation, being the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria, has only one state (Bayelsa) despite their early advocacy for self-determination.
• The 1946 division and subsequent state creations further balkanised the Ijaw people, leaving them as minorities in multiple states.
• The 1958 Willink Commission Report recognized the peculiar hardships of riverine minorities (mainly Ijaws) and recommended special federal attention, which has been ignored.

2. Economic Contribution vs. Developmental Deprivation
• Ijaw land hosts significant oil and gas reserves, contributing heavily to Nigeria’s economy.
• Despite the 13% Derivation Fund, the Ijaw areas in Delta, Edo, and Ondo remain plagued by:
• No tarred roads
• No potable water
• No electricity
• No telecommunication
• No tertiary institutions
• No employment opportunities

3. Security and Peacebuilding
• Lack of development and political inclusion fuels youth restiveness and militancy.
• A new Ijaw-majority state will promote:
• Peace through inclusive governance
• Security via local ownership of development
• Cohesion among fragmented Ijaw communities

4. Cultural and Linguistic Homogeneity
• The people of the proposed TORU-EBE STATE are culturally and linguistically homogeneous, fostering administrative efficiency and unity.

5. Lack of Federal Presence
• The current administrative setup deprives Ijaw territories of federal infrastructure and proper representation.
• TORU-EBE STATE would enable:
• Equitable federal character implementation
• Efficient deployment of federal projects
• Enhanced political voice

✍🏾 Endorsements

The proposal is endorsed by:
• Ijaw Traditional Rulers, including Pere of Gbaramatu, Agadagba of Egbema, Pere of Akugbene-Mein, etc.
• Ijaw National Congress (INC) led by Vice Chairman High Chief F.J. Williams.
• Prominent lawmakers like:
• Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark
• Senator James E. Manager
• Hon. Nicholas Mutu
• Hon. T. Brisibe

🎯 Conclusion & Call to Action

The creation of TORU-EBE STATE is a moral, political, and developmental necessity. It is not a call for secession but a demand for justice, fairness, and survival. It aligns with:
• Section 8(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution
• National efforts for devolution, equity, and regional balance

We, the Indigenous People of the Niger Delta, reiterate our full support for this demand and urge the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Constitution Review Committee, and the Federal Government to act decisively.

📣 Statement from the IPND

“For too long, the Ijaw people have suffered the consequences of neglect while contributing immensely to Nigeria’s prosperity. The creation of TORU-EBE STATE will not only empower our people—it will also restore faith in the Nigerian project.”

18/07/2025