Southern Ijaw

Southern Ijaw local government area is domiciled in Bayelsa state, South-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria and has its headquarters in the town of Oporoma. The LGA is made up of several towns and villages which include Igbomotoro, Peremabiri, Opuama, Eniwari, Angiama, Diebu, Ondewari, and Aziama. The estimated population of Southern Ijaw LGA is put at 249,558 inhabitants with the area mostly populated by members of the Izon sub-division of the Ijaw ethnic group. The Izon dialect of the Ijaw language is commonly spoken in the LGA while the religions of Christianity and traditionalism are widely practiced in the area.  Notable landmarks in Southern Ijaw LGA include the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe and the Community Secondary School, Igbomotoro.

GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHERN IJAW

Southern Ijaw LGA has an average temperature of 25 degrees centigrade with over seventy percent of the LGA covered by water. The LGA has an estimated coastline of 60 km and lies on the Bight of Bonny. The total area occupied by Southern Ijaw LGA is put at 2682 square kilometres.

ECONOMY OF SOUTHERN IJAW

Fishing is an important economic activity in Southern Ijaw LGA with the area’s rivers and tributaries being rich in seafood. Farming is also a critical economic activity in the LGA with crops such as sugarcane, plantain, banana, and cassava grown in the LGA. Other important enterprises undertaken by the people of Southern Ijaw LGA include lumbering, trade, picking of snails, and the making of canoes and fishing nets. Southern Ijaw LGA is also rich in deposits of crude oil and natural gas.