What is now Delta State has been inhabited for years by various ethnic groups, including the
British Nigeria. However, colonial forces did not gain permanent control of modern-day Delta State until 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
Bendel State. In 1991, Bendel State was split with the north becoming Edo State and the south becoming Delta State.[8]
Economically, Delta State is based around the production of
oil palm, yam, and cassava crops along with fishing and heliciculture. In large part due to its vast oil revenues, Delta has the fourth highestHuman Development Index in the country; however, disputes between oil companies and local communities along with years of systemic corruption have lead to hostilities that are often tied to the lack of development in host communities.[10][11]
Geography
The State covers a landmass of about 18,050 km2 (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.
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.[14][15][16]
Climate
An important characteristics of the Climate of Delta State is flooding.[17] 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 a mean rainfall of 36.9 mm, as well as increase in rainfall which in year 2015 resulted to inundation of farmlands in the state.[18] 2015 was also the year the state had the highest rainfall, amounting to 3183.6 mm. In 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 the state, in July, rainfall is very high at 423.2 mm.[18]
History
Delta State was defined out of the former
Bendel" (Ben-Del) was coined from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.[22]
Politics
The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's house of assembly. The Capital city of the State is Asaba.[23]
Electoral system
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 -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes 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.[24]
The population of other groups in the state are negligible.
The
Ukwuani, Ika and Aniocha-Oshimili(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.[25][26][20] 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 Ijaw.[20]
The
Okpe is a dialect of 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,[27] while the Olukumi are becoming culturally and linguistically extinct,[28] due to acculturation and assimilation.[citation needed]
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,[citation needed
]
Pius Ewherido who died in 2013 at National Hospital, Abuja.[29] In 2015, Chief Ighoyeta Amori was elected Senator of Delta Central but his election
A2 as the Elele-Alimini-Patani East-West Rd across the Forçados River from Bayelsa State by the 850 m bridge (2014) at Patani and north via Warri to Benin City,
Trans-African Highway 8 Lagos-Mombasa) east from Edo State via Agbor and Asaba to Onitsha by the 1,404 m River Niger Bridge
(1965).
Other major roads include
the Warri-Sakpoba Rd northeast from A2 at Ogharefe Junction to Edo State at Otefe,
the Sakpoba Rd southwest from Agbor to Edo State at Ugbeka,
the Uromi Igbanke Rd north from A232 at Agbor to Edo State.
Airports:
Shell Oil
in 1999.
Tourist attractions
Delta State has some historical, cultural and socio-political tourist centres that attract visitors from around the globe. Some of these sites of tourism include:[20]
The Nana's Palace built by Chief Nana Olomu of Ebrohim. He was a powerful 19th-century indigenous entrepreneur who traded with the British. The relationship eventually turned sour. Later, he surrendered (not without putting up a fight) and was exiled to Ghana. His personal effects are housed in this grand palace.[72][73]
The River Ethiope which is reputed to be the deepest inland waterway in Africa (at 176 km). Its source is at the foot of a giant silk-cotton tree at Umuaja in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state and flows through seven Local Government Areas in the State. It is a place of worship for Olokun traditional religion and also a common site for faithful of the Igbe Religious Movement.[74]
The Araya Bible Site which houses a copy of the
Holy Bible. It is believed that the bible descended to this spot miraculously from heaven around August 1914. The bible dropped on rain-soaked yam and it didn't get wet. The site now attracts thousands of Christians yearly.[75]
Demas Nwoko Edifice which was built using traditional materials, designs and construction techniques of the Igbo civilization by Demas Nwoko, an architect, builder and artist of international repute from Idumuje-Ugboko, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.[76]
The Mungo Park House which is now the site of the National Museum,
Asaba. The house was constructed by the Royal Niger Company (RNC) in 1886 and was used as a colonial administrative headquarters, a military house, the colonial administrative divisional headquarters, the RNC Constabulary building, and the seat of the Urban District Council at different times.[77]
The Abraka Turf and Country Club, Abraka features a horse club where an international polo tournament holds every year during Easter.[78]
The
Niger Bridge which connects Delta State (by extension, western Nigeria) to the Eastern part of Nigeria. It is a beauty to behold. It was completed in 1965 and cost £5 million. It was damaged during the civil war but later repaired.[79]
Lander Brothers Anchorage, Asaba which was built in memory of early British explorers. The complex has a museum, a graveyard, and many artworks and writings. It houses a replica of one of the boats that was used by the brothers.[citation needed]
Falcorp Mangrove Park
Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetery which is a 512-year-old burial ground and serves as the resting place of past rulers of the Warri kingdom. A tree is planted on each grave.[80]
Mungo Park House, Asaba is the first headquarters of the Royal Niger Company and Nigeria's first political headquarters in 1900.[72]
Kwale Game Reserve is situated in the low coastal zone of Delta State, characterized by rainforest vegetation and deltaic swamps. It is rich in reptiles and water associated animals, particularly red river hog, sitatunga and a variety of brackish, marine and freshwater fish species.[72]
Sports
Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women, notably
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, economist and international development expert, Boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, and the African Risk Capacity[132]
Abel Ubeku, first black managing director of Guinness Nigeria Plc[152]
Patrick Utomi, a Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and a former presidential candidate[153]