IJAWS UNDER THE COLONIAL PROVINCES
Ijaws in the Colonial Provinces & Eastern and Western Regions – Key Facts
The Protectorate and Colony of Nigeria was divided into provinces. We had the Northern provinces, the Western provinces and the Eastern Provinces. Of the Eastern and Western Provinces, the Ijaws were indigenous to the following provinces. West – Ondo, Benin and Warri (Delta), while in the East we had Rivers and parts of Calabar Provinces. For the purposes of administration the following Ijo (Ijaw) Native Authorities were established under the Native Authority Ordinance of 1943. With the creation of the Rivers Province we have the following.
WESTERN IJO
ONDO PROVINCE:
Ijaw-Apoi District Native Authority
Arogbo District Native Authority.
WARRI (DELTA) PROVINCE:
Western Ijo Central Native Authority
Benni Clan Area Native Authority
Iduwini Clan Area Native Authority
Oporoza Clan Area Native Authority
Mein Clan Area Native Authority
Ogula Clan Area Native Authority
Oporomo Clan Area Native Authority
Seimbiri Clan Area Native Authority
Tarakiri Clan Area Native Authority
Tuomo Clan Area Native Authority.
EASTERN IJO
CALABAR PROVINCE
Opobo Town Native Authority
Andoni Native Authority.
RIVERS PROVINCE
Eastern Ijo Central Native Authority
Akassa Native Authority
Apoi Native Authority
Bassan Native Authority
Bomou Native Authority
Ekpetiama Native Authority
Gbaran Native Authority
Kolokuma Native Authority
Ogboin Native Authority
Okordia-Buseni Native Authority
Zarama Native Authority
Opokuma Native Authority
Oporoma Native Authority
Tarakiri Native Authority
Tungbo Native Authority
Epie-Atissa Native Authority,
Nembe Native Authority
Ogbeyan (Ogbia) Native Authority
Ayama Native Authority
Emeya Native Authority
Oloibiri Native Authority
Bonny Native Authority
Kalabari Native Authority
Odual (Saka) Native Authority
Okrika Native Authority.
These native authorities fell into the Eastern and Western Regions when they were created in August 1946.