NDOKWA/UKWANI PEOPLE
NDOKWA/UKWANI PEOPLE
The Ukwuani people (also called Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality) are located in the southern part of Nigeria in the western part of the Niger Delta. They are found majorly in the eastern part of Delta State and in some western parts of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria. It comprises of three Local government; Ndokwa west, Ndokwa East and Ukwani L.G.A. There over three dozens of towns and villages in Ndokwa/Ukwani land thus, making it the second largest ethnic Nationality in Delta state. Some of the town/villages Afor, Ashaka, Okpai, Obi-number, Umuaja, Umuolu, Onuobuko, Iyede-Ami, Uchi, Ibedeni, Ase, Akarai, Osissa, Obikwele, Ndoni, Onu-aboh, Ushe, Beneku, Onya, Ebedei, Emu, Amai, Umutu, Utagba-Uno, Onicha-Ukwani, Kwale, Aboh and Obiaruku, Abbi and Ogume etc. Ndokwa land lies between latitudes 50′ 481 N and 50′ 601 N and longitudes 60′ 081E and 60′ 321E of Delta State. Ukwuani land is bordered on the North by the Benin Division, on the south by the Ijaw Division, on the South-West by Urhobo and Isoko Divisions, on the East by the Niger River, on the North-East by Ika and Asaba Divisions, and on the South-East by Ahoada Division of the Rivers State. The important rivers in the region are Niger, Ethiope, Adofi, and Umu while the Ase creek is the major creek. The geographical position of Ukwuani, places the country within two belts and they include the Deltaic Swampy Forest, which covers the southern and south eastern coastal towns as well as the tropical rain forest situated in the Northern part of the territory. In the swampy region, numerous creeks and impassable dense forest abound which also experience flood during certain period of the year. The area also has adequate rainfall all year round and the vegetation is a mixture of evergreen forest and the Savannah grassland with very fertile soil.
The historical origins of the people, from the varying account of the elders, three waves of migration appeared to account for the present population of the Ukwuani people from the varying accounts of the elders.
The first represented by the clans who claimed to have originated from Benin Kingdom. Some of these clans include Umu-akashiada, Ebedei, and Akarai. The second waves of independent settlers and expansionist from the great Nri Kingdom are those whose ancestors migrated from Eastern Nigeria. The clans in this group settled along the bank of the River Niger and they include Umu-obarauchi, Ndoni, Onya, and Adawai. A third wave is in the form of a well organised expedition of Benin conquerors and some of this group include, Aboh, Amai, Umukwata. Ogbe-ani in Utagba-uno clan also claimed to migrate from ancient Benin Kingdom. Apart from these three waves of immigration, there are also mixed eastern and western Igbo, Igala origin and Edo immigration.
The people practice gerontocracy, were the oldest man is installed the traditional ruler, designated Okpala-Uku.
Ukwuani is a language spoken in parts of Delta and Rivers States in Nigeria. It is a branch of the Volta-Niger language family and have slight dialectal differences in the Language based on their closeness to the four ethnic groups at their borders. These are: Igbo, Urhobo, Edo and Ijaw. The influence of these Languages is manifest in slight variations in their pronunciation manifesting in different dialects namely: Onu-Aboh dialect (Ndosumili area), Ukwuani Akashiada, Utagba dialect and Osissa dialect. The one spoken by the majority of the people is the Utagba dialect. It is easily understood by the speaker of the other dialects and it is the dialect that is used for Ukwuani language studies. Ukwuani language is also included in the list of 27 Nigerian languages approved by the Federal Government for the purposes of “mother tongue education”. Ukwuani language has a common ancestry with the Igbo language and Edo language. The word ‘Ukwuani’ stands for the people as well as their language and so its usage therefore encompasses both the people and their language.
The culture of the Ukwuani people is also related to several cultures in the Niger-delta (Igbo, Urhobo, Ezon, etc.) and is very patriotic to the core. The traditional administrative set-up of the Ukwuani people from the early days to modern times is generally an organisational structure based on age-grades culminating in a gerontocracy of the oldest men in town with most ancient as head popularly called Okpala-Uku and next to him is the Ikpala and below them the Inotus who advise and carry out the wishes of the council and generally controlling the remaining population, made possible by system of age-grades. Monarchy system of leadership which had been abandoned over three centuries ago in Emu Kingdom was again restored after the coronation of king Ulu, the fourth(4th) Ezemu of Emu Kingdom on the 4th day of April,1999.
Ajieh is an original form of greeting to the traditional chiefs. But as time moved on, (just like the supporting of kolanut with money became expanded), it became a general greeting for all adult males (Ikoluobie). Even the male youths are also greeted “Ajieh Biakoni” meaning Ajieh in the making. The older females are greeted “Otofe” while the younger ones are greeted “Owesu” or “Oticha akwa”. This form of greeting started during the colonial era when the colonial masters tried in vain to usurp the impenetrable powers of the “Ineotu” Traditional Chief’s for indirect rule. in consequence, they raised some strong opinion leaders in the then Aboh Division who greeted themseves by saying; “Anyi ji Eye” or “Anyi je” signifying that they now hold the power, or power belongs to them. Now the greeting “Ajieh” and “Otofe” has become a general one as corrupted in fast tongue. Indigenous arts include basket weaving, metalwork, fishing, Agriculture, music and sculpture (known as Okpu-Uzo).
COLONIAL DAYS OF NDOKWA
The colonial history of Ndokwa people began in 1905 with the formal establishment of colonial administrative office in Kwale. It was then known as Aboh Native Authority and later renamed Aboh Division in 1952 with headquarter in Kwale. In 1976, there was Local Government reforms and Aboh Division became Ndokwa Local Government with headquarters still in Kwale. The name Ndokwa was formed from two words; Ndoshimili and Ukwuani. They signify the two major districts of Aboh Division. Following the 1991 and 1997 Local Government creations embarked upon by the Military led Government, Ndokwa came under three Local Government Areas (LGAs) namely; Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani with headquarters in Aboh, Kwale and Obiaruku respectively. The three LGAs speak Ukwuani language and are known and recognized as a distinct ethnic nationality since pre-colonial times. Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates to form Nigeria. Ndokwa people were a part of the nations in the Southern protectorate. Although it included the great Aboh Kingdom which, arguably, was the greatest naval force on the Niger Delta Coast for close to a century before the arrival of the Europeans, the people were subjected to British rule and would later be ruled as part of the Western region-one of the two regions carved out of the Southern protectorates. By 1963, Mid-west region was created to include Ndokwa Land and other Non-Yoruba speaking parts of western region. Ndokwa people remained as part of Mid-West region until Ndoni people were carved out from Aboh Division to join parts of the old Eastern region to form Rivers State in May 1967 as part of a new 12 State Federal Structure. The rest of Ndokwa Land remained in the Mid-west which was now renamed Bendel State, fusing the first three letters from the Benin Province with the first three letters of Delta Province. Ndokwa remained as part of the Mid-west Bendel configuration for 28 years until the creation of Delta State in 1991.
THE THREE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF DELTA
Ndokwa West
Ndokwa West is one of the three Local Government Areas that make up the Ukwani/Ndokwa people of Delta State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kwale also known as Utagba-Ogbe. It has an area of about 900km² and a population of 149,325 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 322.
Ndokwa East
Ndokwa East is also one among the three Local Government Areas that makeup Ndokwa East of Delta State, Nigeria that is part of the Ndokwa people. Its headquarters are in the town of Aboh. It has an area of about 2050 km² and a population of 103,171 at the 2006 census.


Ukwani
Obiaruku is the headquarters of Ukwuani LGA which was carved out of the then Ndokwa West LGA on the 4th of December, 1996 and has an area of 1,016 square kilometres. Nine clans make up the LGA namely; Akoku, Amai, Ebedei, Eziokpor, Ezionum, Obiaruku, Umuebu, Umukwata and Umutu. Together they make up the ten wards of the LGA with a population of about 103,000 going by the 1991 census.
OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN NDOKWA
Ndokwa oil and gas exploration started in Ndokwa as far back as 1963. Okpai oil field started production in the year 1963. The oil fields were initially tagged marginal fields, but when production started these fields were discovered to be far under estimated. We can say that most of our yet to be producing oil fields are also under estimated. The Umusadege oil field which produces about 12,000 barrels of oil per day. This Umusadege field should be one of the highest producing fields in Delta state and Nigeria as a whole. The oil fields in Ndokwa land Include;
• Okpai field has about 17 oil well, produces over 3,000 Barrel of Oil Per Day (Bopd). It is operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). It started production in 1963. It produces a lot of gas and has a gas power plant.
• The Kwale field: It has 13 oil and gas well, produces about 5,000 Bopd. It started production in 1967. It is operated by NAOC, produces 2 billion cubic feet of gas daily.
• Beneku field: It started production in 1967. It is operated by NAOC, it produces about 2,000 bopd.
• Umuolu field: This field covers Umuolu Utuoku and Adia communities. It started production in the late 1980’s. It is operated by NAOC with production estimated at 2,000 bopd with plans to increase the production rate.
• Ashaka field: It produces 8,000 bopd. It is the most prolific oil field operated by NAOC in Ndokwa land. The development of this field dates back to the 1990’s. It is also very rich in gas.
• Umusadege field: It is operated by a consortium of indigenous oil companies such as the Midwestern oil and gas and Suntrust Petroleum with their foreign partners such as Mart Resources of Canada. The Umusadege field is one of the most prolific oil field in Ndokwa and Delta as a whole. producing as much as 12,000 bpd. This field was originally designated a ‘’marginal field’’ , however with significant reserves of oil, condensates and gas discovered within the farm-out area, it’s far from being marginal. It’s also a rich source of gas.
• Okwuibome and Anieze fields: It has about 8 oil wells. These two fields are hosted by Okpai community of Ndokwa East and production is put at about 12,000 bpd on the average. The operating company is Sterling Petroleum (SEEPCO) an Indian owned oil company. There is a third field within the oil block called ‘’Ameshi’’ which has not been developed. There is a crude oil blend which is highly sought after in the International market called the ‘’Okwuibome Blend’’.
• Igbuku and Umuseti fields: It has 5 oil well. It’s hosted by Igbuku town in Ndokwa East and Utagba-Ogbe community in Ndokwa West. An indigenous company, Pillar Oil is the operator. Production is estimated at about 4,000 bopd and because there are indications that this field is potentially as prolific as the Umusadege field, Seplat, one of the largest indigenous oil companies in Nigeria has invested in the development of the field. The reserve of gas is put at over 500 billion Standard Cubic Feet (SCF) excluding condensates. Ebendo field: This is hosted by Emu clan (Emu Ebendo) in Ndokwa West LGA of Delta State. The operators being Energia and Oando, both indigenous companies. Ebendo produces about 8,000 bopd averagely and there are plans to increase production to about 15,000 bopd in a couple of years to come. There are 7 oil well. It was just like Umusadege assumed to be a marginal field but drilling has indicated that it could be as prolific as the Umusadege field.
• Egbaoma field: This field is operated by Platform Petroleum owned by a native of Ndokwa land, Mr. Austine Avuru. Egbaoma is hosted by Ebedei, Akoku and Umutu communities of Ukwuani LGA. It has 5 oil wells and production is over 3,000 bopd a day. It’s significant for its massive gas reserves put at over 320 Billion SCF. Mr. Austine Avuru is also a major stakeholder in Seplat Petroleum along with Chief ABC Orijiaku.
• Samabri and Onyah field: The Samabri is situated in Bayelsa State. It’s operated by NAOC. Onyah though in Delta State is one of the host communities. Sadly, the production from this field is accredited to Bayelsa State following a controversial boundary adjustment exercise in 1976. Ceding of this part of Onya to Bayelsa State had always been controversial because the said land does not lie within the Ndoni area (recommended to be merged to the old Rivers State) by the National Boundary Commission. The Onya area in Bayelsa state accounts for as much as 40 per cent of the production from the Samabri field which is over 2,000 bopd. It’s expected that whenever an Anioma State is created, this issue of Onya land merged to Bayelsa State would be addressed. There are 8 oil well in Onya land.
From the above data, Ndokwa nation produces over 60,000 barrels of oil on a daily basis. Today Ndokwa is expected to be producing over 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Ndokwa nation has the highest gas deposit estimate in Nigeria with over 10 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserve. Energia has constructed an 8.5 km 6 inch pipeline which serves as its export line.

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FBI Bust: EFCC Gathering Data On Indicted Nigerians In US – Magu
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The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has disclosed that the agency is collating comprehensive data on the Nigerians indicted in the recently busted money laundering offences in the United States.

80 suspects, most of whom were Nigerians, were allegedly involved in the crimes investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in the U.S.

Magu who spoke through the Zonal Head of the Ibadan zonal office, Friday Ebelo, during a press conference held at the Commission’s Ibadan office, said the massive data collection was part of the collaborative activities between the EFCC and FBI to ensure that criminal elements are exposed and made to pay for their crimes.

Journalists in attendance at the event were held spellbound when Ebelo took them through the intricate connections between the local Yahoo Boys and their offshore criminal collaborators.

READ ALSO: N1.7bn Fraud: ICPC Asks Court To Remand Head Of Disability Cooperative In Prison

According to him, the essence of the data mining exercise was to establish any form of relationship the indicted individuals may have with the Nigeria-based crime suspects, and how this could help in furthering the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.

He said some of the information earlier collected has led to the arrest of many internet fraudsters, adding that one of the kingpins was nabbed during a recent raid in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The kingpin Ajayi Gbenga Festus, he added, was found to be deeply involved in many internet-related frauds from which he had benefited up to N75 million in the last eight months.

“We were able to establish a number of illicit transactions through his Nigerian bank account amounting to over N223 million. Ajayi serves as a conduit pipe through which proceeds of crime reach members of the syndicate,” he stated.

Ebelo also disclosed that in the course of the year, the zone has arrested 263 suspects for cybercrimes among whom 111 were convicted.

Apart from the landed properties, vehicles, laptops and other valuables forfeited on the order of a court, huge sums of money in local and foreign currencies traced to internet fraud were also recovered.

Channels Television
LIVE TV


FBI Bust: EFCC Gathering Data On Indicted Nigerians In US – Magu
Channels Television


The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has disclosed that the agency is collating comprehensive data on the Nigerians indicted in the recently busted money laundering offences in the United States.

80 suspects, most of whom were Nigerians, were allegedly involved in the crimes investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in the U.S.

Magu who spoke through the Zonal Head of the Ibadan zonal office, Friday Ebelo, during a press conference held at the Commission’s Ibadan office, said the massive data collection was part of the collaborative activities between the EFCC and FBI to ensure that criminal elements are exposed and made to pay for their crimes.

Journalists in attendance at the event were held spellbound when Ebelo took them through the intricate connections between the local Yahoo Boys and their offshore criminal collaborators.

READ ALSO: N1.7bn Fraud: ICPC Asks Court To Remand Head Of Disability Cooperative In Prison

According to him, the essence of the data mining exercise was to establish any form of relationship the indicted individuals may have with the Nigeria-based crime suspects, and how this could help in furthering the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.

He said some of the information earlier collected has led to the arrest of many internet fraudsters, adding that one of the kingpins was nabbed during a recent raid in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The kingpin Ajayi Gbenga Festus, he added, was found to be deeply involved in many internet-related frauds from which he had benefited up to N75 million in the last eight months.

“We were able to establish a number of illicit transactions through his Nigerian bank account amounting to over N223 million. Ajayi serves as a conduit pipe through which proceeds of crime reach members of the syndicate,” he stated.

Ebelo also disclosed that in the course of the year, the zone has arrested 263 suspects for cybercrimes among whom 111 were convicted.

Apart from the landed properties, vehicles, laptops and other valuables forfeited on the order of a court, huge sums of money in local and foreign currencies traced to internet fraud were also recovered.