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113-418: Bonny has a Tropical monsoon climate, the wet season is always warm, the dry season is hot and mostly cloudy sometimes, and it is oppressive year-round. During the year, the temperature typically varies from 70°F to 88°F and is rarely below 65°F or above 91°F. It was reported in 2014, that Bonny River is being polluted by crude oil spillage. Bonny Island has been seen with natural contamination brought about by

226-462: A gas blast that has particularly impacted the fauna and flora of the climate. This gaseous release has caused individuals to die while many are battling for survival in clinics; fish are killed, and soil surfaces are annihilated. This has particularly expanded the issues of poverty, demise, suffering, infection, and hunger of individuals. 4°23′N 7°06′E  /  4.383°N 7.100°E  / 4.383; 7.100 This article about

339-465: A greater silt and clay foundation and is more susceptible to perennial inundation by river floods. The floodplain's total thickness rises to about 45m in the northeast and over 9m in the beach ridge barrier zones to the southwest. On coastal sand ridges, the soils are mostly sandy or sandy loams. Various crops are supported including coconut , oil palm , raffia palm and cocoyam . The drier upland region of Rivers State covers 61% of landmass while

452-631: A location in Rivers State , Nigeria is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Nigeria is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Rivers State Rivers State , also known as Rivers , is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed on 27 May 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region , Rivers State borders include Imo and Anambra to

565-421: A modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of votes and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the state local government areas. If no candidate passes the 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. The executive branch

678-496: A multi-cultural, multi-tribal region, Rivers State has much to offer in its diversity of people. The area that makes up the modern state has been inhabited in one way or the other since the last year of the first millennium . The earliest known settled communities in what is now Rivers State include the Riverine Ijaw ; Ogoni , Ikwerre people and other Igboid groups on the mainland. Today, over 26 distinct groups are recognized by

791-682: A notorious massacre of hundreds of people at Calabar after inviting them onto their ships, ostensibly to settle a local dispute. In 1807, the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted the Slave Trade Act , prohibiting British subjects from participating in the Atlantic slave trade . Britain subsequently lobbied other European powers to stop the slave trade as well. It made anti-slavery treaties with West African powers, which it enforced militarily with

904-509: A per capita income of $ 5,949 (PPP). The state is famous for its vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas. It was perhaps the richest and most important section of the African zone of the British Empire. Rivers State has two major oil refineries, two major seaports, airports, and various industrial estates spread across the land. More than 60% of the country's output of crude oil is produced in

1017-540: A progressive sequence of regimes, the British imposed Crown Colony government on much of the area of West Africa which came to be known as Nigeria, a form of rule which was both autocratic and bureaucratic . After initially adopting an indirect rule approach, in 1906 the British merged the small Lagos Colony and the Southern Nigeria Protectorate into a new Colony of Southern Nigeria , and in 1914 that

1130-484: A reasonable amount for any portion they may require. The said National African Company (Limited) bind themselves to protect the said King and Chiefs from the attacks of any neighbouring tribes (Ibid.). The company considered itself the sole legitimate government of the area, with executive, legislative and judicial powers all subordinate to the rule of a council created by the company board of directors in London. The council

1243-744: A significant improvement over a meagre 30 megawatts during the late nineties. Its energy sector is protected by the government through legislation and funding. It is overseen by the ministries of Power , Energy and Natural Resources . The state's oil-refining capacity is the biggest in the country, with more than 340,000 barrels of crude oil per day. There's a vast untapped potential in the state for solar power. Interest in solar energy has been increasing but not much has been invested. Up to now, energy production has been insufficient to meet demand, resulting in frequent power outages, slow manufacturing and low business performance. Transportation within Rivers State

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1356-537: A small number of African converts. When direct Portuguese contacts in the region were withdrawn, however, the influence of the Catholic missionaries waned. By the eighteenth century, evidence of Christianity had disappeared. Although churchmen in Britain had been influential in the drive to abolish the slave trade, significant missionary activity for Africa did not develop until the 1840s. For some time, missionaries operated in

1469-568: A social institution through fiat. Regardless, slavery had decimated the population and fuelled militarisation and chaos, thereby paving the way for more aggressive colonisation. Portuguese Roman Catholic priests who accompanied traders and officials to the West African coast introduced Christianity to the Edo Empire in the fifteenth century. Several churches were built to serve the Edo community and

1582-487: A taxi or rental car at the authorized vehicle area. Companies like Europcar , Avis and Hertz have offices near the airport. In addition, the Port Harcourt Air Force Base is located in the state capital. It gained popularity as a commercial destination due to the closure of the international airport. After that airport reopened, most airlines abandoned the base. However, it still has some destinations since

1695-399: A year by 1840—it was concentrated near the coast, where palm trees grew in abundance. Gradually, however, the trade forced major economic and social changes in the interior, although it hardly undermined slavery and the slave trade. The incidence of slavery in local societies increased. Initially, most palm oil (and later kernels) came from Igboland, where palm trees formed a canopy over

1808-515: Is annulled by a competent court of law or by a two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly. The incumbent governor is Siminalayi Fubara a member of the People Democratic Party, who heads the council of Rivers State. Fubara was sworn in on 29 May 2023. He is the 7th Democratic governor of the state and the 16th overall governor of River State The legislative authority in Rivers State is held by

1921-421: Is dominated by the state's booming petroleum industry. Although the rise of the oil industry has led to increased revenue for the state government, mismanagement and corruption have prevented the state from rapid development and meaningfully tackling poverty . Rivers State is considered one of the fastest-growing states in terms of modern infrastructure and urbanization in the country. Rivers State, named after

2034-530: Is headed by the Governor , assisted by the Deputy Governor , both elected for a term of 4 years (maximum of 2 terms). The governor appoints commissioners responsible for each of the ministries and appoints the heads of parastatals and the state-owned bodies with specific regulatory or administrative duties. In some cases, a governor may be replaced or removed for example, through death, impeachment or if an election

2147-552: Is mainly land and water-based. The industry has the Ministry of Transport as its chief regulating body. Apart from roads and waterways, there are functional airdromes that provide out-of-state transport. The seaports contain harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land. Federal highways are A2 the Elele-Alimini-Patani East-West Rd from Elele to Bayelsa State at Mbiama, A3 east as

2260-456: Is particularly noted for its linguistic diversity , with 30 indigenous languages and dialects being said to be spoken in Rivers State, these include Ekpeye, Ikwerre, Ijaw (Okrika, Ibani, Kalabari) and Ogoni . Rivers State is the 25th largest state by area , and its geography is dominated by the numerous rivers that flow through it, including the Bonny River . The economy of Rivers State

2373-557: Is punishable with a fine of up to ₦10,000. The 1067 mm Cape Gauge Eastern Railway Line north from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State, built 1913–16, restored 2009–15. Both domestic and international flights are available from Port Harcourt International Airport . Airlines such as Lufthansa , Air France , Qatar Air , Ethiopian Airlines , Med-View , Air Peace and Cronos link the state to destinations including Frankfurt , Paris , Lagos and Malabo . Passengers can easily get

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2486-574: The Bight of Biafra . West Africa also bought British exports, supplying 30–40% of the demand for British cotton during the Industrial Revolution of 1750–1790. At the same time, British scientists were interested in exploring the course and related settlements along the Niger River. The delta masked the mouth of the great river, and for centuries Nigerians chose not to tell Europeans the secrets of

2599-525: The CMS —succeeded in imposing peace settlements on the interior. Colonial Lagos was a busy, cosmopolitan port. Its architecture was in both Victorian and Brazilian style, as many of the black elite were English-speakers from Sierra Leone and freedmen repatriated from the Empire of Brazil and Spanish Cuba . Its residents were employed in official capacities and were active in business. Africans also were represented on

2712-542: The Calabar Ogoja Rivers (COR) State Movement became existent. The Council of Rivers Chiefs was later renamed in 1954 to Rivers Chiefs and People's Congress and in 1956, the organization became known as the Rivers Chiefs People's Conference. Until 1958, hopes of an independent state resonated with the region and lingered consistently in the minds of its natives. During the constitutional conference that year,

2825-634: The Haitian Revolution . By the end of the Napoleonic Wars , it ended slavery in its possessions. Between them, the French and the British had purchased a majority of the slaves sold from the ports of Edo. The economy suffered from the decline in the slave trade, although considerable smuggling of slaves to the Americas continued for years afterward. Lagos became a major slave port in the late 1700s and into

2938-399: The Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development from April 2013 to June 2015. The Rivers State government consists of elected representatives and appointed officials. The state government has executive and legislative branches, with an independent judiciary . At the local level, elected officials are responsible for local government areas. The governor of the state is selected using

3051-484: The Nigerian National Assembly . Those chosen are grouped into 3 senators representing Rivers South East , Rivers West , Rivers East and 13 representatives representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, Obio/Akpor, Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme, Port Harcourt II, Etche/Omuma, Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru, Okrika/Ogu–Bolo, Khana/Gokana, Port Harcourt I, Ahoada West/Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni, Abua–Odual/Ahoada East, Ikwerre/Emohua, Degema/Bonny. Since

3164-463: The Rivers State government , each with its own language, lifestyle, and cultural heritage. Multilingualism is a part of everyday life for the population of Rivers State and most of Nigeria. English, inherited from colonial rule is common and widely spoken in various forms in different localities. Some indigenous Riverians are also bilingual, speaking a mixture of English or Pidgin English with one of

3277-400: The biodiversity and ecological functions of natural habitats . In most places, the dominant vegetation usually consists of Elaeis guineensis which has the highest productivity amongst all recognized oleaginous crops. The riverine part of the state has three hydro-vegetation zones such as beach ridge , salt water and fresh water. Each zone has its characteristics and composition, with

3390-454: The blockade of Africa . Some of the treaties contained prohibitions on diplomacy conducted without British permission, or other promises to abide by British rule. This scenario provided an opportunity for naval expeditions and reconnaissance throughout the region. Britain also annexed Freetown in Sierra Leone , declaring it a Crown Colony in 1808. The decrease in trade indirectly led to

3503-647: The 1850s. Much of the human trafficking which occurred there was nominally illegal, and records from this time and place are not comprehensive. According to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Voyage Database, 308,800 were sold across the Atlantic from Lagos in 1776–1850. British and French traders did a large share of this business until 1807 when they were replaced by the Portuguese and the Spaniards. By 1826–1850,

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3616-417: The 1950s. In 1954, it cleared about $ 54 million worth of imports and exports, while the shipping facilities at Calabar cleared $ 11 million worth of goods. The majority of Riverians obtain their water for household use from vendors. There are also those who extract their water from private boreholes and wells and incur costs for the investment, maintenance, spare parts, pumping, and in some cases treating

3729-510: The British Royal Navy was intervening significantly with Lagos slave exports. Whether British conquest of Nigeria resulted from a benevolent motive to end slavery or more instrumental motives of wealth and power, remains a topic of dispute between African and European historians. Many locals remained unconvinced of the Crown's authority to completely reverse the legal and moral attributes of

3842-569: The British pound sterling —which could be demanded through taxation, paid to cooperative natives, and levied as a fine. The amalgamation of different ethnic and religious groups into one federation created internal tension which persists in Nigeria to the present day. In the 1700s, the British Empire and other European powers had settlements and forts in West Africa but had not yet established

3955-554: The British were granted only extraterritorial rights that did not prevent similar arrangements with the Germans and the French and certainly did not surrender sovereignty. Even before gaining its charter, the Company signed treaties with local leaders which granted it broad sovereign powers. One 1885 treaty read: We, the undersigned King and Chiefs […] with the view to the bettering of the condition of our country and people, do this day cede to

4068-683: The Colonial Office. In 1891, the consulate established the Niger Coast Protectorate Force or "Oil Rivers Irregulars". The legitimate trade in commodities attracted a number of British merchants to the Niger River , as well as some men who had been formerly engaged in the slave trade but who now changed their line of wares. The large companies that subsequently opened depots in the delta cities and in Lagos were as ruthlessly competitive as

4181-633: The Crown. At the urging of Governor Frederick Lugard , the two territories were amalgamated as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria , while maintaining considerable regional autonomy among the three major regions (Northern protectorate, Southern protectorate and the Colony of Lagos). Progressive constitutions after World War II provided for increasing representation and electoral government by Nigerians. The colonial period proper in Nigeria lasted from 1900 to 1960, after which Nigeria gained its independence. Through

4294-499: The Federal and the old Eastern Nigeria government. On 27 May 1967, under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon , Decree No. 14 was issued, allowing the creation of Rivers State. From then on, complaints about political marginalisation, environmental degradation and economic pauperisation remained among the Ijaw groups , such that a separate Bayelsa State was carved out of Rivers State by

4407-835: The Lagos Legislative Council, a largely appointed assembly. The Colony was ultimately governed by the British Colonial Office in London. Captain John Glover , the colony's administrator, created a militia of Hausa troops in 1861. This became the Lagos Constabulary, and subsequently the Nigerian Police Force . In 1880, the British Government and traders demonetised the Maria Theresa dollar , to

4520-674: The National Africa Company (Limited), their heirs and assigns, forever, the whole of our territory […] We also give the said National African Company (Limited) full power to settle all native disputes arising from any cause whatever, and we pledge ourselves not to enter into any war with other tribes without the sanction of the said National Africa Company (Limited). We also understand that the said National African Company (limited) have full power to mine, farm, and build in any portion of our territory. We bind ourselves not to have any intercourse with any strangers or foreigners except through

4633-466: The Niger River to establish stations in the interior. An example was that at Onitsha , where they could bargain directly with local suppliers and purchase products likely to turn a profit. Some European traders switched to legitimate business only when the commerce in slaves became too hazardous. The traders suffered from the risks of their position and believed they were at the mercy of the coastal rulers, whom they considered unpredictable. Accordingly, as

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4746-606: The Niger and the Benue, sometimes becoming embroiled in serious conflicts when its British-led native constabulary intercepted slave raids or attempted to protect trade routes. The company negotiated treaties with Sokoto, Gwandu and Nupe that were interpreted as guaranteeing exclusive access to trade in return for the payment of annual tribute. Officials of the Sokoto Caliphate considered these treaties quite differently; from their perspective,

4859-588: The Niger area increased gradually over the 19th century, but Britain did not effectively occupy the area until 1885. Other European powers acknowledged Britain's dominance over the area in the 1885 Berlin Conference . From 1886 to 1899, much of the country was ruled by the Royal Niger Company , authorised by charter, and governed by George Taubman Goldie . In 1900, the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate passed from company hands to

4972-680: The Port Harcourt Enugu Expressway to Abia State and A231 north from A3 in Port Harcourt 42 km via Igwuruta and Omagwa to A2 in Elele. Other major roads include Taxicabs , buses and ferries dominate public transport. They are usually inexpensive and are often used for multi-passenger pick-ups. Commercial vehicles in Port Harcourt maintain sky blue, white and sky blue livery . Operating without these government-approved colours

5085-768: The Revenue Courts, the Sanitation Courts, the Mobile Courts and Ports Related Offences Courts. It is governed mainly by the Chief Judge of the High Court of Justice. There are about 26 serving judges in the High Court of Justice, which comprises 10 Judicial Divisions including Port Harcourt , Ahoada , Degema , Nchia, Bori , Omoku , Isiokpo, Okrika , Okehi, and Oyigbo . Elections are conducted every 4 years in which Riverian voters will directly elect 16 representatives to

5198-514: The Royal Niger Company. The Royal Niger Company established its headquarters far inland at Lokoja , which was the main trading port of the company, from where it began to assume responsibility for the administration of areas along the Niger and Benue rivers where it maintained depots. It soon gained a virtual monopoly over trade along the River The company interfered in the territory along

5311-477: The Sokoto Caliphate, Scottish explorer Hugh Clapperton learned about the mouth of the Niger River, and where it reached the sea, but after suffering malaria, depression and dysentery, he died before confirming it. His servant, Richard Lander , and Lander's brother John were the ones to demonstrate that the Niger flowed into the sea. The Lander brothers were seized by slave traders in the interior and sold down

5424-711: The advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the People's Democratic Party has usually held a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives . Colonial Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1 October 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. Britain annexed Lagos in 1861 and established the Oil River Protectorate in 1884. British influence in

5537-521: The airport is closer to the centre than the main airport. Seaports handle much more diversified import cargo activities than airports. The Port of Onne is one of the largest and busiest seaports in the country. Its mobile harbour cranes are one of the biggest in Africa, with a lifting capacity of 208 metric tonnes. Another important seaport is the Port of Port Harcourt . It was the second-largest port in Nigeria in

5650-601: The area between Lagos and Ibadan. The first missions were opened by the Church of England 's Church Missionary Society (CMS). Other Protestant denominations from Great Britain , Canada , and the United States also opened missions and, in the 1860s, Roman Catholic religious orders established missions. Protestant missionaries tended to divide the country into spheres of activity to avoid competition with each other, and Catholic missions similarly avoided duplication of effort among

5763-535: The coast, the typical Niger Delta environment features many mangrove swamps . Rivers State has a total area of 11,077 km (4,277 sq mi), making it the 26th largest state in Nigeria. Surrounding states are Anambra for four km, Imo for about 122 km), and Abia for 87 km (54 miles, partly across the Imo River) to the north, Akwa Ibom to the east across the Imo River and Bayelsa and Delta to

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5876-466: The coast, to about 1,700 mm (67 in) in the extreme north. It is 4,698 mm (185 in) at Bonny along the coast and 1,862 mm (73 in) at Degema . For Port Harcourt , temperatures throughout the year are relatively constant with little variation throughout the seasons. Average temperatures are typically between 25 and 28 °C (77 and 82 °F). Some parts of the state still receive up to 150 mm (6 in) of rainfall during

5989-546: The coastal area. In 1894 the territory was redesignated the Niger Coast Protectorate and was expanded to include the region from Calabar to Lagos Colony and Protectorate, including the hinterland, and northward up the Niger River as far as Lokoja , the headquarters of the Royal Niger Company. As a protectorate, it did not have the status of a colony, so its officials were appointed by the Foreign Office and not by

6102-619: The collapse of states like the Edo Empire . Britain withdrew from the slave trade when it was the major transporter of slaves to the Americas. The French had abolished slavery following the French Revolution , although it briefly re-established it in its Caribbean colonies especially Martinique under Napoleon . France sold Louisiana to the United States in 1803, the same year that it gave up on trying to regain Saint-Domingue from

6215-434: The considerable dismay of its local holders, in favour of the pound sterling . In 1891, the African Banking Corporation founded the Bank of British West Africa in Lagos. After the Berlin Conference of 1884, Britain announced the formation of the Oil Rivers Protectorate , which included the Niger Delta and extended eastward to Calabar, where the British Consulate General was relocated from Fernando Po. The protectorate

6328-453: The country's nationhood was affirmed while an agreement was reached on some measures to mitigate the fears of the ethnic minorities in the area. Around this time, the COR State Movement had broken away to press their case. Thereafter, the British launched a commission led by Sir Henry Willink to look into the misgivings of these autochthons. The Willink Commission initiated the conception of the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB). The purpose

6441-433: The creek belt, Ogoni languages - about 5 of them are spoken across the southern parts of the state, Igboid group of language is spoken in the Northern Areas of the Rivers State. Languages of Rivers State listed by LGA: Rivers State has maintained its importance as a leading supplier of wealth to the nation for centuries. In 2021, the state ranked 2nd nationwide with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $ 51.529 billion and

6554-429: The delta towns themselves and frequently used force to compel potential suppliers to agree to contracts and to meet their demands. To some extent, competition amongst these companies undermined their collective position vis-à-vis, local merchants. In the 1870s, therefore, George Taubman Goldie began amalgamating companies into the United African Company, soon renamed the National African Company. Ultimately, this became

6667-487: The densely inhabited areas of the Ngwa , Nri Kingdom , Awka and other Igbo peoples. Palm oil was used locally for cooking, the kernels were a source for food, trees were tapped for palm wine, and the fronds were used for building material. It was a relatively simple adjustment for many Igbo families to transport the oil to rivers and streams that led to the Niger Delta for sale to European merchants. The rapid expansion in exports, especially after 1830, occurred precisely at

6780-444: The detailed reports of a pioneer German explorer, Heinrich Barth , who travelled through much of Borno and the Sokoto Caliphate, where he recorded information about the region's geography, economy and inhabitants. British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston detested slavery, and in 1851 he took advantage of divisions in native politics, the presence of Christian missionaries, and the maneuvers of British consul John Beecroft to encourage

6893-415: The dry period. Relative humidity rarely dips below 60% and fluctuates between 90% and 100% for most of the year. The land surface of Rivers State can be divided into three zones: freshwater swamps, mangrove swamps and coastal sand ridges. The freshwater zone extends northwards from the mangrove swamps . This land surface is generally less than 20m above sea level. As a lower Niger floodplain , it contains

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7006-415: The early days of the colonial period , several protection treaties were signed between various indigenous communities and the British colonial government . Between 1941 and 1952, agitation for the creation of Rivers Province began with the formation of the Ijo Rivers People's League . By 1953, the Council of Rivers Chiefs was birthed as a replacement body for the League, the same year, another organization,

7119-440: The extended family of the trader, including retainers and slaves. As its head, the master trader taxed other traders who were members of his "house"; he maintained a war vessel, a large dugout canoe that could hold several tons of cargo and dozens of crews, for the defense of the harbor. Whenever a trader had become successful enough to keep a war canoe, he was expected to form his own "house". Economic competition among these "houses"

7232-596: The forest is very shady and as a result a wide variety of shade tolerant forbs (e.g. Nephrolepis biserrata , Culcasia scandens , Laportea spp., Chromolaena odorata , Aframomum melegueta and Costus afer ) and various sedges form thickets on the forest floor. By dry season, a large cushion of litter cover the floor because of increase in abscission rate of some plants such as Musanga cecropioides , Hallea ledermannii , Calamus deeratus , Gmelina arborea , Raphia spp. and Elaeis guineensis . Mammals , reptiles and amphibians are also found in

7345-476: The forest, the emergents include Symphonia globulifera , Cleistopholis patens , Uapaca spp., Musanga cecropioides , Hallea ledermannii , Terminalia spp., Anthostema aubryanum , Tectona grandis and Elaeis guineensis . The understory is composed mainly of Calamus deeratus , Alchornea cordifolia , Monodora tenuifolia , Harungana madagascariensis , Strophanthus preussii , Rauvolfia vomitoria and Raphia spp. The interior of

7458-415: The freshwaters encompassing the upper and lower floodplains of the Niger Delta . Finima Nature Park is a protected area and forest reserve on Bonny Island covering an area of approximately 10 km (3.9 sq mi). The park's vegetation has progressively developed into a high forest considering the form from which it began in 1999. There are two storeys that can be distinguished from outside

7571-477: The full-scale plantation colonies which existed in the Americas. Adam Smith wrote in 1776 that the African societies were "better established and more populous than those of the Americas , thus creating a more formidable barrier to European expansion. Though the Europeans possessed many considerable settlements both upon the coast of Africa and in the East Indies , they have not yet established in either of those regions such numerous and thriving colonies as those in

7684-438: The highest nationwide. Rivers State has a rich cultural heritage, and its people are friendly and known for their hospitality. The state has 23 distinct ethnic groups including Ekpeye, Ogba, Kalabari, Ikwerre and Ogoni amongst others. It is on record that Port Harcourt is the second biggest commercial, agriculture and busiest airport & seaports in Nigeria. Rivers state has two seaports situated in Port Harcourt and Onne. As

7797-408: The highest number of inhabitants of any local government area, while Ogu–Bolo and Omuma had the lowest. The total area of the state was 11,077 km (4,277 sq mi) and the density was 635.89 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,646.9/sq mi). According to the world population review (Population of cities in Nigeria), the capital city of Rivers state, Port Harcourt is ranked 4th on

7910-401: The interior. In 1794, the African Association in Great Britain commissioned Mungo Park , an intrepid Scottish physician and naturalist, to search for the headwaters of the Niger and follow the river downstream. Park reached the upper Niger the next year by travelling inland from the Gambia River. Although he reported on the eastward flow of the Niger, he was forced to turn back when his equipment

8023-421: The islands and continent of the America ." Earlier elements related to this were its founding of the Sierra Leone Colony in 1787 as a refuge for freed slaves , the independent missionary movement intended to bring Christianity to the Edo Kingdom , and programs of exploration sponsored by learned societies and scientific groups, such as the London-based African Association . Local leaders, cognizant of

8136-500: The last quarter of the century. The slave trade was heaviest in the period 1700–1850, with an average of 76,000 people taken from Africa each year between 1783 and 1792. At first, the trade centered around West Central Africa, now the Congo. But in the 1700s, the Bight of Benin (also known as the Slave Coast ) became the next most important hub. Ouidah (now part of Benin ) and Lagos were

8249-456: The list. Rivers State has a higher literacy rate compared to most states in the South South geopolitical zone. Its male literacy as of 2006 was 52.3% while the female literacy rate was 47.7%. In the same survey, it ranked as 26th most extensive and the 6th most populous of all the states of Nigeria. A 2015 estimate put the number of residents of Rivers State at over 7 million, nearly triple

8362-423: The local area. The company, as was common among European businesses in Africa, paid its native workers in barter. At the turn of the century, top wages were four bags of salt (company retail price, 3s 9d) for a month of work. Trade was also conducted through a mechanism of barter and credit. Goods were made available on credit to African middlemen, who were expected to trade them at a pre-arranged price and deliver

8475-459: The main revenue source of the country. In a sample survey carried out by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, about 40% of the rural inhabitants were committed to farming in 1983. Rivers State is one of the leading states in the production of yam , cassava , cocoyam , maize , rice and beans . About 39% (760,000 hectares) of the state's total land mass, particularly in

8588-493: The major ports on the coast. From 1790 to 1807, predominantly British slave traders purchased 1,000–2,000 slaves each year in Lagos alone. The trade subsequently continued under the Portuguese Empire . In the Bight of Biafra , the major ports were Old Calabar ( Akwa Akpa ), Bonny and New Calabar . Starting in 1740, the British were the primary European slave trafficker from this area. In 1767, British traders facilitated

8701-558: The many rivers that border its territory, was part of the Oil Rivers Protectorate from 1885 till 1893 when it became part of the Niger Coast Protectorate . In 1900, the region was merged with the chartered territories of the Royal Niger Company to form the colony of Southern Nigeria . The state was formed in 1967 with the split of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. In 1996 the state lost territory to form Bayelsa State . In

8814-539: The military government of Sani Abacha on 1 October 1996 and Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State was created on the same day to include communities such as Umuru in Ofeh. Rivers State is a predominantly low-lying pluvial state in southern Nigeria, located in the eastern part of the Niger Delta on the oceanward extension of the Benue Trough . The inland part of the state consists of tropical rainforest , and towards

8927-408: The missions. In large measure, European missionaries assumed the value of colonial rule in terms of promoting education, health and welfare measures, thereby effectively reinforcing colonial policy. Some African Christian communities formed their own independent churches. The missionaries gained in power throughout the 1800s. They caused major transformations in traditional society as they eroded

9040-493: The native languages. This is partly due to the frequent exposure of the younger generations to foreign dialects, especially in the country's largest cities. Excluding Pidgin, all other ones spoken in the state belong to either Benue–Congo or Ijoid and Ogoni Languages within the Niger–Congo language family . The Benue–Congo is subdivided into Cross River , Igboid , and Edoid groups. The Ijoid languages are predominant around

9153-420: The north west of Ahoada and west of Upper Orashi Forest have also been designated an Important Bird Area. The forest has an area of 219 km (136 mi) within which mammals like red-bellied monkey and yellow-backed duiker are found along with raffia palms and some woody broadleaved species such as Symphonia globulifera and Ficus spp. The state has many rivers. Notable rivers include: Over

9266-549: The north, Abia and Akwa Ibom to the east, and Bayelsa and Delta to the west.The State capital, Port Harcourt , is a metropolis that is considered to be the commercial center of the Nigerian oil industry . With a population of 5,198,716 as of the 2006 census and 7,234,973 in 2023, Rivers State is the 8th most populous state in Nigeria. Rivers State is a diverse state that is home to many ethnic groups : Ijaw , Ogoni , Ikwerre , Ogba , Ekpeye , and Kalabari . The state

9379-468: The number recorded in 1991. According to the National Bureau of Statistics projection, the population in the state was 4% of the total population of the country. Data of 2010–2015 showed life expectancies for male, 54 years and female, 57 years were very low. General mortality rate was 60 per 1000, under-5 mortality rate was 90 and maternal mortality rate was 889 per 100,000 live births, one of

9492-504: The overthrow of the regime. In 1851 deposed king Akintoye of Lagos sought British help in restoring him to the throne. Beecroft agreed on condition that the slave trade be abolished, and British merchants have a monopoly in commodities. The Royal Navy bombarded Lagos in November 1851, ousted the pro-slavery Oba Kosoko and established a treaty with the newly installed Oba Akintoye , who was expectedly more amenable to British interests. Lagos

9605-567: The park. The common mammals are mona monkeys and pygmy hippopotamuses . Among the reptiles and amphibians are snakes and crocodiles , turtles , frogs , lizards , and skinks . One of the world's Ramsar Convention -listed wetlands , Upper Orashi Forest , is a 252 km (97 sq mi) protected area in Ahoada West . It has been identified by BirdLife International as an IBA because of its importance to global populations of grey parrots and other birds. The Biseni Forest in

9718-484: The period from 1991 to 2006, the total population of Rivers State increased by close to 3 million people. The last official census showed that 5,198,716 people were living in the state, of whom 2,673,026 were male and 2,525,690 were female. Adults and adolescents aged 15 to 64 years accounted for 61% of the population in the state. Children below the age of 15 accounted for 36% of the population, and those aged 65 years and above, another 3%. Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor had

9831-534: The population. A number of towns and villages with iron-contaminated H 2 O have resorted to treating one chemical contaminant with another. Most of the water collection in low-income urban residential areas is done by women. In 2008, NDHS reported that 26% of adult females collect drinking water more than adult male counterparts at 21%. In order to improve access to safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable water supply services, USAID , through its Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa program collaborated with

9944-528: The religious institutions such as human sacrifice, infanticide and secret societies, which had formerly played a role in political authority and community life. The principal commodities of legitimate trade were palm oil and palm kernels , which were used in Europe to make soap and as lubricants for machinery before petroleum products were developed for that purpose. Although this trade grew to significant proportions—palm oil exports alone were worth £1 billion

10057-426: The river to a waiting European ship. Initial British attempts to open trade with the interior by way of the Niger could not overcome climate and diseases such as malaria. A third of the people associated with an 1842 riverine expedition died. In the 1850s, quinine had been found to combat malaria, and aided by the medicine, a Liverpool merchant, Macgregor Laird , opened the river. Laird's efforts were stimulated by

10170-485: The riverine areas, with a relief range of 2m to 5m, take up 39%. Due to its geographical location, Rivers State has always played an important role in the natural history of Nigeria, having been found to host a vast array of wildlife and plants. Its tropical rainforests are home to more species than all other local biomes combined thanks to its climate and canopy structure. Some of the upland forested areas have seen disruption from human activity, impacting negatively on

10283-431: The riverine areas. The state provides valuable seafood such as crabs , oysters , shrimps and sea snails among others. Vertebrates like birds , mammals and reptiles are also found in the region. Energy, and especially electricity is the key factor for economic growth. Rivers State has one of the nation's highest per capita energy consumption rates. As of 2012, it had a power generation capacity of 400 megawatts ,

10396-474: The said national African Company (Limited), and we give the said National African Company (Limited) full power to exclude all other strangers and foreigners from their territory at their discretion. In consideration of the foregoing, the said National African Company (Limited) bind themselves not to interfere with any of the native laws or customs of the country, consistently with the maintenance of order and good government … [and] agree to pay native owners of land

10509-618: The several religious orders working there. Catholic missionaries were particularly active among the Igbo ; the CMS worked among the Yoruba . The CMS initially promoted Africans to responsible positions in the mission field; for instance, they appointed Samuel Ajayi Crowther as the first Anglican Bishop of the Niger . Crowther, a liberated Yoruba slave, had been educated in Sierra Leone and in Britain, where he

10622-523: The situation in the West Indies , India , and elsewhere, recognised the risks of British expansion. A chief of Bonny in 1860 explained that he refused a British treaty due to the tendency to "induce the Chiefs to sign a treaty whose meaning they did not understand, and then seize upon the country". The Headquarters of Gombe emirate was Gombe-Abba until when the then Emir of Gombe, Umaru Kwairanga (1898–1922),

10735-471: The state House of Assembly , which is made up of elected representatives from all constituencies of the state. Its functions at the state level are relative to those of the National Assembly at the federal level, creating laws for the good governance of the state, as well as acting as a check and balance on the powers and actions of the state's Chief Executive. The House of Assembly consists of three times

10848-569: The state. Other natural resources found within its boundaries are silica, glass sand and clay. Prior to the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in 1951, Agriculture was the primary occupation of the people of Rivers State. Around the 19th century when the Industrial Revolution reached its peak in England, the area was then referred to as Oil Rivers Protectorate , this was due to its abundant palm oil and kernel which basically constituted

10961-517: The time slave exports collapsed. The Igbo redirected slaves into the domestic economy , especially to grow the staple food crop, yams , in northern Igboland for marketing throughout the palm-tree belt. As before, Aro merchants dominated trade in the hinterland, including palm products to the coast and the sale of slaves within Igboland. From 1815 to 1840, palm oil exports increased by a factor of 25, from 800 to 20,000 tons per year. British merchants led

11074-583: The total number of seats which the state has in the House of Representatives. The judicial branch of the state government has sole authority and responsibility for the interpretation and application of the state's laws as well as the adjudication of disputes or controversies. It consists of eight courts: the High Court of Justice, the Magistrates Courts, the Customary Courts, the Juveniles Courts,

11187-602: The trade in palm oil, while the Portuguese and others continued the slave trade. Much of this oil was sold elsewhere in the British Empire. To produce all this oil, the economy of the southern region crossed over from mostly subsistence to the production of palm oil as a cash crop . The Niger Delta and Calabar , which once had been known for the export of slaves, became notable for the export of palm oil. The Delta streams were called "oil rivers". The basic economic units in each town were "houses", family-operated entities that engendered loyalty for its employees. A "house" included

11300-477: The upland area, is suitable for cultivation. Major cash crops produced are oil palm products , rubber , coconut , raffia palm and jute . Other crops grown for food include vegetables , melon , pineapples , mango , pepper, banana and plantain . The fishing industry is an important sector in Rivers State. Besides being lucrative, fishing is also a favourite pastime activity. There are approximately 270 species of fish existing; with many artisanal fishermen in

11413-576: The volume of trade increased, merchants requested that the Government of the United Kingdom appoint a consul to cover the region. Consequently, in 1849, John Beecroft was accredited as consul for the bights of Benin and Biafra, a jurisdiction stretching from Dahomey to Cameroon . Beecroft was the British representative to Fernando Po , where the African Slave Trade Patrol of the Royal Navy

11526-449: The water. Several others receive their domestic water from rainwater catchments , nearby streams or rivers. In the oil-bearing communities, many residents have easy access to basic infrastructure systems, although, most of the facilities are nonfunctional. In large urban localities such as Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor , Port Harcourt Water Corporation handles the provision of urban water supply and wastewater management services for 15% of

11639-620: The west across the Niger River for about 50 km. On the south, it is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean . Its topography ranges from flat plains, with a network of rivers to tributaries. Rainfall is generally seasonal, variable, as well as heavy, and occurs between March and October through November. The wet season peaks in July, lasting more than 290 days. The only dry months are January and February having little to no effect. Total annual rainfall decreases from about 4,700 mm (185 in) on

11752-583: Was annexed as a Crown Colony in 1861 via the Lagos Treaty of Cession . British expansion accelerated in the last decades of the nineteenth century. The early history of Lagos Colony was one of repeated attempts to end the Yoruba wars. In the face of threats to the divided Yoruba states from Dahomey and the Sokoto Caliphate, as represented by the emirate of Ilorin , the British Governor—assisted by

11865-533: Was combined with the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Administration and military control of the territory was conducted primarily by white Britons, both in London and in Nigeria . Following military conquest, the British imposed an economic system designed to profit from African labour. The essential basis of this system was a money economy —specifically

11978-417: Was forced to move from Gombe-Abba, a town founded by his grandfather and the founder of Gombe Emirate , Modibbo Bubayero, to Nafada town in 1913, and then to the current Gombe in 1919, that was after Gombe Emirate was conquered by British colonialists in 1903. European slave trading from West Africa began before 1650, with people taken at a rate of about 3,000 per year. This rate rose to 20,000 per year in

12091-712: Was headed by a Governor. The Deputy Governor served as political administrator for company territory and appointed three officials in Nigeria to carry out the work of administration. These were the Agent-General, the Senior Judicial Officer, and the Commandant of the Constabulary. However, the company did accept that local kings could act as partners in governance and trade. It, therefore, hired native intermediaries who could conduct diplomacy, trade and intelligence work in

12204-412: Was lost to Muslim Arab slave traders . In 1805, he set out on a second expedition, sponsored by the British Government, to follow the Niger to the sea. His mission failed, but Park and his party covered more than 1,500 kilometres (930 mi), passing through the western portions of the Sokoto Caliphate , before drowning when their boats overturned in rapids near Bussa . On a subsequent expedition to

12317-522: Was ordained before returning to his homeland with the first group of CMS missionaries. The Anglicans and other religious groups had a conscious "native church" policy to develop indigenous ecclesiastical institutions to become independent of Europeans. Crowther was succeeded as bishop by a British cleric. In the long term, the acceptance of Christianity by large numbers of Nigerians depended on the various denominations adapting to local conditions. They selected an increasingly high proportion of African clergy for

12430-413: Was organised to control and develop trade coming down the Niger. Vice consuls were assigned to ports that already had concluded treaties of cooperation with the Foreign Office. Local rulers continued to administer their territories, but consular authorities assumed jurisdiction for the equity courts established earlier by the foreign mercantile communities. A constabulary force was raised and used to pacify

12543-453: Was so fierce that trade often erupted into an armed battle between the crews of the large canoes. Because of the hazards of climate and tropical diseases for Europeans and the absence of any centralized authorities on the mainland responsive to their interests, European merchants moored their ships outside harbours or in the delta and used the ships as trading stations and warehouses. In time, they built depots onshore and eventually moved up

12656-414: Was stationed. In 1850, the British created a " Court of Equity " at Bonny, overseen by Beecroft, which would deal with trade disputes. Another court was established in 1856 at Calabar, based on an agreement with local Efik traders which prohibited them from interfering with British merchants. These courts contained majorities British members and represented a new level of presumptive British sovereignty in

12769-409: Was to tackle the problems of underdevelopment, however, this failed to rise to the expectations of the masses. After much discontent, some of the people attempted to take the extralegal route to achieve their goals. In February 1966, Isaac Boro , Sam Owonaro and Nottingham Dick alongside their supporters proclaimed a "Delta People's Republic". The rebellion persisted for twelve days but was resisted by

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