Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom - Postal code - 534001

Geographical Description of Ikot Abasi

Ikot Abasi local government area is located in the southwest corner of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It is bounded by the local government of Oruk Anam in the north, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo LGA in the east and the Atlantic Ocean in the south. The River of Imo forms the natural boundary on the west side separating it from Rivers State. The Ikot Abasi people are made up of the Ibibio ethnic group and they have a diverse cultural heritage and traditions. Ikot Abasi is made up of about five clans namely: Ikpa Nnung Assang Clan, Ukpum Ette Clan, Ikpa Edemaya Clan, Ikpa Ibekwe Clan, and Ukpum Okon Clan.

History

Ikot Abasi local government area in Southern Nigeria has witnessed enormous human activities such as industrial activities, commercial agriculture, and urban development over the decades. Due to the increase of land use in different dimensions, the land cover in the local government area has been affected.

In the year 1870, Jubo Juboha came to Ikot Abasi and then made it to the kingdom of Opobo. Jubo Juboha was a former Igbo (Ibo) slave. Although Ikot Abasi, which was formerly a part of the famous Opobo Kingdom, was already on the world map before the year 1929, the uprising of the women against Nigeria's colonial rulers in the year 1929 was to provide a further push into prominence for this town, then already it was popular as the site of a famous boat yard, the seat of a British consulate and a part of the late King Jaja's area.

Economy

The abundant oil and gas deposits have attracted many establishments to the Ikot Abasi local government area. The oil fields include Adna (offshore), Utapate (onshore), and Asabo (offshore).

The people agricultural practices include sweet yam cassava, yam, taro and maize while cash crops are not also limited to raffia, rubber oil palm, coconut and palm kernel. They also have abundant forest reserve for timber and wild life while commercial fishing thrives well in the area.