Unen Ndito Akwa Ibom

13/03/2026

03/03/2026

BREAKING: Iran War: Nigerian Govt suspends pilgrimage to Israel - Daily Post Nigeria

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, on Tuesday announced the immediate suspension of all pilgrimages to Israel due to the security situation in the Middle East. The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Stephen Adegbite, made the disclosure in Lagos durin...

19/02/2026

28/01/2026

Despite Supreme Court Ruling, Federal Moves to allocate Akwa Ibom Oil Wells to Cross River

Despite a subsisting Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Akwa Ibom State’s status as a littoral state, fresh concerns have emerged over indications that the Federal Government may be taking steps that could favour Cross River State in the allocation of disputed oil wells.

At the centre of the controversy are 76 offshore oil wells whose ownership has remained a source of tension between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states for more than a decade. Akwa Ibom maintains that the wells fall squarely within its maritime boundaries, a position upheld by the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling delivered in July 2012.

In that judgment, the apex court held that Cross River State, having lost its littoral status following the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, could not lay claim to offshore oil wells, as it no longer possessed a maritime boundary. The ruling was widely regarded as final and binding, effectively settling the dispute in favour of Akwa Ibom.

However, despite the judgment, Cross River has continued to assert ownership of the oil wells, prompting renewed federal intervention. Recent developments have raised fears in Akwa Ibom that ongoing administrative processes at the federal level could be used to reallocate the oil assets in a manner that undermines the Supreme Court’s decision.

In what the Federal Government describes as an effort to resolve long-standing boundary and ownership disputes, it has commenced a nationwide exercise to verify and plot the coordinates of disputed and newly drilled oil wells. The initiative, which began on Monday, is being coordinated by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) at the request of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The mapping exercise is intended to conclusively determine the ownership of oil and gas assets in line with constitutional provisions governing derivation revenue, particularly in areas where overlapping claims by states have persisted for years, including Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

RMAFC says it set up an Inter-Agency Technical Committee in September 2025 to carry out the task. The committee includes representatives from the National Boundary Commission, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation and NUPRC, working alongside surveyors-general from the affected states.

According to the chairman of RMAFC, Mohammed Bello Shehu, extensive fieldwork was conducted between September 2025 and January 2026 across several oil-producing states, including Akwa Ibom and Cross River, as well as offshore locations. He said the exercise was a constitutional necessity to ensure that states receive the correct 13 per cent derivation revenue from oil and gas produced within their territories.

While federal officials insist the process is neutral and data-driven, critics in Akwa Ibom argue that any outcome that reallocates offshore oil wells to Cross River would amount to an administrative reversal of a settled Supreme Court judgment, raising broader questions about the sanctity of judicial decisions and federal-state relations in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.

The outcome of the verification exercise is expected to shape future derivation payments and could either ease or further inflame tensions between the two neighbouring states, depending on how closely it aligns with existing legal rulings.

Source: TheMailNewspaper

~ Handler

04/01/2026

The Lamp in the Dark



In a village without electricity, one man lit a small lamp at night. Soon, others brought their lamps and lit them from his flame. The night became bright.



Lesson: One person’s light can ignite many others. Be the light in your family and community this year.



✨ New Year Charge

“The future of Akwa Ibom is not in the hands of a few, but in the collective responsibility of us all.”

Together, let us build the Akwa Ibom we desire.



Unen Ndito Akwa Ibom Empowerment Foundation

17/12/2025

The Establishment of Ancient Ibibio Kingdoms



The Ibibio people, one of the oldest ethnic nationalities in the Lower Cross River region of present-day Akwa Ibom State and parts of Cross River State, Nigeria, trace the establishment of their ancient kingdoms to deep pre-colonial history.



1. Origins and Early Migration



Oral traditions and historical studies suggest that the Ibibio people migrated from the Cameroon–Central African region, settling first around the Lower Cross River basin. Over centuries, they spread south-westward into the fertile forests and riverine areas of what is now Akwa Ibom. These early settlements laid the foundation for organized political communities.



2. Clan-Based Settlements



Rather than forming one centralized empire, the Ibibio established autonomous clan kingdoms. Each clan (or Obio / Idung) occupied defined territories and was bound by kinship, shared ancestry, customs, and ancestral worship. This system encouraged unity while allowing local independence.



3. Political Structure and Leadership



Leadership in ancient Ibibio kingdoms was largely gerontocratic (rule by elders). Authority rested with:



Council of Elders (Nka Isong) – custodians of laws, customs, and land.



Clan Heads (Obong, Edidem, or Isong) – spiritual and political leaders, depending on the area.



Age Grades and Societies – such as Ekpo and Ekpe, which enforced laws, maintained order, and carried out judicial functions.





Power was collective, with decisions made through consensus rather than absolute kingship.



4. Religion and Spiritual Authority



Religion played a central role in the establishment of Ibibio kingdoms. Belief in Abasi (Supreme God), ancestral spirits, and earth deities (Isong) reinforced moral order and political authority. Priests and diviners were influential, guiding leadership decisions and conflict resolution.



5. Economy and Inter-Kingdom Relations



Ancient Ibibio kingdoms thrived on:



Farming (yam, cocoyam, cassava in later periods)



Fishing and salt production



Trade with neighboring groups such as the Annang, Efik, Igbo, and Ekoi





Trade routes strengthened diplomatic relations and cultural exchange, contributing to stability and growth.



6. Notable Ibibio Kingdoms and Areas



Some prominent ancient Ibibio political units included:



Ikot Ekpene area



Uyo and Itu regions



Oron (riverine Ibibio groups)



Ikono and Ibiono territories





These areas later influenced the formation of modern Ibibio, Annang, Oro and Efik identities.



7. Legacy



The ancient Ibibio kingdoms laid the foundation for present-day governance, cultural values, and social organization in Akwa Ibom State. Their emphasis on community consensus, respect for elders, and justice continues to shape Ibibio society today.