Ibeno
Ibeno is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State in the southern part of Nigeria It lies on the eastern side of the Kwa Ibo River about from the river mouth. It is one of the largest oil-producing communities in Nigeria, being the host community to Exxonmobil Unlimited,. It is also one of the largest fishing settlements on the Nigerian coast. Ibeno lies in the Mangrove Forest Belt of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, bounded to the west by Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, to the north by Onna, Eket and Esit Eket, to the east by Mbo, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.
Location
Ibeno Local Government Area is located at the south end of Akwa Ibom State, occupying a vast coastal area of over 1,200 km2. It is bounded in the south by the Atlantic Ocean and shares borders with Mbo, Esit Eket, Eket, Onna and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas.Language
The people speak Ibono language, a Lower Cross language closely related to the Efik-Ibibio and Obolo language. The need to establish trade links with the Efik people meant that the Andoni people that settled in present-day Ibeno had to coin the language to suit. The people of Ibeno are of Oron-Efik and Obolo extraction.Major Landmarks
- International Headquarters of the Qua Iboe Church
- Tombs of Samuel Alexander Bill and wife Grace Bill
- Mobil's Qua Iboe Terminal
- Ibeno Beach
- Part of the Atlantic Ocean
- Stubb Creek Reserve
History
Ibeno Local Government Area was created out of the defunct Uquo-Ibeno Local Government Area on December 4, 1996, by the Federal government instrument.Before the creation of Ibeno Local Government Area, the people of Ibeno and Eket people shared a Local Government Area – Eket, Ibeno Edoh, Uquo Ibeno. Ibeno Local Government Area has thus graduated from being part of Eket Local Government area to part of Ibeno-Edor with headquarters at Inua-Eyet Ikot Ibeno to being part of Uquo Ibeno with headquarters at Uquo to being a distinct and separate local government area, Ibeno Local Government Area with headquarters at Upenekang.
One major historical event in Ibeno was the arrival of the Rev. Samuel Bill at Ibeno in December 1887 at the request of Ibeno chiefs to establish a Christian Mission in the area. Through the establishment of the Qua Iboe Mission, Christianity and western education were brought to Ibeno, and from there Christianity and education spread to Eket, Etinan and other parts of Ibibio and Igbo lands and beyond.
Geography
Ibeno occupies the largest Atlantic coastline, more than 129 km, in Akwa Ibom State.Located in the mangrove swamp forest, the area has rain throughout the year with the peak between May and September. The climatic condition in Ibeno is favorable all year round for fishing and farming.
Ibeno Beach, the longest in West Africa, is a popular tourist attraction.