Akwa Ibom State
Akwa Ibom is a state in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Uyo
- Population
- 5.5M
- Total area
- 6,753 km²
- LGAs
- 31
- House Reps (total)
- 10
- IGR (2024)
- ₦75.8B
- Capital
- Uyo
- Population
- 5.5M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 6,753 km²
- LGAs
- 31
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦75.8B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (31)
31 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Akwa Ibom in the federation
Akwa Ibom is a state in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersAbia, Cross River, Rivers
- Southern littoralAtlantic Ocean
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1987
- Known as
- Land of Promise
- Population
- ~5,500,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry (Aw)
- LGAs
- 31
- Distance to Abuja
- 430 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Uyo · Eket · Ikot Ekpene
What to explore · learn
Akwa Ibom's nickname reflects its oil wealth and aspirations for economic promise following its creation from Cross River State in 1987.
The state is the traditional homeland of the Ibibio and Annang peoples, known for distinct masquerade and mmanwu traditions.
Ekpo is the ancestral masquerade society of the Ibibio and Annang.
Mbopo is the Ibibio rite of passage in which young women were traditionally prepared for marriage in a fattening house.
Cultural groups & homelands
Ibibio
14 LGAsIbibio communities, the largest group in Akwa Ibom State.
Annang
8 LGAsAnnang communities of north-western Akwa Ibom State, closely related to the Ibibio.
Oron
5 LGAsOron communities of the south-eastern Akwa Ibom coast.
Eket and Ibeno
3 LGAsEket and Ibeno communities of the south-western Akwa Ibom coast and its oil-industry belt.
Obolo (Andoni)
2 LGAsObolo (Andoni) communities across the Rivers/Akwa Ibom coast.
Metro areas
Uyo Metropolis
Akwa Ibom State's capital cluster, a fast-growing administrative and oil-services city among the Ibibio people.