Origins
Ilajes were said to have leftGeography
Ilaje land has an area of and a population of 290,615 at the 2006 census although the population can be said to have been under enumerated due to the riverine nature of the area, and lack of accessibility by road/land. Towards the western reaches, the Aheri and Etikan share border with the Ijebus. The Ikale to the north bound the Mahins, the Itsekiri people who the Ilajes consider their cousins, share the eastern border with the Ugbos, the Yoruba speaking Apoi and Arogbo Ijaws are located to the north east in Ese Odo LGA, and the Atlantic Ocean is situated on the southern boundary.http://www.venets.org/getfile.php?id=162 The Ilajes are one of the most dynamic and enterprising people in Nigeria. Their aquatic skill, coupled with their ability to adapt enabled them to conquer their harsh geographical environment and turn it to their advantage. Consequently, they were able to build large communities like Ugbonla, Aiyetoro, Zion PePe and Orioke. Aiyetoro for example in its hey-days had the highest per capita income in the whole of Africa due to its early discovery ofTowns
Ugbo Kingdom *Abetobo zion *Abokiti *Ago Alufa *Ago nati *Ajegunle *Alagbom zion *Alagbon *Amehin *Apata ilaje *Asumaga *Awoye *Ayetoro *Bijimi *Bowoto *Eke atiye *Eke baale *Eke didi *Eke ilutitun *Eke itiola *Eke maha *Eke moki *Eke nla *Eke ofolajetan *Eke yonren *Ernna ogbeni *Erunna *Erunna lagbe *Gbagara *Idi-ogba *Idogun *Idogun ayadi *Idogun ehinmore *Ikorigho *Ilepete *Ilowo *Ilowo ayetoro *Ilowo Nla *Ilowo ogunsemore *Iluabo *Imoluwa *Jirinwo *Lepe *Molutehin *Obe Adun *Obe akingboye *Obe apata *Obe Arenewo *Obe Dapo *Obe Enikanselu *Obe ifenla *Obe Iji *Obe Jedo *Obe Magbe *Obe Nla *Obe Ogbaro *Obe Olomore *Obe Orisabinone *Obe Rebimino *Obe Rewoye *Obe Sedara *Odofado *Odonla *Odonla meduoye *Odun Ogungbeje *Odun ojabireni *Odun oriretan *Odun Oyinbo *Odun Yonren *Ogbongboro *Ogboti *Oghoye *Ojumole *Okun ipin *Olotu *Olotu kuwo *Olotu niye *Olotu yara *Orioke Harama *Oroto *Otumara *Otumare se- side *Owoleba *Saheyi *Uba Korigho *Ubale *Ubale kekere *Ubale nla *Ugbage *Ugbo *Ugbonla *Womitenren *Yaye *Zion Ikerigho *Zion Iluabo Mahin Kingdom *Abealala *Abereke *Aboto *Ago Doroh *Ago Ikuebolati *Ago Lulu *Ago Olomidegun *Akata *Alagbede *Aruwayo *Asisa *Atijere *Betiegbofo *Broke Camp *Ebute Ipare *Ehin - Osa *Elegboro *Ereke *Ereke Majofodun *Ereke Makuleyi *Etigho *Gbabijo *Ibila *Idigho *Igbegunrin *Igbo - Okuta *Igbobi *Igbokoda *Igbolomi *Ikale Camp *Iloro *Ilu Sosi *Imoluwa *Ita - Age *Italita Camp *Itebukunmi *Job Camp *Korolo *Kugbonre *Kurugbene *Legha *Lerenren *Logede Camp *Madagbayi *Magbehinwa *Mogbojuri *Mahin *Mahintedo *Maran *Moferere *Mogunyanje *Motiala *Motoro *Odun Oloja *Odun Oluma *Odun Oroyo *Odunmogun *Ogorogo *Ohaketa Camp *Ojan *Oke Etigho *Okishilo *Okoga *Okunniyi *Olosunmeta *Opolo *Orere - Ara *Oribero *Orimoloye *Orioke Iwamimo *Oriranyin *Orofin Camp *Oropo Zion *Oroyomi *Pete-Inu *Piawo *Ramasilo *Seja Odo *Seja Oke *Seluwa *Tedo Camp *Tomoloju *Tomoloju Camp *Ugbaha *Zion Gbabijo *Zion Igbokoda *Zion Mahintedo *Zion Ogogoro Etikan Kingdom *Agba Gana *Ago Apeja *Ago Buli *Ago Egun *Ago Festus *Ago Gbobaniyi *Ago Ijebu *Ago Ikumapayi *Ago Iwabi *Ago Lubi *Ago Oluji *Aiyetitun *Araromi Etikan *Igbobi *Ikaji Etikan *Moborode *Obalende Etikan *Ode Etikan *Oja Igo Etikan *Oja oje *Oja Osho *Oja Temidire *Oke Harama *Okonla *Okun Eikan *Ramasilo Etikan *Uba Agba *Uba Akobi *Uba Domi *Uba Etikan *Uba Kalebari *Uba Oke Kelian *Uba Ropeda *Uba Yellow Aheri Kingdom *Agbala Obi *Agbala Olope Meji *Agerige Town *Agerige Zion *Aheri Camp *Ajebamidele *Akata *Ako Ira-Oba *Alape Junction *Araromi Sea-side *Enu-Ama *Ideghele *Idigbengbin *Igogun *Ihapen *Ilefunfun *Ipare *Ipepe *Mofehintokun *Okesiri *Olopo *Ramasilo *Temidire *Ubalogun *Zion pepe Igbotu *Aboromeji *Aboto Camp *Ago *Ago-Ogele *Ago-Yellow *Amayetigba *Araromi *Arigbe Camp *Baale Camp *Bisewe Golote *Ebidlo *Ekohebo Camp *Enikorogha *Epewe *Eredase Camp *Esenoko Camp *Gbabijo *Gunmagun Camp *Hamidifa *Idigba Camp *Igbebomi Iyara *Igbobini *Igbolani-Arubenghan *Igbotu *Igbotu-Atijo *Igbotu-Gbaluwe *Igbotu-Zion *Igirikile *Imobi *Itebetabe Camp *Iyara *Kafawe *Kitikoro *Kolodi Camp *Kurugbene *Lagereke *Laporen Camp *Lobele Camp *Logede *Lumoko Camp *Moboro Village *Odibo *Ogbeni Camp *Ogunmade *Okoro *Okorogbene *Okuru Camp *Olorunsola Camp *Olowo Camp *Oluagbo *Omukoro Camp *Onipanu Ago Bagi *Onisosi *Otarogbene Camp *Pee Camp *Pghono Camp *Piria *Shabomi Babomi *Sogbo Camp *Surulere *Yogha *ZionResources
Ilaje Local Government was created out of the defunct Ilaje/Ese-Odo Local Government Area on October 1, 1996 by the federal government. It consists of over four hundred towns and villages, covering an area of 3,000 square kilometers. It shares boundary in the North with Okitipupa Local Government, the south by Atlantic Ocean, in the West by Ogun State and in the East by Delta State. It is covered by troughs and undulating low land surfaces. The extreme South is covered by silt, and mud and superficial sedimentary deposits. There is sand formation at the Western part of the Local Government extending from the Lekki peninsula in Lagos State to Araromi Sea-side and Zion pepe, Agba to Etugbo and Ipare all, Mahin and Ugbonla the Eastern part of the Local Government Area can boast of the largest coconut plantation in West Africa. Ilaje Local Government is the largest local Government in Ondo State in terms of its landmass. According to the 1991 National Population Census, the Local Government is one of the most populated in Ondo State, with a population figure of 277,034. it has a shoreline covering about 180 km thereby making Ondo State, a state with the longest coastline in Nigeria, Crude oil, which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. Traditionally, it is grouped into 8 kingdoms namely: Mahin land under His Royal Majesty, Amapetu of Mahin, Ugboland which is under His Royal Majesty Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom. Aheri land under the Maporure and Etikan land under the Onikan of Etikan, Odonla land under the Alagho of Odonla, Obenla land under the Olubo of Obenla, Obe Ogbaro land under the Odoka of Obe Ogbaro, Igbokoda under the Olu of Iggbokoda and Igboegunrin under the Odede of Igboegunrin.Educational institutions
The Local Government Area has a total of 117 institutions of learning. This comprises 96 primary schools; 20 secondary schools and Technical College at Ayetoro, established by the community itself and the university of science and technology okitipupa established by the ousted governor Olusegun AgaguEconomy
Major industries
Oluwa Glass Company Plc, Igbokoda. This industry made use of the abundance of high quality silica sand that could be found in various parts of the Local Government. The sand account not less than 75% of the raw materials for manufacturing glasses sheet and could be dug in large quantity in Agerige, Akata, Olopemeji, Araromi Sea-side, Zion Pepe, Ode Etikan, Igbokoda Zion, Aboto and Orereara. Only the one at Igbokoda for now solely feeds the Oluwa Glass Factory. Oluwa Glass Company can produce for both export and local consumption and the production should be a veritable source of inspiration to potential investors. Allied industries to the factory can also be established.Petroleum exploration
Crude oil, which is the major source of income in Nigeria, is found in Ilaje Local Government. There are oil wells and fields spread all over the Local Government Area both onshore and offshore, Oil Companies such as Shell, Chevron, Texaco Nigeria Ltd and Consolidated Oil, Express Petroleum and Gas Company, Atlas Oil Company, Allied Energy Oil Company, Cavendish Oil Company, Esso-Mobil were at a time already operating in the Local Government Area. However, crude oil was first discovered at Araromi Sea-side in 1908 and later at Ogogoro in 1952 even before it was discovered in River State in 1956. recently, the disputed on shore Oil wells formerly credited to Delta state have just been returned to Ondo State. They are as follows: Opuekepa, Omuro, Ojumole, Malu, Eko, Parabe, Minna, Bella, Obe, Esan, Ewa, Opolo, Opuama and Isekelwu oil fields.Bitumen
Bitumen which will soon become the second world mineral resources after Crude Oil is found in large quantity in Ilaje Local Government Area e.g. Mahintedo, Igbo egunrin, Igbobi, Agerige, Araromi Sea-Side host of other communities. However, the proposed seaport and exchange zone to be cited at Araromi Sea-Side will serve as a means of exporting the product and its products to other parts of the world.Fishing terminal, Igbokoda
The foremost role played by this Local Government in national fish production has motivated the Federal Government to establish the Multi Million naira Terminal at Igbokoda, bearing in mind the abundant local experience, labour supply direct access to the sea proposed entrance for big fishing vessels, creeks and rivers, the fishing industry remains attractive to willing investors, it has been designed mainly for large scale fishing, but subsistence fishermen equally find it useful for storage purposes.Boat-building industry
Apart from the Boat yard at Igbokoda, the first Dockyard was at Ayetoro and later Orike Iwamimo, Olotu kuwo. A few other towns engage in boat building and essentially through cooperative efforts. The need for the supply of more boats since about 75% of the Local Government is Riverine. There is also need for improved technology in the business of boat building in order to boast productivity. This is a vacuum that could be filled by potential investors.Other industries
Oil-producing mill There is large oil palm estate maintained in Ilaje Local Government Area. Besides the wide spread of lands which abound in Mahin, Araromi, Ilumeje and Aheri Area of the Local Government is suitable for the existing oil mills and palm plantation and the fruits can be sourced from the estates. Ogogoro/alcohol distillery and palm wine tapping The business dots all parts of the Local Government because of the availability of palm tree. However, improved mechanized distillery to boost large scale production on industrial alcohol is attainable. This orders a challenge to the world of investors. Mat-weaving industry The raw materials for this are also sourced locally. Raffia Palms form the basis of the mat weaving, in the entire Local Government but the current level of mat making can be increased through the introduction of modern implements or method of mat making. Raw materials 1. Water Hyacinth, available in large quantity and uses for production of fertilizer, insecticide, mosquito coils etc., 2. Livestock, Cuc, SWillC, Chicks it! Incat 3. Palm fruit for producing such as: a. Palm fruit for producing red oil b. Rafia palm for building bag weaving etc. c. Palm kernel and nuts for producing pomade soap. d. Palm wine for consumption; coconut oil fibre, products e. Log trees for making planks, long fibre pulp for Newsprints and paper production. f. Other farm produce include cassava, rice plantation, maize Okro, pawpaw, cashew, vegetable all of which have domestic and industrial purpose. g. Animal husbandry is possible all year round because of the perennial presence of green grass for grazing in every part of the Local Government. Major occupation Fishing is the major occupation of the Ilajes. This is enhanced by about 75% of the area being Riverine and easy access to the sea. This large scale fishing attracts traders and consumers from the nooks and crannies of the country. Of course, the largest fish market in Nigeria is situated in Igbokoda, the Headquarters of the Local Government. While timber portions of the timbers are essentially transported to Lagos for sales by means of the sea/water.Tourism
Ilaje Local Government is a national tourist attraction with a shore line of about 180 km in Nigeria. Numerous developments in water transportation and house construction on partially or completely flooded areas are also veritable tourist attraction. Lekki Peninsula in Lagos State to Ilaje Local Government along the Atlantic Coast is about 30kilometres when proposes coastal road from Lagos is completed. On road, Igbokoda to Lagos is less than three hours drive through part of Benin. Shagamu and later Lagos Ibadan expressways. It is possible to supervise business in Igbokoda while resident in Lagos. Visitors to the main beach of the Local Government Headquarters (Igbokoda) reveals a sculpture of a fisherman. Also present at the main beach are hundreds of decorated ferry boats as though preparing for a boat race frusta. Numerous cultural/traditional activities and mementos abound in the Local Government Area. For instance the Ayelala Shrine, which exist at a river junction called “It a Ayelala”, is only a few kilometers from the Local Government Headquarters. Ayelala is a powerful and widely respected goddess because of its capacity and wizards caught up in the clutches of Ayelala are known to confess their sins in the open.References
{{LGAs and communities of Ondo State Local Government Areas in Ondo State Populated coastal places in Nigeria Local Government Areas in Yorubaland Slums in Nigeria