Southern Ijaw

{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Southern Ijaw

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| settlement_type = LGA

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| pushpin_map = Nigeria

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_mapsize = 250

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Nigeria

| seat_type = Headquarters

| seat = Oporoma (Osokoma)

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Nigeria}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Bayelsa State

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| leader_title = Local Government Chairman

| leader_name = Lucky Okodeh (PDP)

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| unit_pref = Metric

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| area_total_km2 = 2682

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| population_as_of = 2006 census

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| population_total = 319,413

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| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities

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| population_blank2_title = Religions

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| timezone = WAT

| utc_offset = +1

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| coordinates = {{coord|4|42|N|5|58|E|type:adm2nd_region:NG|display=inline,title}}

| module = {{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|zoom=8|marker=village|coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}

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| postal_code_type = 3-digit postal code prefix

| postal_code = 560

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| iso_code = NG.BY.SI

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}}

Southern Ijaw is a Local Government Area of Bayelsa State,{{Cite web |title=Bayelsa State Government – The Glory of all Lands |url=https://bayelsastate.gov.ng/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |language=en-US}} Southern part of Nigeria.{{Cite web|title=Southern Ijaw Local Government Area – Channels Television|url=https://www.channelstv.com/tag/southern-ijaw-local-government-area/|access-date=2021-09-17}} Its headquarters are in the town of Oporoma (or Osokoma) in the north of the area at {{Coord|4|48|17|N|6|04|44|E|region:NG_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}. The area has a coastline of approximately{{Cite web |title=Approximately - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms |url=https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/approximately |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=Vocabulary.com |language=en-US}} 60 km on the Bight of Benin.

The people and their language are known as Izon. The LGA also has a wide practice of religion such as Traditionalism and Christianity.{{Cite web|title=Southern Ijaw Local Government Area|url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/places/lga/154/southern-ijaw|access-date=2021-09-12|website=www.manpower.com.ng}}

It has institutions like the Niger Delta University{{Cite web |title=Niger Delta University – Centre of Excellence |url=https://www.ndu.edu.ng/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |language=en-US}} (NDU), the Bayelsa state airport in Wilberforce Island and Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe. It is the home of Kolu United FC of Koluama II.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The first democratically elected governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (DSP) hailed from the area.{{Cite web |last=III |first=Admin |date=2016-04-11 |title=Life and times of DSP Alamieyeseigha (1952 – 2015) |url=https://blueprint.ng/life-and-times-of-dsp-alamieyeseigha-1952-2015/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Blueprint Newspapers Limited |language=en-US}}

It has an area of 2,682 km{{sup|2}} and a population{{Cite web |title=population {{!}} Definition, Trends, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/population-biology-and-anthropology |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} of 319,413 at the 2006 census.{{Cite web |title=Southern Ijaw (Local Government Area, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/bayelsa/NGA006007__southern_ijaw/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=citypopulation.de}}

The postal code of the area is 560.{{cite web | title = Post Offices- with map of LGA | publisher = NIPOST | url = http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx | accessdate = 2009-10-20 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126042849/http://www.nipost.gov.ng/postcode.aspx | archivedate = 2012-11-26}} The local government{{Cite web |title=Government - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms |url=https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/government |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=Vocabulary.com |language=en-US}} is made up of several towns and villages{{Cite web |title=Village - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms |url=https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/village |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Vocabulary.com |language=en-US}} which include Igbomotoro, Peremabiri, Opuama, Eniwari, Angiama, Diebu, Ondewari, and Aziama.{{Cite web|title=Southern Ijaw Local Government Area|url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/places/lga/154/southern-ijaw|access-date=2021-09-18|website=www.manpower.com.ng}}