Tai, Rivers

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

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Tai

| settlement_type = LGA

| pushpin_map = Nigeria

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_caption = Tai shown within Nigeria

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Nigeria}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Rivers State

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| seat = Saakpenwa

| leader_title1 = Local Government Chairman

| leader_name1 = Hon. Matthew Nenubari Dike

| leader_title2 = Deputy Local Government Chairman

| leader_name2 = Caroline Amaawa (PDP)

| leader_title3 = Local Government Council

| leader_name3 = Ward 1: Christian Monday (PDP)
Ward 2: Kumbe Susan (PDP)
Ward 3: Dorkabari Best Ebere (PDP)
Ward 4: Kenneth Levi (PDP)
Ward 5: Prince Tamzor (PDP)
Ward 6: David Tambeke Ngeh (PDP)
Ward 7: Paul Ngbene Barigbue (PDP)
Ward 8: Theophilus Otumba (PDP)
Ward 9: Godknows Bira Ntorkere (PDP)
Ward 10: Lagalo Mene Sam (PDP)

| established_title = Date created

| established_date = 1996

| population = 117,797 (2006)

| timezone = CET

| utc_offset = +1

| coordinates = {{coord|4|43|0|N|7|18|0|E|region:NG|display=inline}}

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

}}

Tai is a Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State in Nigeria. It covers an area of 159 km² and at the 2006 Census it had a population of 117,797.{{Cite web |title=Tai (Local Government Area, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/rivers/NGA033023__tai/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.citypopulation.de}} It is part of the Okrika/Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme constituency of the Nigerian Senate, represented since April 2007 by George Thompson Sekibo.{{cite web

|url=http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=107

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192216/http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=107

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=2016-03-03

|title=Sen. George Thompson Sekibo

|publisher=National Assembly of Nigeria

|accessdate=2009-10-17}} Tai local government headquarters is situated at Sakpenwa.{{Cite web |title=Towns & Villages |url=https://townsvillages.com/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Towns & Villages |language=en-US}} Christianity and traditionalism are widely practiced in the area and little Islamic religion

In the April 2007 elections the Tai LGA recorded an implausible 99.6% turnout for the Governorship election.{{cite web

|url=http://www.stakeholderdemocracy.org/uploads/SDN%20Publications/2007%20election%20report.pdf

|title=Election Observation Report: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta & Rivers States

|publisher=Stakeholder Democracy Network

|accessdate=2009-10-17}}

Celestine Omehia of the Rivers State People's Democratic Party was at first declared winner, but his election was later annulled and Rotimi Amaechi, also of the PDP, was declared governor.{{cite web

|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200710260351.html

|title=Supreme Court Nullifies Omehia's Election

|author=Jimitota Onoyume and George Onah

|date=25 October 2007

|publisher=Vanguard

|accessdate=2009-10-18}}

In February 2009, the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area was Barry Mpigi.{{cite web

|url = http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/nnetwork/VOL6/N03/news.html

|title = Clampdown On Political Opponents: J.T.F. Whisks Off Chief Ngbor

|date = February 1, 2009

|publisher = National Network

|accessdate = 2009-10-17

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090221094724/http://nationalnetworkonline.com/nnetwork/VOL6/N03/news.html

|archivedate = February 21, 2009

}} and currently Hon. Dike Matthew Nenubari is the incumbent Chairman of Tai, who first served as care taker but was later elected as Chairman in 2024 and currently serving, as at the time published {{Cite web |date=2024-10-06 |title=Full List of Newly Elected LG Chairmen in Rivers State |url=https://newscentral.africa/full-list-of-newly-elected-local-government-chairmen-in-rivers-state/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |language=en-US}}

Most of the people are Ogoni, speaking the Tee and Baan languages.{{cite web

|url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=nigeria

|title = Languages of Nigeria

|publisher = Ethnologue

|accessdate = 2009-10-17

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081220033002/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Nigeria

|archivedate = 2008-12-20

}}

Communities include Ban-Ogoi,{{Cite web|url=https://adaaji.com/ban-ogoi/|title = Ban Ogoi|date = 6 July 2020}} Bara-Ale, Bara-Alue, Barayira, Borobara (a central community), Botem, Bunu, Deeyor Kira, Gbam,

Gbene-Ue, Horo, Kebara Kira, Korokoro (the seat of the Tai monarch), Koroma, Kpite, Nonwa Tai (Kebara), Nonwa Uedume, Norkpo, Sime and Ueken.{{cite web

|url=http://www.cehrd.org/files/SIME.doc

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725151844/http://www.cehrd.org/files/SIME.doc

|url-status=usurped

|archive-date=July 25, 2011

|title=A Report On A Scooping Exercise Conducted in the Villages of Tai Local Government Area of Ogoni, Rivers State, in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

|publisher=Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD)

|date=November 8, 2006

|accessdate=2009-10-17}}

Other communities include Kporghor and Gio.

Tai Local government area has two broad sections: the Tua Tua Kingdom and the Barasi Nonwa Kingdom,(Tai 1and Tai 2) both under the overall Tai kingdom headed by the Gbene Mene Tai. The primary occupation of the Tai people are farming, and fishing to a lesser degree.

In September 2009, Samuel Nnee was the paramount ruler of the Kpite Community in Tai LGA.{{cite web

|url=http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/sep/303.html

|title=THE WAVE OF KIDNAPPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY

|date=September 30, 2009

|author=Fr. Clement Muozoba

|publisher=NigeriaWorld

|accessdate=2009-10-17}}

There are many oil wells in the LGA, which is laced with pipelines, with most of the oil installations being operated by Shell Nigeria. However, the local community has seen little benefit from oil extraction, and infrastructure is poor.

In the 1990s, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People began a struggle against the degradation of their lands, which at times erupted into violence.{{cite book

|title=Social problems in Africa: new visions

|last=Rwomire

|first=Apollo

|year=2001

|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group

|isbn=978-0-275-96343-9

|pages=83–85 }}

In June 2001 an oil pipeline that passes through the Baraale community ruptured and spilled crude oil into nearby forests, farmlands and houses. There were delays in repair, and in October 2001 the spilled oil caught fire, causing extensive environmental damage.{{cite web

|url=http://www.waado.org/environment/OilSpills/NigerDelta/Baraale-Ogoni.html

|title=SOUND OF SHELL'S FIRE IN OGONI

|author=SAM OLUKOYA

|date=January 11, 2002

|publisher=Urhobo Historical Society

|accessdate=2009-10-17}}

The region suffers from violence, kidnapping and arson.{{cite web

|url=http://www.beamnewsonline.com/N043/news43.html#Botem

|title=Botem Kidnap Saga: Mother Of Victim Cries For Justice

|date=June 4, 2007

|publisher=The Beam

|accessdate=2009-10-17}}