The Ibibio live in the southeastern region of Nigeria, primarily in Cross River State (University of Iowa 13 Jan. 1997) but with a presence also in Akwa Ibom State (Ethnologue 1992, 335). More precisely, 1997 World Directory of Minorities states that these people live east of the Niger River in the southern part of Cross River State (1997, 447) while the University of Florida states that they live in that part of south-eastern Nigeria that is along the border with Cameroon (19 Aug. 1998). Please see the attached map from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (1993).

CBN World Reach estimates the size of this group at 5,000,000 people (1997), while Ethnologue assesses its size as 3,186,000 people (1992, 335) and the University of Iowa places their number at 1,000,000 (13 Jan. 1997). Their tribal neighbours include the Igbo, Ijaw, Idoma, Igala and Bangwa (ibid.) and they are "ethnically related" to the Efik (World Directory of Minorities 1997, 447; Ethnologue 1992, 335), which is "the main trade language of Cross River State" (ibid.). Palm oil is their primary economic product (University of Iowa 13 Jan. 1997), but in addition to their subsistence farming there are also two subgroups that fish (World Directory of Minorities 1997, 447).

According to World Directory of Minorities, the Ibibio tribe has been "deeply affected by the pull of migration to Lagos and Port Harcourt"(1997, 447). With increased urbanization and the discovery of oil there is now pressure on agriculture and tribal traditions (The Independent 3 Jan. 1996; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 7 Dec. 1995). In a telephone interview on 3 November 1998, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa stated that the Ibibio have begun to complain about the spoiling of their land as a result of oil production, but that the people have "not been targeted for persecution by the government." This statement was corroborated in a 4 November 1998 telephone interview with a Professor of Journalism at the University of Northern Iowa. This professor stated that oil-producing communities have begun to demand compensation from the government for a "fairer share" of oil revenues. The professor also said that it was possible that Ibibio members would complain of domination by the Efik tribe, which is larger, but that this claim is not unusual in Nigeria which consists of 250-300 ethnic communities. This state of affairs has always been present in Nigeria the professor said, but is "not a crisis" at this time.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

CBN World Reach. 1997. Nigeria: Country Information. [Internet] http://report.cbnworldreach.org [Accessed 19 Oct.1998]

Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 1992. 12th ed. Edited by Barbara F. Grimes. Dallas: Summer Institute of Lingustics.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 7 December 1995. Dejan Kovacevic. "Tribal Identities Still Strong Outside Cities." (NEXIS)

University of Florida. 19 August 1998. African Ethnicities. [Internet] http://www.caroline.uflib.edu [Accessed 19 Oct. 1998].

University of Iowa. 13 January 1997. Nigeria Information and Links. [Internet] http://cas15.cas.uiowa.edu [Accessed 2 Nov. 1998].

University of Iowa, Iowa City. 3 November 1998. Telephone interview with Professor of Political Science.

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. 4 November 1998. Telephone interview with Professor of Journalism.

World Directory of Minorities. 1997. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) [United States]. Nigeria: Map. [Internet] http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection> [Accessed 5 Nov. 1998].