Flats in Oron, Akwa Ibom

Oron is a Local Government Area (LGA) in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. The Local Governement has its headquarters located in the town of Oron. It situates between Mbo Local Government Area in the South and South-East; Okobo Local Government Area in the North and North-East; Esit Eket and Ibeno Local Government Area in the South-West; and Cross River State in the North-East. The people of Oron, according to available records, migrated to their present location from the Cameroun. They came by sea, on rafts made of wood, bamboos and rope. The migration took place in about the 13th century.

Oron became a Division in August 1970 and in 1976, was made a local government area. However, following the local government creation exercise of the federal government in 1989, Oron was split into 3 Local Government Areas of Mbo, Oron and Okobo. Again in September 1991, Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area was carved out of Oron Local Government Area. Finally in December 1996, Udung Uko Local Government Area was further carved out of Oron.

The people live in the lower basin of the Cross River estuary. It is one of the three major ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom State. The people are made up of Ukpabangs and Iduas. While the former group speaks Oron language, the latter speak both Oron and Efik languages. English is spoken as an official language. Oron people are industrious and hospitable. Their main occupations are fishing, farming, trading, crafts creations, among others.