Some History
About Bonny –
An island kingdom that traded with Portugal in the 1400s. That powered West Africa's commerce for centuries. That hosts Africa's largest LNG plant today. And that's just getting started.
The People
The Ibani
The people of Bonny are Ibani. an Ijaw people who have lived on this island for centuries. They speak Ibani language alongside Igbo and English. They are traders, fishermen, rulers, and storytellers. Their history isn't written in books. It's carved into war canoes, woven into coral beads, and carried in the names of the 35 chieftaincy houses that still govern the kingdom today.
THEN
NOWThe Short Version
A Short History of Bonny
1450 - Bonny sends Prince Abagy as an ambassador to Portugal. One of West Africa's earliest diplomatic missions to Europe.
1700s - Grand Bonny becomes the busiest port in the Bight of Biafra. War canoes carrying 140 men patrol the waters.
1864 - Bishop Ajayi Crowther establishes St. Stephen's Cathedral. First Anglican cathedral in Nigeria, second in Africa.
1869 - Jaja, a former slave turned merchant king, breaks from Bonny with 14 war canoe houses to found the Kingdom of Opobo.
1961 - Shell (now Renaissance) commissions the Bonny Oil Terminal. The island becomes the anchor of Nigeria's crude export infrastructure.
1999 - Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) commissions its first train on Bonny Island. The plant becomes one of the largest LNG facilities in the world.
2025 - First road connecting Bonny to the mainland opens. A new chapter begins.
The Kingdom
Leadership of Bonny
Under King Edward William Asimini Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, Bonny maintains a chieftaincy system connecting every family to the founding generation. The Chiefs' Council balances centuries of tradition with the demands of a modern, industrialising island.
King Edward Pepple III
King of Bonny Kingdom
Queen Paula Pepple
Queen of Bonny Kingdom
Hon. Abiye Pepple
LGA Chairman, Bonny Local Government
The Campaign
What is Discover Bonny?
Discover Bonny is a tourism and economic development campaign launched in 2025 by the Bonny Chamber of Commerce.
Our mission: position Bonny Island as a destination for recreation, business, and investment.
This platform connects visitors, entrepreneurs, and investors with the island's potential. From beaches and nature parks to NLNG contracts and real estate. Discover Bonny is your gateway.
Sponsored by: NLNG & Renaissance Energy.
In Partnership With: Bonny Chamber of Commerce.
NLNG
Tier 1 Partner
Renaissance Energy
Tier 1 Partner
Bonny Chamber of Commerce
Tier 1 Partner
Constance Nwokejiobi, Ph.D, FCA
President, Bonny Chamber of Commerce