Imo State


Imo is one of the 36 States of Nigeria and is in the south east region of Nigeria. Owerri is its capital and among the largest towns in the State. Its other notable towns are Orlu, Obowo, Oguta, Mbaise and Okigwe. Located in the south-eastern region of Nigeria, it occupies the area between the lower River Niger and the upper and middle Imo River.

Location

Imo State is bordered by Abia State on the East, River Niger and Delta State to the West, Anambra State on the North and Rivers State to the South. The state lies within latitudes 4°45'N and 7°15'N, and longitude 6°50'E and 7°25'E with an area of around 5,100 sq km.

Economy

The economy of the state depends primarily on agriculture and commerce. One of the primary agricultural production is the production of palm oil.

Rivers and lakes

The Orashi River has its source in Imo State. Imo River, being the major river in the state, drains through Abia State, where it is joined by Aba River from the north, and Akwa Ibom State into the Atlantic Ocean. Otamiri River and its 9.2 km length tributary, Nworie River, flow in the state.
There are other rivers and creeks in the state including Onas Creek in Ohaji/Egbema, Okitankwo River in Umudi, Oramurukwa River in Emekuku/Emii/Ulakwo and Ohia and Efuru Rivers in Okigwe.

Natural resources

The state has several natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, Calcium Carbonate and zinc.
Profitable flora including iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm. Additionally white clay, fine sand and limestone are found in the state.
Imo's major towns include Isu, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu, Atta Ikeduru, Akokwa, Mbaise, Mbaitoli, Mbieri, Ohaji/Egbema, Orodo, Nkwerre, Ubulu, Ngor Okpala, Omuma, Owerri, Mgbidi, Awo-Omamma, Izombe, Orsu, and Amaigbo, Umuowa Orlu, Isu/Umuozu, Iho Dimeze.

Oil and gas exploration

There are over 163 oil wells at over 12 different locations in the state. The main petroleum companies operating in the state are Addax Petroleum, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Agip. Some of the established oil-rich local government councils include Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Iho, Oru West, Obowo and Ngor Okpala.

Investment opportunities

Many investment opportunities exist in the state including oil and gas exploration, chemical plants, brewery plants, hydroelectric plants, gas-fired power plants, grain mills, starch production, cashews, fruit and vegetable juice concentrate production, integrated multi-oil seed processing plants, ceramics, inland waterway transport, and palm produce industry.
Independent global brewer Heineken, through its subsidiary Nigerian Breweries, has significant investment in Imo State. The company manages the world-class Awo-omamma Brewery, a multiple-line plant.
Many more oil and gas opportunities are yet to be developed. The federal government has been called to inspect newly discovered oil-rich areas which might help foster economic development and job creation.
Industrial parks and processing zones to harness the huge agricultural produce and minerals would give a major boost to the state's economic growth and industrialization.
Oguta Lake, Palm Beach Holiday Resort in Awo-omamma and a host of other tourist sites along the banks of the 26 km-length Njaba River present hotspots for tourism.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the primary occupation, but due to over-farming and high population density, the soil has greatly degraded.

Climate

The rainy season begins in April and lasts until October, with annual rainfall varying from 1,500mm to 2,200mm.
An average annual temperature above creates an annual relative humidity of 75%. With humidity reaching 90% in the rainy season. The dry season experiences two months of Harmattan from late December to late February. The hottest months are between January and March.
With high population density and over farming, the soil has been degraded and much of the native vegetation has disappeared.
This deforestation has triggered soil erosion which is compounded by heavy seasonal rainfall that has led to the destruction of houses and roads.

Palm oil production

One primary source of revenue for Imo State Government is from palm oil production contributed by both large scale and small scale production.

History

Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been previously part of East-Central State. The state is named after the Imo River which bears the name of a prominent Nigerian family with that family name, who were the chiefs of Imo State before the ratification of a more formal government. Part of it was split off in 1991 as Abia State, and another part became Ebonyi State.
Imo state was created at Ngwoma and the meetings for the state creation which began after the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970 were chaired by Eze S. E. Onukogu.

Government

The state has a three-tier administrative structure: State, Local and Autonomous community levels. The three arms at state level are the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary. The executive arm is headed by an elected Governor who is assisted by a deputy governor, commissioners and executive advisers.
This is a list of administrators and governors of Imo State since its creation.
NameTitleTook officeLeft officeParty
Ndubuisi KanuGovernorMar 19761977
Adekunle LawalGovernor1977Jul 1978
Sunday Ajibade AdenihunGovernorJul 1978Oct 1979
Samuel Onunaka MbakweGovernor1 Oct 197931 Dec 1983NPP
Ike NwachukwuGovernorJan 1984Aug 1985
Allison Amakoduna MaduekeGovernorAug 19851986
Amadi IkwecheghGovernor19861990
Anthony E. OguguoGovernorAug 1990Jan 1992
Evan EnweremGovernorJan 1992Nov 1993NRC
James N.J. AnekeAdministrator9 Dec 199322 Aug 1996
Tanko ZubairuAdministrator22 Aug 1996May 1999
Achike UdenwaGovernor29 May 199929 May 2007PDP
Ikedi G. OhakimGovernor29 May 200729 May 2011PPA / PDP
Owelle Rochas Anayo OkorochaGovernor29 May 201129 May 2019APGA/APC
Emeka IhediohaGovernor29 May 201915 Jan 2020PDP
Hope UzodinmaGovernor15 Jan 2020Till dateAPC

The legislative arm is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The current Speaker is Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, and his deputy is Hon. Okey Onyekamma. The remainder of the house is made up of elected legislators from the 27 LGAs of the state.
The judiciary is made up of the high court of justice and the customary court of appeal, and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state.

Local Government Areas

Imo State consists of 27 local government areas:
Smaller jurisdictions in the state may receive township status or urban status.

Demographics

The state has over 4.8 million people and the population density varies from 230 to 1,400 people per square kilometre. Christianity is the predominant religion.
Imo state is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people constituting a majority of 98%.

Education

There are several institutions of higher learning including state and federal government run institutions such as:

Sport