Abia State

Abia is a state in the south eastern part of Nigeria.[5] The capital is Umuahia, and the major commercial city is Aba, which was formerly a British colonial government outpost in the region, and is also one of the most populated areas in Nigeria. Abia state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State.[6] It is one of the constituent states of the Niger Delta region.[5] It's also the 5th most industrialized state in the country, and has the 4th highest index of human development in the country, with numerous economic activities and fast growing populations as recorded by the United nations early 2018. The state also houses the biggest cattle market in Nigeria.

Abia
State
Abia State
Abia Tower in Umuahia
Flag
Seal
Nicknames: 
God's Own State
Igbo:Ọ̀hà Chineke
Location of Abia State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°25′N 7°30′E
Country Nigeria
Date created27 August 1991
CapitalUmuahia
Government
 • Governor[1]Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP)
 • Deputy GovernorUde Oko Chukwu (PDP)
 • SenatorsEnyinnaya Abaribe
Theodore Orji
Orji Uzor Kalu
 • RepresentativesList
Area
 • Total6,320 km2 (2,440 sq mi)
Population
 (2006 est)[2]
 • Total4,112,230
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Abians
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2007
 • Total$18.69 billion[3]
 • Per capita$3,003[3]
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
Postal code
440001
Dialing Code+234
ISO 3166 codeNG-AB
Official languageEnglish, Igbo
HDI (2018)0.640[4]
medium · 8th of 37
Websiteabiastate.gov.ng

Geography

Abia State, which occupies about 6,320 square kilometres, is bounded on the north and northeast by the states of Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi. To the west of Abia is Imo State, to the east and southeast are Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State respectively and to the south is Rivers State. The southern part of the State lies within the riverine part of Nigeria, it is a low-lying tropical rainforest with some oil-palm brush,[6] the southern portion gets heavy rainfall of about 2,400 millimetres (94 in) per year and is especially intense between the months of April through October.[7] The rest of the State is moderately high plain and wooded savanna.[6] The most important rivers in Abia State are the Imo and Aba Rivers which flow into the Atlantic Ocean through Akwa Ibom State.

Infrastructure and economy

Crude oil and gas production is a prominent activity, as it contributes over 39% of the State's GDP.[8] However, the indigenous oil companies- through the Marginal Fields Programme (MFP)- have not found it easy to attract the requisite funding and infrastructural capacity to explore some of the marginal oil fields which are about 50 in the State.[9]

The manufacturing sector only accounts for 2% of the GDP.[8] The industrial centre of the state is in Aba, with textile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, soap, plastics, cement, footwear, and cosmetics.[6] In addition to the above, Abia State Government has just built a 9,000 capacity multipurpose International Conference Centre in Umuahia. This edifice of international standard was built by Governor T.A Orji to enhance tourism as well as boost the state economy through hosting of major International and Local events.

Representing 27% of the GDP,[8] agriculture- which employs 70%[8] of the state workforce- is the second economic sector of Abia. With its adequate seasonal rainfall, Abia has much arable land that produces yams, maize, potatoes, rice, cashews, plantains, taro, and cassava.[6] Oil palm is the most important cash crop.[6]

Oil and gas exploration

There are over 100 oil wells and 3 installed flow stations in Abia State.[9][10] There is also an associated gas plant, Abia/NNPC gas plant.[10] As of 2012, boundary Commission said it returned 42 oil wells from neighbouring Rivers State to Abia.[10] This would have meant Abia being fourth largest oil producing state in the country.[10] Oil giant, Shell, holds most of the licenses for the wells in the State and has concentrated on the estimated 50 wells that are considered high-yield.[9]

The State produced 36,000 barrels of crude oil per day; "Imoturu produces 23,000 barrels per day and Isimili flow station produces over 8,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Then four oil wells in Izaku go to Obigo flow station. About 30 oil wells from my village go to Umuri and about eight oil wells from Umurie go to Afam", lamented Samuel Okezie Nwogu, Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Development Area Commission (ASOPADEC).

However, the State has complained of poor funding from its oil revenue federal allocation.[10]

University and colleges

There are four universities in the state: the federal-owned Michael Okpara University of Agriculture at Umudike, the state-owned Abia State University in Uturu, and the Gregory University Uturu and Rhema University in Aba, both privately owned. There are two tertiary hospitals, the Federal Medical Center[11] in Umuahia and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba, which serve as referral hospitals in the State. The Abia State Polytechnic is also in the city of Aba. There are two major power plants in Abia, The Alaoji Power plant[12] and the Geometric Power plant.[13] Abia is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria and has been a "haven" for foreign investors. The state's population has grown rapidly since its creation.

Travel

The nearest airport to Abia is Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport (Owerri Airport), an hour drive to Umuahia and Aba; and Port Harcourt International Airport, 2 hours. Akwa Ibom Airport (Akwa Ibom State) can also serve would-be visitors. The distance between Uyo (Akwa Ibom) and Umuahia (Abia) is: 73.28 kilometres (45.53 mi).

The rail transport is also another means of travel, very effective but currently on revitalisation. Aba is connected to Port Harcourt by rail.Umuahia is connected to Aba and Enugu by rail.[6] The coastal parts of the State are equally accessible with boats and canoes.

An interesting tourist destination is the Azumini Blue River.[14]

History and population

Abia State is one of the thirty-six (36) States in seventeen (17) Local government areas (LGAs) that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Abia was carved out of the former Imo State in 1991. The name "Abia" is an abbreviation of four of Abia state's densely populated regions Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo.[15]

Abia is mainly peopled by the Igbo ethnic group. The Igbo people, who are one of the indigenous peoples of Southeastern part of Nigeria, make up 95% of the population. Their traditional language, Igbo is in widespread use.[16] English is also widely spoken, and serves as the official language in governance and business. Abia's over 2.4 million people are mainly Christians.

Languages

Languages of Abia State listed by LGA:[17]

LGALanguages
ArochukwuIgbo; Ibibio; Ibuoro; Nkari
IniItu Mbon Uzo
Obi NgwaIgbo; Anaang
UgwunagboIgbo; Anaang
Ukwa EastIgbo; Anaang; Ibibio

Politics

The State Government is led by a democratically elected executive Governor who works closely with members of the state's House of Assembly. The capital city is Umuahia. There are 17 local government areas (LGAs).

Abia State House of Assembly, Nigeria

In 1999, Nigeria became a democracy and Orji Uzor Kalu contested on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and won the Governorship election in Abia State. Consequently, he was sworn-in on 29 May 1999. In 2003, when it was time for fresh elections, Kalu re-contested on the platform of the PDP and got a second mandate to govern (the Constitution of Nigeria limits Governors to two terms in office). Theodore Orji (PPA) defeated Onyema Ugochukwu (PDP) in the 2007 general elections to become Abia's next Governor. In 2011, Theodore Orji decamped from PPA to the PDP and was re-elected for another four-year tenure.

On 11 April 2015, Okezie Ikpeazu was voted as the ninth Governor of Abia State under the platform of the People's Democratic Party.[18] He was also declared the winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election after polling total number of 261,127 votes to defeat Uche Ogah of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.and sworn in as Governor for a second term on 29 May 2019.

Local Government Areas
See also: List of villages in Abia State

Abia State consists of seventeen (17) Local Government Areas. They are:

Traditional rulers
TitleEthnic GroupNameClassLGAsPalace
Enyi (Eze) AbaIgbo / Eziama AbaEze Issac Ikonne1Aba NorthOsusu Aba
Ochiudo 1 Aba UkwuIgbo / AbaJonathan U. oguejiofor (JP): Justice of Peace of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abia State
Osimiri III Aba Igbo / AbaEze (Barrister) Sunday Emejiaka1Aba SouthAba
Eze AroIgbo / ArochukwuMazi Ogbonnaya Vincent Okoro (Eze Aro III)1ArochukwuOro Arochukwu
Ugwumba 1 Ndida OzaarIgbo / AsaEze Samuel Chukwuemeka AguUkwa WestUmuebulungwu, Ndida Ozaar Autonomous Community
Ike 1 IkeisuIgbo / IsuAugustine O. Igwe (Ike I)?ArochukwuIkeisu (Utugiyi)
Ezeala III Aro NgwaIgbo / Aro NgwaEze Edward Enwereji?Osisioma Ngwa
Ugo Oha (Eze) Etiti Mgboko UmuanunuIgbo / EtitiNgozi Ibekwe1Obi ngwa
Eze Ukwu 1 Ngwa-UkwuIgbo / NgwaBenard Enweremadu1Isiala NgwaNgwa Ukwu Kingdom. The ancestral home of Ngwa Land.
Nya 1 NunyaIgbo / OguduasaaM.E. Ihevume?IsuikwuatoNunya Autonomous Community
Ossah-Ibeku (Eze) Umuahia[19]Igbo / OsaaNze Hope OnuigboXXUmuahia Amibo, Nsukwe
Eze UturuIgbo / UturuA.E. Ude?IsuikwuatoUturu
Igbojiakuru (Eze) AlayiIgbo / AlayiUkeje Philip?BendeNdi Elendu, Amaeke Alayi
Awu (Eze) IsuamawuIgbo / IsuikwuatoSurveyor Chris E Aboh, FNIS?IsuikwuatoEluama Isuama
Enachioken AbiribaIgbo / AbiribaKalu Kalu Ogbu1OhafiaAbiriba
Ohanyere I OhiyaIgbo / UmuahiaEze Abel E. Uhuegbu?Umuahia SouthUmueze, Ohiya
Eze Ohanyere I Ahiaba UbiIgbo / Isiala NgwaEze D.O. Ogbuisi?Isiala Ngwa NorthAbia
EZE TOWE 1 Umutowe. Igbo / [[]]Eze G. C Onwuka?Umuahia SouthAbia
Okaa Omee I Amaikwu, AbiaIgbo / [[]]Uche Nwamarah?Umuahia SouthAbia
"Ehi II" Ehi na Uguru Auto. Comm, UmuguruIgbo / UmuguruEze E. E. Eluwa1Isiala Ngwa South
"Ochi 1" Ochi na Isuochi. Comm, UmunneochiIgbo / Umu NneochiHRM EZEKWESIRI1Umu NneochiAbia

Notable people

References
  1. See List of Governors of Abia State for a list of prior governors
  2. Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette (15 May 2007). "Legal Notice on Publication of the Details of the Breakdown of the National and State Provisional Totals 2006 Census" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  3. "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  4. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. "Niger Delta Region Land and People" (PDF). nddc.gov.ng. Federal Republic of Nigeria. p. 4.
  6. Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Abia". Encyclopædia Britannica. I: A-ak Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. pp. 32. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
  7. "abia". www.usafricaonline.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  8. Nigeria's 36 States and the FCT, Economic, societal and political profiles, World Bank Report
  9. Channelstv, Nigeria (14 April 2013). "Harnessing Abia's oil and gas potentials". channelstv.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  10. Vanguard, Nigeria (7 August 2012). "Our problem is poor funding – ASOPADEC Chairman". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  11. "Higher Institutions in Abia – The Official Website of Abia State Government". Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  12. "Alaoji Power Station – NERP". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  13. "Geometric Power Limited". Geometric Power Limited |. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  14. Otosirieze. "In Azumini, a River Goes Blue". Folio Nigeria. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  15. "Abia State history". Abia-union.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  16. "Enugu State". Igbofocus.co.uk. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  17. "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  18. INEC Declares Ikpeazu Winner Of Abia Governorship Election
  19. Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers
  20. "Arunma Oteh". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  21. "After leaving World Bank, Arunma Oteh appointed into Ecobank board". TheCable. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  22. Emmanuel, Post Author: Dayo (29 June 2018). "Nigerian Exporters Must Benefit From AGOA Before 2025—Minister". National Wire. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. Published. "Gov Ikpeazu gives recipe for national development". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  24. "Supreme Court affirms Ikpeazu's election as Abia governor". 8 January 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
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