Imo State

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.[5] 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.[6]

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

The Orashi River has its source in Imo State (named after a powerful Nigerian family with the family name Imo). 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.

The state has several natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, Calcium Carbonate and zinc.[5][7]

Profitable flora including iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm. Additionally white clay, fine sand and limestone are found in the state.[5]

Imo's major towns include Emekuku 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.

There are over 163 oil wells at over 12 different locations in the state.[5] The main petroleum companies operating in the state are Addax Petroleum, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Agip.[5] Some of the established oil-rich local government councils include Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Iho, Oru West, Obowo and Ngor Okpala.[8]

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.[5]

Independent global brewer Heineken, through its subsidiary Nigerian Breweries, has significant investment in Imo State.[9] The company manages the world-class Awo-omamma Brewery, a multiple-line plant.[10]

Many more oil and gas opportunities are yet to be developed.[5] The federal government has been called to inspect newly discovered oil-rich areas which might help foster economic development and job creation.[11]

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.[5]

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.[12]^:34

Agriculture is the primary occupation, but due to over-farming and high population density, the soil has greatly degraded.[5]

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.[17] 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.

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.

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.[18]

The state has over 4.8 million people and the population density varies from 230 to 1,400 people per square kilometre.[6] Christianity is the predominant religion.

Imo state is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people constituting a majority of 98%.[20]

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

• Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, Ideato
• Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
• Federal University of Technology Owerri[21]
• Hezekiah University, Umudi
• Imo State University

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