93-631: Imo State ( Igbo : Ọra Imo ) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria , bordered to the north by Anambra State , Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the State's slogan is the "Eastern Heartland." Of the 36 States in Nigeria, Imo
186-540: A few. The Agricultural sector in Imo State, needs the intervention of the state government and other huge private companies, this is because having a strong economy based on crude oil , natural gas and palm oil will not aid for the development of the state. Imo State came into existence in 1976, along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammed , having been previously part of East-Central State . The state
279-465: A greater silt and clay foundation and is more susceptible to perennial inundation by river floods. The floodplain's total thickness rises to about 45m in the northeast and over 9m in the beach ridge barrier zones to the southwest. On coastal sand ridges, the soils are mostly sandy or sandy loams. Various crops are supported including coconut , oil palm , raffia palm and cocoyam . The drier upland region of Rivers State covers 61% of landmass while
372-512: A host of other tourist sites along the banks of the 26 km-length Njaba River present hotspots for tourism. Agriculture is the primary occupation, but due to over-farming and high population density , the soil has greatly degraded.This could be as a result of inefficient production techniques, poor resource base, declining soil productivity, predominance of primitive techniques of agricultural production, inadequate supply of credit, low capital investment, use of crude implements to mention but
465-502: A majority of the population (around 98%). Majority of Imo State residents are Christians. Catholics (2021) in the Archdiocese of Owerri (1948) with 162 parishes under Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji (2022), and two suffragan dioceses of Okigwe (1981) with 119 parishes under Bishop Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu (2006) and Orlu (1980) with 189 parishes under Bishop Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma (2008). The Anglican Church of Nigeria includes
558-421: A modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of votes and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the state local government areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas. The executive branch
651-503: A multi-cultural, multi-tribal region, Rivers State has much to offer in its diversity of people. The area that makes up the modern state has been inhabited in one way or the other since the last year of the first millennium . The earliest known settled communities in what is now Rivers State include the Riverine Ijaw ; Ogoni , Ikwerre people and other Igboid groups on the mainland. Today, over 26 distinct groups are recognized by
744-521: A per capita income of $ 5,949 (PPP). The state is famous for its vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas. It was perhaps the richest and most important section of the African zone of the British Empire. Rivers State has two major oil refineries, two major seaports, airports, and various industrial estates spread across the land. More than 60% of the country's output of crude oil is produced in
837-750: A significant improvement over a meagre 30 megawatts during the late nineties. Its energy sector is protected by the government through legislation and funding. It is overseen by the ministries of Power , Energy and Natural Resources . The state's oil-refining capacity is the biggest in the country, with more than 340,000 barrels of crude oil per day. There's a vast untapped potential in the state for solar power. Interest in solar energy has been increasing but not much has been invested. Up to now, energy production has been insufficient to meet demand, resulting in frequent power outages, slow manufacturing and low business performance. Transportation within Rivers State
930-572: A single preposition. The meaning of na , the single preposition, is flexible and must be ascertained from the context. Examples from Emenanjo (2015) illustrate the range of meaning: O 3sg bì live n' Enugwū. PREP -Enugwū O bì n' Enugwū. 3sg live PREP -Enugwū 'He lives in Enugwū.' O 3sg bì live ebe here à this n' ogè PREP -time agha. war O bì ebe à n' ogè agha. 3sg live here this PREP -time war 'He lived here during
1023-499: A taxi or rental car at the authorized vehicle area. Companies like Europcar , Avis and Hertz have offices near the airport. In addition, the Port Harcourt Air Force Base is located in the state capital. It gained popularity as a commercial destination due to the closure of the international airport. After that airport reopened, most airlines abandoned the base. However, it still has some destinations since
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#17327802058141116-576: 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
1209-439: A total of 31 million people. The number of Igboid languages depends on how one classifies a language versus a dialect , so there could be around 35 different Igbo languages. The core Igbo cluster, or Igbo proper, is generally thought to be one language but there is limited mutual intelligibility between the different groupings (north, west, south and east). A standard literary language termed 'Igbo izugbe' (meaning "general igbo")
1302-678: Is a list of the higher institutions located in Imo State: Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport . Igbo language Igbo ( English: / ˈ iː b oʊ / EE -boh , US also / ˈ ɪ ɡ b oʊ / IG -boh ; Standard Igbo: Ásụ̀sụ́ Ìgbò [ásʊ̀sʊ̀ ìɡ͡bò] ) is the principal native language cluster of the Igbo people , an ethnicity in the Southeastern part of Nigeria . Igbo Languages are spoken by
1395-529: Is annulled by a competent court of law or by a two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly. The incumbent governor is Siminalayi Fubara a member of the People Democratic Party, who heads the council of Rivers State. Fubara was sworn in on 29 May 2023. He is the 7th Democratic governor of the state and the 16th overall governor of River State The legislative authority in Rivers State is held by
1488-421: Is dominated by the state's booming petroleum industry. Although the rise of the oil industry has led to increased revenue for the state government, mismanagement and corruption have prevented the state from rapid development and meaningfully tackling poverty . Rivers State is considered one of the fastest-growing states in terms of modern infrastructure and urbanization in the country. Rivers State, named after
1581-542: Is headed by the Governor , assisted by the Deputy Governor , both elected for a term of 4 years (maximum of 2 terms). The governor appoints commissioners responsible for each of the ministries and appoints the heads of parastatals and the state-owned bodies with specific regulatory or administrative duties. In some cases, a governor may be replaced or removed for example, through death, impeachment or if an election
1674-625: Is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The current Speaker is Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe , and his deputy is Rt. Hon. Amara iwuanyanwu. The remainder of the house is made up of elected legislators, from the 27 LGAs of the State. At the 10th state house assembly (2023), the current speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly is Hon. Chike Olemgbe. He is a first-time member representing Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area. Also,
1767-466: Is highly dependent on agricultural production, especially the production of palm oil , which a majority of citizens rely on for cooking. A key minor industry is the extraction of crude oil and natural gas , especially in Imo's north and west. The state has been beset by violence at various points throughout its history, most notably the anti-cult 1996 Otokoto Riots and the ongoing separatist violence from
1860-570: Is mainly land and water-based. The industry has the Ministry of Transport as its chief regulating body. Apart from roads and waterways, there are functional airdromes that provide out-of-state transport. The seaports contain harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land. Federal highways are A2 the Elele-Alimini-Patani East-West Rd from Elele to Bayelsa State at Mbiama, A3 east as
1953-557: 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. The people of Imo State carried out
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#17327802058142046-485: Is otherwise conveyed through the use of stative verbs or abstract nouns. Rivers State Rivers State , also known as Rivers , is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed on 27 May 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region , Rivers State borders include Imo and Anambra to the north, Abia and Akwa Ibom to the east, and Bayelsa and Delta to
2139-462: Is particularly noted for its linguistic diversity , with 30 indigenous languages and dialects being said to be spoken in Rivers State, these include Ekpeye, Ikwerre, Ijaw (Okrika, Ibani, Kalabari) and Ogoni . Rivers State is the 25th largest state by area , and its geography is dominated by the numerous rivers that flow through it, including the Bonny River . The economy of Rivers State
2232-563: Is punishable with a fine of up to ₦10,000. The 1067 mm Cape Gauge Eastern Railway Line north from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State, built 1913–16, restored 2009–15. Both domestic and international flights are available from Port Harcourt International Airport . Airlines such as Lufthansa , Air France , Qatar Air , Ethiopian Airlines , Med-View , Air Peace and Cronos link the state to destinations including Frankfurt , Paris , Lagos and Malabo . Passengers can easily get
2325-511: Is selected using a modified two-round system . To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the State Local Government Areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of Local Government Areas. This
2418-477: Is the third smallest in area but is fourteenth most populous with an estimated population of over 5.4 million as of 2022. Geographically, the state is divided between the Niger Delta swamp forests in the far east and the drier Cross–Niger transition forests in the rest of the state. Other key geographical features are the state's rivers and lakes with the Awbana , Imo , Orashi , and Otamiri rivers along with
2511-660: The Anglo-Aro War . After the war, the British incorporated the area into the Southern Nigeria Protectorate which later merged into British Nigeria in 1914; after the merger, Imo became a centre of anti-colonial resistance during the Women's War . After independence in 1960, the area of the present-day Imo was a part of the post-independence Eastern Region until 1967 when the region was split and
2604-560: The Calabar Ogoja Rivers (COR) State Movement became existent. The Council of Rivers Chiefs was later renamed in 1954 to Rivers Chiefs and People's Congress and in 1956, the organization became known as the Rivers Chiefs People's Conference. Until 1958, hopes of an independent state resonated with the region and lingered consistently in the minds of its natives. During the constitutional conference that year,
2697-562: The Eastern Security Network along with other opportunistic nativist gunmen. Despite unrest, with its fast growing population and industrialization, Imo State has the joint-sixth highest Human Development Index in the country. Imo State is bordered by Anambra State to the north for 84 km (52 miles), Abia State to the east for about 104 km (partly in the vicinity of the Imo River), and Rivers State to
2790-399: The Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development from April 2013 to June 2015. The Rivers State government consists of elected representatives and appointed officials. The state government has executive and legislative branches, with an independent judiciary . At the local level, elected officials are responsible for local government areas. The governor of the state is selected using
2883-495: The Nigerian National Assembly . Those chosen are grouped into 3 senators representing Rivers South East , Rivers West , Rivers East and 13 representatives representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, Obio/Akpor, Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme, Port Harcourt II, Etche/Omuma, Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru, Okrika/Ogu–Bolo, Khana/Gokana, Port Harcourt I, Ahoada West/Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni, Abua–Odual/Ahoada East, Ikwerre/Emohua, Degema/Bonny. Since
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2976-477: The Oguta Lake in western Imo State. Modern-day Imo State has been inhabited for almost a thousand years by the Igbo people with the Igbo language serving as a lingua franca alongside English throughout the state. In the pre-colonial period, what is now Imo State was a part of medieval Kingdom of Nri and the later Aro Confederacy before the latter was defeated in the early 1900s by British troop then
3069-545: The Oguta local government area . Many residents in the state capital ( Owerri ) were also displaced in 2017. The Orlu-Umuchima-Obiohia-Akokwa-Uga federal road has been cut off by gully erosion thereby leaving motorists and other road users stranded. Ideato North and Ideato South have been erosion high risk areas in recent times in Imo State. Isiala Mbano is also not left out in these frequent flood disaster in Imo State. There are over 163 oil wells, at over 12 different locations in
3162-520: The Otokoto riots of 1996 , which was a statewide protest, in response to the serial kidnappings and murders occurring in Imo at that point in time. One of the most remarkable riots that took place in Imo state, that led to the destruction of properties was the #ENDSARS protest . This protest which started peacefully not only in Imo state, led to riots and destruction of police stations, and killing of security personnel #ENDSARS in Imo State . The State has
3255-705: The Province of Owerri led by Archbishop David Onuoha (2020), also Bishop of Okigwe South, and 10 other Dioceses of Okigwe South (1994) led by Bishop David Onuoha (2004), Owerri led by Bishop Chukwuma Oparah (2018), Orlu led by Bishop Benjamin Chinedum Okeke (2019), Mbaise (1992) led by Bishop Chamberlain Chinedu Ogunedo (2010), Isi Mbano led by Bishop Godson Udochukwu Ukanwa , Ideato (1999) led by Bishop Henry Okeke (2020), Ohaji/Egbema led by Bishop Childi Collins Oparaojiaku (2008), On
3348-528: The Rivers State government , each with its own language, lifestyle, and cultural heritage. Multilingualism is a part of everyday life for the population of Rivers State and most of Nigeria. English, inherited from colonial rule is common and widely spoken in various forms in different localities. Some indigenous Riverians are also bilingual, speaking a mixture of English or Pidgin English with one of
3441-400: The biodiversity and ecological functions of natural habitats . In most places, the dominant vegetation usually consists of Elaeis guineensis which has the highest productivity amongst all recognized oleaginous crops. The riverine part of the state has three hydro-vegetation zones such as beach ridge , salt water and fresh water. Each zone has its characteristics and composition, with
3534-417: The 1950s. In 1954, it cleared about $ 54 million worth of imports and exports, while the shipping facilities at Calabar cleared $ 11 million worth of goods. The majority of Riverians obtain their water for household use from vendors. There are also those who extract their water from private boreholes and wells and incur costs for the investment, maintenance, spare parts, pumping, and in some cases treating
3627-610: The Deputy Speaker of the house is Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu, who is a member representing the Nwangele constituency. 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. Imo State consists of 27 local government areas : Smaller jurisdictions in the state may receive township status or urban status. The state has over 5.5 million people, and
3720-508: The Federal and the old Eastern Nigeria government. On 27 May 1967, under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon , Decree No. 14 was issued, allowing the creation of Rivers State. From then on, complaints about political marginalisation, environmental degradation and economic pauperisation remained among the Ijaw groups , such that a separate Bayelsa State was carved out of Rivers State by
3813-459: The Lake led by Bishop Chijioke Oti (2008), Oru led by Bishop Geoffrey Chukwunenye (2008), Okigwe led by Bishop Edward Osuegbu , and Ikeduru led by Bishop Emmanuel Maduwike (2009). The state government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's house of assembly. The Capital city of the State is Owerri . The electoral system of each state
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3906-677: The Life of Olaudah Equiano was published in London, England, written by Olaudah Equiano , who was a former slave , featuring 79 Igbo words. The narrative also illustrated various aspects of Igbo life in detail, based on Equiano's experiences in his hometown of Essaka. Following the British Niger Expeditions of 1854 and 1857, Samuel Ajayi Crowther , published an Igbo primer coded by a young Igbo missionary named Simon Jonas, who travelled with him to Aboh in 1857. The language
3999-743: The NEWMAP project in Imo State. Available research identifies Oguta , Ohaji/Egbema , Ngor Okpala , Owerri West , Owerri North , Aboh Mbaise and Owerri municipal LGAs as very high flood areas; Mbaitolu, Ikeduru, Aboh Mbaise , Onuimo, IhiteUboma , Obowo and Ehime Mbano LGAs as moderate flood hazard areas; and northern of Isiala Mbano, Nwangele, Nkwere, Orlu, Ehime Mbano and Southern part of Ideato North, Okigwe and Ideato South LGAs as low flood hazard areas. In August 2019, flooding caused by heavy rain submerged about 70 houses, displaced 2000 villagers and destroyed farmlands in Orsu-Obodo community, in
4092-710: The Port Harcourt Enugu Expressway to Abia State and A231 north from A3 in Port Harcourt 42 km via Igwuruta and Omagwa to A2 in Elele. Other major roads include Taxicabs , buses and ferries dominate public transport. They are usually inexpensive and are often used for multi-passenger pick-ups. Commercial vehicles in Port Harcourt maintain sky blue, white and sky blue livery . Operating without these government-approved colours
4185-742: The Revenue Courts, the Sanitation Courts, the Mobile Courts and Ports Related Offences Courts. It is governed mainly by the Chief Judge of the High Court of Justice. There are about 26 serving judges in the High Court of Justice, which comprises 10 Judicial Divisions including Port Harcourt , Ahoada , Degema , Nchia, Bori , Omoku , Isiokpo, Okrika , Okehi, and Oyigbo . Elections are conducted every 4 years in which Riverian voters will directly elect 16 representatives to
4278-424: 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 . In recent times, indigenes of Ohaji/Egbema communities have been protesting about poor basic amenities in their host community despite
4371-624: The adoption of loan words . Chinua Achebe passionately denounced language standardization efforts, beginning with Union Igbo through to Central and finally Standard Igbo, in a 1999 lecture sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Owerri . Igbo (and its dialects) is the dominant language in the following Nigerian states: Lexical categories in Igbo include nouns, pronouns, numerals, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, and
4464-529: The airport is closer to the centre than the main airport. Seaports handle much more diversified import cargo activities than airports. The Port of Onne is one of the largest and busiest seaports in the country. Its mobile harbour cranes are one of the biggest in Africa, with a lifting capacity of 208 metric tonnes. Another important seaport is the Port of Port Harcourt . It was the second-largest port in Nigeria in
4557-557: The area became part of the East Central State . Less than two months afterwards, the former Eastern Region attempted to secede in the three-year long Nigerian Civil War with Imo as a part of the secessionist, Igbo nationalist state of Biafra . The area was hard fought over throughout the war with Owerri and its surrounding area exchanging hands twice before Owerri was named the Biafran capital in 1969. The present-day Imo State
4650-488: The coast, the typical Niger Delta environment features many mangrove swamps . Rivers State has a total area of 11,077 km (4,277 sq mi), making it the 26th largest state in Nigeria. Surrounding states are Anambra for four km, Imo for about 122 km), and Abia for 87 km (54 miles, partly across the Imo River) to the north, Akwa Ibom to the east across the Imo River and Bayelsa and Delta to
4743-466: The coast, to about 1,700 mm (67 in) in the extreme north. It is 4,698 mm (185 in) at Bonny along the coast and 1,862 mm (73 in) at Degema . For Port Harcourt , temperatures throughout the year are relatively constant with little variation throughout the seasons. Average temperatures are typically between 25 and 28 °C (77 and 82 °F). Some parts of the state still receive up to 150 mm (6 in) of rainfall during
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#17327802058144836-605: The country's nationhood was affirmed while an agreement was reached on some measures to mitigate the fears of the ethnic minorities in the area. Around this time, the COR State Movement had broken away to press their case. Thereafter, the British launched a commission led by Sir Henry Willink to look into the misgivings of these autochthons. The Willink Commission initiated the conception of the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB). The purpose
4929-497: The creek belt, Ogoni languages - about 5 of them are spoken across the southern parts of the state, Igboid group of language is spoken in the Northern Areas of the Rivers State. Languages of Rivers State listed by LGA: Rivers State has maintained its importance as a leading supplier of wealth to the nation for centuries. In 2021, the state ranked 2nd nationwide with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $ 51.529 billion and
5022-415: The dry period. Relative humidity rarely dips below 60% and fluctuates between 90% and 100% for most of the year. The land surface of Rivers State can be divided into three zones: freshwater swamps, mangrove swamps and coastal sand ridges. The freshwater zone extends northwards from the mangrove swamps . This land surface is generally less than 20m above sea level. As a lower Niger floodplain , it contains
5115-644: The early days of the colonial period , several protection treaties were signed between various indigenous communities and the British colonial government . Between 1941 and 1952, agitation for the creation of Rivers Province began with the formation of the Ijo Rivers People's League . By 1953, the Council of Rivers Chiefs was birthed as a replacement body for the League, the same year, another organization,
5208-596: The forest is very shady and as a result a wide variety of shade tolerant forbs (e.g. Nephrolepis biserrata , Culcasia scandens , Laportea spp., Chromolaena odorata , Aframomum melegueta and Costus afer ) and various sedges form thickets on the forest floor. By dry season, a large cushion of litter cover the floor because of increase in abscission rate of some plants such as Musanga cecropioides , Hallea ledermannii , Calamus deeratus , Gmelina arborea , Raphia spp. and Elaeis guineensis . Mammals , reptiles and amphibians are also found in
5301-476: The forest, the emergents include Symphonia globulifera , Cleistopholis patens , Uapaca spp., Musanga cecropioides , Hallea ledermannii , Terminalia spp., Anthostema aubryanum , Tectona grandis and Elaeis guineensis . The understory is composed mainly of Calamus deeratus , Alchornea cordifolia , Monodora tenuifolia , Harungana madagascariensis , Strophanthus preussii , Rauvolfia vomitoria and Raphia spp. The interior of
5394-415: The freshwaters encompassing the upper and lower floodplains of the Niger Delta . Finima Nature Park is a protected area and forest reserve on Bonny Island covering an area of approximately 10 km (3.9 sq mi). The park's vegetation has progressively developed into a high forest considering the form from which it began in 1999. There are two storeys that can be distinguished from outside
5487-885: The gully sites. Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), kick-started in the state on November 11, 2014 and the ecological fund are some of the interventions for soil erosion in the State. Communities such as Eziala- Obizi in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA; Iyiuzo-Ihioma-Ogberuru in Orlu LGA ; Umueshi-Amanato in Ideato South LGA ; Umuturu -Ezemazu -Urualla in Ideato North LGA ; Umunumo Ibeafor in Ehime Mbano LGA ; and Umueze Obazu-Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA are beneficiaries of
5580-438: The highest nationwide. Rivers State has a rich cultural heritage, and its people are friendly and known for their hospitality. The state has 23 distinct ethnic groups including Ekpeye, Ogba, Kalabari, Ikwerre and Ogoni amongst others. It is on record that Port Harcourt is the second biggest commercial, agriculture and busiest airport & seaports in Nigeria. Rivers state has two seaports situated in Port Harcourt and Onne. As
5673-463: The highest number of inhabitants of any local government area, while Ogu–Bolo and Omuma had the lowest. The total area of the state was 11,077 km (4,277 sq mi) and the density was 635.89 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,646.9/sq mi). According to the world population review (Population of cities in Nigeria), the capital city of Rivers state, Port Harcourt is ranked 4th on
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#17327802058145766-478: The intersection of gutter and road. Due to gullies, farmlands have been significantly affected, with both farmlands and their road paths lost. There is also loss of social infrastructures such as, electricity and pipe-borne waters. Communities such as Ikeduru , Orlu , Ehime Mbano , Nwangele , Nkwerre and Mbaitoli dependent on stream and harvested rainwater for domestic use have been impacted due to surface water/stream pollution caused by intense runoffs from
5859-462: The list. Rivers State has a higher literacy rate compared to most states in the South South geopolitical zone. Its male literacy as of 2006 was 52.3% while the female literacy rate was 47.7%. In the same survey, it ranked as 26th most extensive and the 6th most populous of all the states of Nigeria. A 2015 estimate put the number of residents of Rivers State at over 7 million, nearly triple
5952-467: The main revenue source of the country. In a sample survey carried out by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, about 40% of the rural inhabitants were committed to farming in 1983. Rivers State is one of the leading states in the production of yam , cassava , cocoyam , maize , rice and beans . About 39% (760,000 hectares) of the state's total land mass, particularly in
6045-721: The many rivers that border its territory, was part of the Oil Rivers Protectorate from 1885 till 1893 when it became part of the Niger Coast Protectorate . In 1900, the region was merged with the chartered territories of the Royal Niger Company to form the colony of Southern Nigeria . The state was formed in 1967 with the split of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. In 1996 the state lost territory to form Bayelsa State . In
6138-549: The military government of Sani Abacha on 1 October 1996 and Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State was created on the same day to include communities such as Umuru in Ofeh. Rivers State is a predominantly low-lying pluvial state in southern Nigeria, located in the eastern part of the Niger Delta on the oceanward extension of the Benue Trough . The inland part of the state consists of tropical rainforest , and towards
6231-440: The native languages. This is partly due to the frequent exposure of the younger generations to foreign dialects, especially in the country's largest cities. Excluding Pidgin, all other ones spoken in the state belong to either Benue–Congo or Ijoid and Ogoni Languages within the Niger–Congo language family . The Benue–Congo is subdivided into Cross River , Igboid , and Edoid groups. The Ijoid languages are predominant around
6324-420: The north west of Ahoada and west of Upper Orashi Forest have also been designated an Important Bird Area. The forest has an area of 219 km (136 mi) within which mammals like red-bellied monkey and yellow-backed duiker are found along with raffia palms and some woody broadleaved species such as Symphonia globulifera and Ficus spp. The state has many rivers. Notable rivers include: Over
6417-411: The number recorded in 1991. According to the National Bureau of Statistics projection, the population in the state was 4% of the total population of the country. Data of 2010–2015 showed life expectancies for male, 54 years and female, 57 years were very low. General mortality rate was 60 per 1000, under-5 mortality rate was 90 and maternal mortality rate was 889 per 100,000 live births, one of
6510-514: The park. The common mammals are mona monkeys and pygmy hippopotamuses . Among the reptiles and amphibians are snakes and crocodiles , turtles , frogs , lizards , and skinks . One of the world's Ramsar Convention -listed wetlands , Upper Orashi Forest , is a 252 km (97 sq mi) protected area in Ahoada West . It has been identified by BirdLife International as an IBA because of its importance to global populations of grey parrots and other birds. The Biseni Forest in
6603-484: The period from 1991 to 2006, the total population of Rivers State increased by close to 3 million people. The last official census showed that 5,198,716 people were living in the state, of whom 2,673,026 were male and 2,525,690 were female. Adults and adolescents aged 15 to 64 years accounted for 61% of the population in the state. Children below the age of 15 accounted for 36% of the population, and those aged 65 years and above, another 3%. Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor had
6696-452: The population density varies from 230 to 1,400 people per square kilometre. Christianity and Odinani are the majority religions, with Odinani becoming more common as citizens are beginning to embrace their religious heritage. In addition to its capital, other notable towns are Orlu , Obowo , Oguta , Awo-Omamma, Mgbidi, Mbaise, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema . Imo State is a predominantly Igbo -speaking state, with Igbo people constituting
6789-534: The population. A number of towns and villages with iron-contaminated H 2 O have resorted to treating one chemical contaminant with another. Most of the water collection in low-income urban residential areas is done by women. In 2008, NDHS reported that 26% of adult females collect drinking water more than adult male counterparts at 21%. In order to improve access to safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable water supply services, USAID , through its Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa program collaborated with
6882-561: The presence of oil producing companies. 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
6975-485: The riverine areas, with a relief range of 2m to 5m, take up 39%. Due to its geographical location, Rivers State has always played an important role in the natural history of Nigeria, having been found to host a vast array of wildlife and plants. Its tropical rainforests are home to more species than all other local biomes combined thanks to its climate and canopy structure. Some of the upland forested areas have seen disruption from human activity, impacting negatively on
7068-431: The riverine areas. The state provides valuable seafood such as crabs , oysters , shrimps and sea snails among others. Vertebrates like birds , mammals and reptiles are also found in the region. Energy, and especially electricity is the key factor for economic growth. Rivers State has one of the nation's highest per capita energy consumption rates. As of 2012, it had a power generation capacity of 400 megawatts ,
7161-597: 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. Soil erosion is the most common geo-environmental hazard in Imo State, with over 360 erosion sites, out of which 57 are confirmed to be critical and in need of immediate remediation. They are mostly gully erosion found in Ideato , Orlu , Ihitte-uboma , Arondizuogu , Umuomi-ikeduru and Njaba areas of
7254-485: The south and west for about 122 km. 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. The state has several natural resources which includes, crude oil , natural gas , lead , calcium carbonate , solar and wind power, zinc . Profitable flora including iroko , mahogany , obeche , bamboo , rubber tree and oil palm . Additionally white clay, fine sand and limestone are also found in
7347-479: The state House of Assembly , which is made up of elected representatives from all constituencies of the state. Its functions at the state level are relative to those of the National Assembly at the federal level, creating laws for the good governance of the state, as well as acting as a check and balance on the powers and actions of the state's Chief Executive. The House of Assembly consists of three times
7440-560: The state. The rainy season begins in April and lasts until October, with annual rainfall varying from 1,500 mm to 2,200 mm (60 to 80 inches). An average annual temperature above 20 °C (68.0 °F), 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,
7533-583: The state. Other natural resources found within its boundaries are silica, glass sand and clay. Prior to the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in 1951, Agriculture was the primary occupation of the people of Rivers State. Around the 19th century when the Industrial Revolution reached its peak in England, the area was then referred to as Oil Rivers Protectorate , this was due to its abundant palm oil and kernel which basically constituted
7626-496: The state. These gullies are attributed mainly to poor civil engineering works, specifically road/gutter construction as well as sand mining . During road construction , adequate control of the runoff generated in this process is poorly taken into consideration. There is also no proper termination, spill way , and gabions to lower intense flow to non-erosion velocities during gutter construction . Hence, rainwater overflow from concrete gutters resulting in erosion, especially at
7719-674: The time of the war.' Ndị people Fàda Catholic kwènyèrè believe n' atọ̀ PREP -three n' ime PREP -inside otù. one Ndị Fàda kwènyèrè n' atọ̀ n' ime otù. people Catholic believe PREP -three PREP -inside one 'The Catholics believe in the Trinity .' Igbo has an extremely limited number of adjectives in a closed class . Emenanjo (1978, 2015) counts just eight, which occur in pairs of opposites: ukwu 'big', nta 'small'; oji 'dark', ọcha 'light'; ọhụrụ 'new', ochie 'old'; ọma 'good'; njọ 'bad'. Adjectival meaning
7812-607: The total number of seats which the state has in the House of Representatives. The judicial branch of the state government has sole authority and responsibility for the interpretation and application of the state's laws as well as the adjudication of disputes or controversies. It consists of eight courts: the High Court of Justice, the Magistrates Courts, the Customary Courts, the Juveniles Courts,
7905-477: The upland area, is suitable for cultivation. Major cash crops produced are oil palm products , rubber , coconut , raffia palm and jute . Other crops grown for food include vegetables , melon , pineapples , mango , pepper, banana and plantain . The fishing industry is an important sector in Rivers State. Besides being lucrative, fishing is also a favourite pastime activity. There are approximately 270 species of fish existing; with many artisanal fishermen in
7998-449: The water. Several others receive their domestic water from rainwater catchments , nearby streams or rivers. In the oil-bearing communities, many residents have easy access to basic infrastructure systems, although, most of the facilities are nonfunctional. In large urban localities such as Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor , Port Harcourt Water Corporation handles the provision of urban water supply and wastewater management services for 15% of
8091-691: The west across the Niger River for about 50 km. On the south, it is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean . Its topography ranges from flat plains, with a network of rivers to tributaries. Rainfall is generally seasonal, variable, as well as heavy, and occurs between March and October through November. The wet season peaks in July, lasting more than 290 days. The only dry months are January and February having little to no effect. Total annual rainfall decreases from about 4,700 mm (185 in) on
8184-478: The west.The State capital, Port Harcourt , is a metropolis that is considered to be the commercial center of the Nigerian oil industry . With a population of 5,198,716 as of the 2006 census and 7,234,973 in 2023, Rivers State is the 8th most populous state in Nigeria. Rivers State is a diverse state that is home to many ethnic groups : Ijaw , Ogoni , Ikwerre , Ogba , Ekpeye , and Kalabari . The state
8277-564: 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
8370-465: Was captured by federal forces in early 1970 with Operation Tail-Wind taking the city and ending the war. At the war's end and the reunification of Nigeria, the East Central State was reformed until 1976 when Imo State was formed by the Murtala Muhammed regime. Fifteen years afterwards, Imo State was divided with eastern Imo being broken off to form the new Abia State . The state economy
8463-762: Was generically developed and later adopted around 1972, with its core foundation based on the Orlu ( Isu dialects), Anambra ( Awka dialects) and Umuahia ( Ohuhu dialects), omitting the nasalization and aspiration of those varieties. The first book to publish Igbo terms was History of the Mission of the Evangelical Brothers in the Caribbean ( German : Geschichte der Mission der Evangelischen Brüder auf den Carabischen Inseln ), published in 1777. Shortly afterwards in 1789, The Interesting Narrative of
8556-750: Was standardized in church usage by the Union Igbo Bible (1913). Central Igbo, is based on the dialects of two members of the Ezinifite group of Igbo in Central Owerri Province between the towns of Owerri and Umuahia in Eastern Nigeria. From its proposal as a literary form in 1939 by Ida C. Ward , it was gradually accepted by missionaries, writers, and publishers across the region. Standard Igbo aims to cross-pollinate Central Igbo with words from other Igbo dialects, with
8649-409: Was to tackle the problems of underdevelopment, however, this failed to rise to the expectations of the masses. After much discontent, some of the people attempted to take the extralegal route to achieve their goals. In February 1966, Isaac Boro , Sam Owonaro and Nottingham Dick alongside their supporters proclaimed a "Delta People's Republic". The rebellion persisted for twelve days but was resisted by
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