ABOUT IMO STATE

ABOUT IMO STATE

Imo State came into existence on February 3rd 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. Part of it was split off in 1991 as Abia State, and another part became Ebonyi State. The main cities in Imo State are Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe. The Orashi River has its source in this State. The local language is Igbo and Christianity is the predominant religion.

GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Imo 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. It is bordered by Abia State on the East, by the River Niger and Delta State on the west, by Anambra State to the north and Rivers State to the south. Besides Owerri, Imo State's major towns are Njaba, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu, Mbaise, Mbano, Mbaitoli , Obowo and Egbema.

The State is rich in natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, zinc. Economically exploitable flora like the iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm predominate. However with a 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.

CLIMATE

The rainy season begins in April and lasts until October with annual rainfall varying from 1,500mm to 2,200mm (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 experinces two months of Harmattan from late December to late February. The hottest months are between January and March.

DEMOGRAPHICS

The estimated population is 5.5 million and the population density varies from 230-1,400 people per square kilometer.

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

GOVERNMENT

Imo State has a three tier administrative structure, namely; the State, the Local and Community government councils. The State council is made up of three arms, namely; 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.
The legislative arm is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly while the remainder of the House is made up of elected legislators which make up the lawmaking body of the State.

The judiciary is made up of the Magistrate Court, High Court of Justice and Customary Court of Appeal and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state.

Ministries

There are altogether thirteen ministries that make up the Civil service in Imo, namely;

   1.   .    Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Planning

2    2.    Health, Women Affairs & Social Development.

3    3.    Education, Science and Environment.

      4.    Justice.

5    5.    Information, Youths & Sports

6    6.     Agric & Natural Resources

7    7.     International Resources & Pension Matters.

8    8.     Finance

9    9.     Local govrnemnt & Rural Development

      10.   Commerce, Land and tourism

      11.   Community government, culture &     Traditional Affairs.

     12.     Public Safety & Public Utilities

     13.    Works & Transport.  

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

Imo State is made up of twenty-seven Local Government Areas, namely; Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte, Ideato North, Ideato South, Ihitte/Uboma, Ikeduru, Isiala Mbano, Isu, Mbaitoli

Ngor Okpala, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Obowo, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Okigwe, Onuimo, Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, and Owerri West.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

In addition to many primary and secondary schools, there are several institutions of higher education with some being run by the State government and others by the federal government. The four major universities are Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFCE), Oweeri and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede (FPN). Other educational institutions include, Federal College of Land Resources Technology (FECOLAT), Oforola, Imo State Polytechnic (IPU), Umuagwo, Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies (ICAPS), Owerri and College of Health Science, Amaigbo

INDUSTRY

There are viable industries in Imo State such as Imo Shoe and leader Industry, Owerri, Ceramics industry Mbano, Avutu modern poultry, Obowo, Imo Palm Plantation, Ohaji/Egbema

AGRICULTURE

Imo State is well known for the production of palm oil and cassava. But with the increase in human population and lack of the practice of mechanized agriculture, the State is unable to harness its agricultural potentials to the full.

SPORTS

Imo State is rated high in sports in Nigeria, having at one time, produced Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists as well an African footballer of the year.