Obio-Akpor is a Local Government Area in the metropolis of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is one of the major centres of economic activities in Nigeria, and one of the major cities of the Niger Delta region, with industries and companies like Pabod Breweries, Coca-Cola Company, Indomie Company and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.
The city covers and at the 2006 Census held a population of 464,789. Its postal code or ZIP code is 500102. Obio-Akpor has its secretariat and City hall at Rumuodomaya.
Obio-Akpor is constituted mainly by the people of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
Obio-Akpor is also known for fisheries and aquaculture.
Geography Obio-Akpor is bounded by Port Harcourt (local government area) to the south, Oyigbo and Eleme to the east, Ikwerre and Etche to the north, and Emohua to the west. It is located between latitudes 4°45'N and 4°60'N and longitudes 6°50'E and 8°00'E.
Obio-Akpor, is popularly known as the gateway city, because of its location. It has a land area of approximately and shares boundaries with Emohua, Ikwerre, Etche, Oyigbo, Eleme, Okirika, Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State and is accessible by road, sea, and air transportation.
Specifically, there are four prominent Ikwerre Kingdoms that constitute the Local Government Areas, which are: Akpor, Apara, Evo and Rumueme Kingdoms. It also has an average of 2.82% growth rate which puts the population of the Local Government Area as at 2004 to be over 500,000 people.
Climate In Obio-Akpor, rainfall is almost predictable and follows sequence of increase towards the months of July–August before decreasing in the months of November–February.
The month of December ushers in a relatively dry weather. This climatic condition is associated with sunshine and dry Harmattan wind. This climatic condition persists throughout the month of December and in the early weeks of January.
Geology and relief Covering around , Obio-Akpor is generally a lowland area with average elevation below above sea level. Its geology comprises basically of alluvial sedimentary basin and basement complex. The thick mangrove forest, raffia palms and light rainforest are the major types of vegetation. Due to high rainfall, the soil in the area is usually sandy or sandy loam. It is always leached, underlain by a layer of impervious pan.
Localities, towns and suburbs The following localities, townships and suburbs, are within Obio-Akpor:
Alakahia Atali Ada-George Road Awalama Choba Egbelu Elelenwo Eligbam Elimgbu Elioparanwo Eliozu Eneka Eligbolo Iriebe Mgbuesilaru Mgbuoba Mgbuosimini Mpakurche Nkpa Nkpelu Ogbogoro Oginigba Oro-Igwe Oroazi Ozuoba Rukpakwolusi Rukpokwu Rumuadaolu Rumuaghaolu Rumualogu Rumuchiorlu Rumudara Rumudogo Rumuekini Rumuekwe Rumueme Rumuepirikom Rumuesara Rumuewhara Rumuibekwe Rumuigbo Rumukalagbor Rumunduru Rumuobiakani Rumuogba Rumuokparali Rumuolumeni Rumuobochi Rumuodomaya Rumuoji Rumuokoro Rumuokwu Rumuokwachi Rumuokwuota Rumuokwurusi Rumuola Rumuolukwu Rumuomasi Rumuomoi Rumuosi Rumuoto Rumurolu Rumuwaji Rumuwegwu Trans Amadi Woji
Government Obio-Akpor is one of the 8 local government areas that formed the Rivers East senatorial district. It consists of 17 electoral wards administered by the Obio-Akpor City Council. The council comprises the mayor who is the chief executive of the city, and other elected members who are referred to as councillors.
The mayor is normally elected. However, under special circumstances, the mayor can be appointed. The mayor oversees the activities of the city, and preside over meetings of the council.
Wards Choba (ward) Elelenwo (3b) Oro-Igwe (ward) Ozuoba-Ogbogoro Rukpokwu (ward) Rumueme (7a) Rumueme (7b) Rumueme (7c) Rumuigbo (8a) Rumukwuta (8b) Rumuodara (ward) Rumuodomaya (3a) Rumuokoro (ward) Rumuokwu (2b) Rumuolumeni (ward) Rumuomasi (ward) Woji (ward)
Mayor To date, only 7 individuals have served as Mayors of Obio-Akpor city council. The list below does not include persons who have served as either a caretaker committee chairman or an administrator. For that information, see list of chairmen and caretaker committee chairmen of Obio-Akpor.
List of chairmen: # Name Position Took office Left office Comments 1 B.A. Worgu chairman May 1989 July 1989 Engineer 2 Ndumati Lawson Ndu chairman January 1991 June 1991 Chief 3 O.T. Weli chairman July 1991 June 1993 Engineer 4 L.W. Chukwu chairman April 1995 April 1996 JP 5 Freddy N.W. Ichegbo chairman April 1996 April 1997 Hon. 6 Ezenwo Nyesom Wike chairman 1999 2002 Chief Barr. 7 Ezenwo Nyesom Wike chairman April 2004 June 2007 Chief Barr. 8 [Dike, Harcourt Whyte] Chairman June 2007 Sept. 2007 Academic 10 Timothy E. Nsirim chairman May 2011 November 2013 Hon.
Education Colleges and universities Notable colleges and universities include:-
Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Port Harcourt Catholic Institute of West Africa Eastern Polytechnic, Rumuokwurusi Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt. Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, Rumueme Rivers State University, Mile 3, Port Harcourt University of Port Harcourt, Choba
Primary and secondary schools The region is home to several public and private schools for both elementary and secondary education. Below is a listing of schools operating in the local government area including those managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt:
Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls' School, Elelenwo Ash Merlyn International School, Elelenwo CITA International School, Rumuogba Emilio Piazza Memorial School, Rumuigbo Government Secondary School, Eneka Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School Loretto School of Childhood, Rumuigbo Marygold International School, Elelenwo Niger Delta Science School St Maria Goretti's School St. Benedict Immaculate Canadian Academy Trans Amadi International School
Media Obio-Akpor is one of the major hubs for media in Rivers State. Elelenwo is the location of Radio Rivers 99.1, the first government-owned FM radio station in the state, and the second FM radio station to launch in Nigeria. Also headquartered in the neighbourhood is Rivers State Television whose signal is received in parts of nine states.
In October 2003, DAAR Communications Plc launched its radio and television stations which are transmitted from Choba.
In 2008, Pidgin English radio station Wazobia FM 94.1 began broadcasting from its studios in Rumuosi.
Still in 2008, Multimesh Group established The Family Love FM radio station transmitting from Rumuogba.
Notable people
Julius Agwu, Nigeria stand-up comedian, actor, singer and MC John Azuta-Mbata, politician Kingsley Chinda, member of the House of Representatives Monalisa Chinda, actress Tonto Dike, actress Frank Eke, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Eze Gbakagbaka of Ikwerre II Duncan Mighty (born 1983), musician Daisy W. Okocha, former Chief Judge of Rivers State Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State Obi Wali, PhD, former distinguished senator, writer, activist Okey Wali, SAN, former president of the Nigeria Bar Association
References
External links