IMO STATE OVERVIEW

IMO STATE OVERVIEW
page_name The campaign of His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, is a call to action to the citizens of Imo State, friends and well-wishers across the world to help create a better future.

The major focus areas of our policy thrust include: Basic Education, Secondary Education, Tertiary Education, Health Care, Transportation, Water Resources, Rural Electrification/Energy Policy, Welfare and Agriculture & Natural Resources.

With strong community involvement, we can continue to improve lives for Imo State children and families. Whether you are willing to do business, live or visit our state, you can make a difference in creating a better future. Share the word about our state and help promote our Imo Rescue Mission.

Imo State Government :: Imo state Government

Imo State
—  State  —
Nickname(s): Eastern Heartland
Location of Imo State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°29′N 7°2′ECoordinates: 5°29′N 7°2′E
Country  Nigeria
Date created February 3, 1976
Capital Owerri
Government
 • Governor Rochas Okorocha (APGA)
 • Senators  
 • Representatives  
Area
 • Total 5,530 km2 (2,140 sq mi)
Area rank 34th of 36
Population (2006 census)[1]1
 • Total 3,934,899
 • Rank 13th of 36
 • Density 710/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year 2007
 • Total $14.21 billion[2]
 • Per capita $3,527[2]
Time zone WAT (UTC+01)
ISO 3166 code NG-IM
^1 Preliminary results

Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.

 

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.[3] 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. Imo state was created at Ngwoma.

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.[4] 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 Isu, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu, Mbaise, Mbano, Mbieri, Orodo and Orsu.

The state is rich in natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, zinc.[5] 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.[4]

This deforestation has triggered soil erosion which is compounded by heavy seasonal rainfall that has led to the destruction of houses and roads.[4][6][7]

Climate

The rainy season begins in April and lasts until October[8] with annual rainfall varying from 1,500mm to 2,200mm (60 to 80 inches).[4][9]

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.[4][8][9]

Government

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.

The legislative arm is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly who is currently speaker Goodluck Nanah Opiah.[10] The remainder of the house is made up of elected legislators and is the lawmaking body of the state.

The judiciary is made up of the high court of justice and customary court of appeal and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state.[11]

Ministries

  • Justice
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Education
  • Health
  • Commerce
  • Industry and Tourism
  • Finance
  • Works and Transport

Language

English, Igbo

Local Government Areas

Imo State is made up of twenty-seven Local Government Areas:

Demographics

The estimated population is 4.8 million and the population density varies from 230-1,400 people per square kilometer.[4]

Imo state is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people constituting a majority of 98%.[12]

Education

There are several institutions of higher education with some being run by the state government and others by the federal government. The two universities being Imo State University and the Federal University of Technology Owerri.[13]

Notable People

Notable people from Imo State include:

Sports

Arts

Politics

Academia

Miscellaneous

Imo State is governed by a system that is comprised of the Executive, Judicial & the Legislative branches. Imo state has 27 local government areas headed by LGA chairmen. The Ministries are headed by Commissioners who specialise in the respective areas of jurisdiction. They are part of the Executive Council and help the Governor with the development of the state.

Owelle Rochas Okorocha, elected in May 2011 is the current Executive Governor of Imo State. He is the head of the executive arm of government, assisted by the Deputy Governor, Chief Jude Agbaso, and all Commissioners, Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, and Executive Assistants. Imo State was created on 3rd February, 1976. The state is bounded by Anambra state to the north, Abia state to the east, and Delta and Rivers to the west and south respectively.

The legislative arm
This arm is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, is made up of elected legislators; it is the lawmaking body of the state.

The judiciary
This arm is charged with the responsibility of the administration of justice and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state. Functions of the government are carried out through the various ministries and parastatals.

The Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDA's)
Imo State Ministries are: Justice, Finance, Women Affairs, Works Housing and Transport, Education, Commerce and Industry, Public Utilities, Agriculture, Culture & Tourism, Information and Strategy, Youth and Sports, Petroleum and Environment, Land and Survey, Health, Planning and Economic Development, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The Office of the Secretary to the State Government is the official secretariat of the state government and is headed by the Secretary to the State Government. It coordinates the activities of the various ministries, directorates and extra ministerial departments.

Local Governments Areas (LGAs)
Imo State has a total of 27 local government areas. They are Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Ezinihite, Ideato South, Ihitte/Uboma, ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Obowo, Nkwerre, Orsu, Orlu, Oguta, Ngor Okpala, Ohaji Egbema, Okigwe, Isiala-Mbano, Owerri, Oru and Owerri West. Others are Owerri North, Oru West, Isu, Onuimo, Nwangele, Njaba, Ehime-Mbano and Ideato North. Major Towns are Okigwe, Orlu, Oguta, Nkwerre, Owerri Obowu, Njaba, Orie, Agu, Mgbidi, Ideato and Mbaise.
Each local government is headed by a chairman, assisted by a deputy chairman and supervisory councilors, who make up the executive arm. The Local Government legislative arm is composed of ten to twelve elected ward counselors from each local government area, headed by a Speaker of the LGA, while the Judiciary is represented by one customary court in each LGA, headed by a Chairman.

Community Government
At the community level, communities are headed by traditional rulers called Eze's, who in turn have their own cabinet of appointed chiefs and titled men.

Imo State Government :: Imo State Overview