Obio-Akpor


Obio-Akpor is a local government area in the metropolis of Port Harcourt, one of the major centres of economic activities in Nigeria, and one of the major cities of the Niger Delta, located in Rivers State. The local government area covers 260 km2 and at the 2006 Census held a population of 464,789. Its postal code or ZIP code is 500102. Obio-Akpor has its headquarters at Rumuodomaya. The original indigenous occupants of the area are the Ikwerre people, a subgroup of the Igbo
people.

Geography

Obio-Akpor is bounded by Port Harcourt 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.

Climate

Geology and relief

Covering around 100 sq mi, Obio-Akpor is generally a lowland area with average elevation below 30 metres 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:
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 Local Government Council. The council comprises the chairman who is the chief executive of the local government area, and other elected members who are referred to as councillors.
The chairman is normally elected, but can, under special circumstances, also be appointed. He or she has the duty to supervise the activities of the local government, and preside over all meetings of the council.

Wards

Chairmen

To date, only 7 individuals have served as chairman of Obio-Akpor local government 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:
#NamePositionTook officeLeft officeComments
1B.A. WorguchairmanMay 1989July 1989Engineer
2Ndumati Lawson NduchairmanJanuary 1991June 1991Chief
3O.T. WelichairmanJuly 1991June 1993Engineer
4L.W. ChukwuchairmanApril 1995April 1996JP
5Freddy N.W. IchegbochairmanApril 1996April 1997Hon.
6Ezenwo Nyesom Wikechairman19992002Chief Barr.
7Ezenwo Nyesom WikechairmanApril 2004June 2007Chief Barr.
8Timothy E. NsirimchairmanApril 2008April 2011
9Timothy E. NsirimchairmanMay 2011November 2013Hon.

Education

Colleges and universities

Obio-Akpor contains the following colleges and universities within its
boundaries:
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:
Obio-Akpor is undoubtedly, 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.

Notable people