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ABIA STATE

"Abia" is an acronym formed from the initial letters of four groups of people,
namely: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato and Afikpo. These constituted the major groups in
the state at its creation. At the country's independence in 1960, Abia was part of the
then Eastern Region. From 27th May 1967, it became a part of the East Central State,
created by the then Head of State of the Federal Military Government, General
Yakubu Gowon. On 3rd February, 1967, East Central State was split into two states -
Anambra and Imo - by the Federal Military Government headed by General Murtala
Mohammed. On 27th August, 1991, the Federal Military Government under
General Ibrahim Babangida carved out Abia State from Imo State, bringing to
thirty the number of states in Nigeria. Furthermore, in October, 1996, the Federal
Military Government under General Sani Abacha created six more states bringing to
thirty-six the number of states in the federation. During this exercise, four local
government areas (LGAs) namely, Onicha, Ohaozara, Afikpo North and Afikpo South,
which occupy the northeastern corner of the state, were transferred to the (newly
created) Ebonyi State. Being Located in the southeastern region of Nigeria, Abia
State lies within approximately latitudes 4o40' and 6o14' north, and longitudes 7o10'
and 8oeast. The state shares common boundaries to the north with Ebonyi State; to
the south and southwest with Rivers State; and to the east and southeast with Cross
River and Akwa Ibom States respectively. To the west is Imo State, and to the
northwest is Anambra State.
The state covers an area of about 5,243 Sq. Km, which is approximately 5.8 per
cent of the total land area of Nigeria. With its capital at Umuahia, it has seventeen
LGAs, namely: Aba North, Aba South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ukwa
West, Ukwa East, Obingwa, Ikwuano, Bende, Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Umuahia
North, Umuahia South, Ugwunagbo, Osisioma and Nnochi.
# LGA
1 Aba North
2 Aba South
3 Arochukwu
4 Bende
5 Isiala Ngwa North
6 Isiala Ngwa South
7 Isuikwuato
8 Iwuano
9 Nnochi
10 Obingwa
11 Ohafia
12 Osisioma
13 Ugwunagbo
14 Ukwa East
15 Ukwa West
16 Umuahia North
17 Umuahia South
Administrative Areas

The Local Government Chairman who is the Chief Executive Officer of the local
government heads each of the seventeen LGAs in the state. A Secretary, Supervisory
Councilors and Councilors usually assist him. Most local government councils in the
state have five departments: Administration, Agriculture, Health, Education and
Works. The administrative headquarters of the local government area is located in
one of the urban or semi-urban areas within the local government area.

High courts in Abia State are found in Aba and Ohafia local government areas as
well as Umuahia, the state capital. Magistrate courts are located in Aba, Arochukwu,
Ohafia, Bende, Isuikwuato and Ukwa LGAs. Customary courts are also found in Ukwa,
Isuikwuato, Bende, Ohafia, and Arochukwu LGAs. Each autonomous community has a
traditional head the EZE, which has been identified, selected, appointed and installed
by the people according to their own tradition and presented to the government for
recognition. Selection may be hereditary, elective or rotatory. For such an Eze to be
recognized, the local government chairman has to endorse the documents presented
to him by the Eze before forwarding the documents to the governor for recognition.
The Eze also has to be presented by the autonomous community at an appointed
date and time to the governor or his representative, for recognition. The government
also appoints one Eze from each autonomous community. An election is usually
conducted amongst recognized Ndi Ezes for each local government to select
members to serve at the council of Ndi Ezes at the state level. About half of the
members of the council are selected while half are appointed. Every member of the
council of Ndi Eze is required to serve for three years unless prevented from doing so
by death or resignation. The council of Ndi Eze in Abia State is made up of 36 Ezes
with one chairman and two deputy chairmen.

List of Abia State Towns and Villages

Aba, Abam, Abiriba, Adah, Akaelu, Akwete, Akoli, Alayi, Arochukwu, Azumini,
Bende, Ezeukwu-Alayi, Eziama, Igbere, Imenyi, Item, Itumba-Uzor, Ikwuano, Ite, Isiala-
Ngwa, Isukwuato, Isimiri, Isuochi, Oboro-Ikwuano, Obi-Ngwa, Ukwa, Ohafia, Okeikpe,
Okpula-Ngwa, Omoba, Osisioma, Odogwa, Obeakpu, Obuzo Owaza, Owerrinta,
Ohanku and Ohanso, Ugwunagbo, Umuahia, Umudike, Umuhu-Ezechi, Umuimenyi,
Umu-Nneochi, Uturu, Uzuakoli, Ozuitem, Ugbuegbule, UmuAgbayi (Ukwa), Ohabiam
(Ukwa), Ugwueke- Alayi, Mbalano, Nbawsi, Ndoki, Ndoro, Nkpa, Nkporo, Lohum,
Ngboko, Nkali

Ethnic Composition, Language and Culture

Abia State is inhabited by the Igbo. The Igbo language is spoken throughout the
State. Abia State is richly endowed culturally. This is evident in the people's mode of
dressing, dancing, arts and crafts, as well as festivals and the widely known Igbo
traditional hospitality. The traditional apparel for the worn over a "George" wrapper
tied around the waist and flowing down to the ankles. This dress is complemented
with a cap and a walking stick for support and defence. For the women, the traditional
wear is a blouse over an "Abada" or "George", around the waist. This outfit goes with
a headgear, earrings and necklace

Music and Dance


In Abia State, different types of music abound to suit various occasions. There is
music for work, leisure, childbirth, funerals, and for different festivals. Much of the
traditional music is a combination of the vocal and instrumental artistry, which
produces a tuneful melody. Musical instruments such as the gong, leather drums,
wooden drums, traditional flute (Oja), earthen-pot drums and a host of percussion
instruments abound. Some famous traditional music and dances are the Udunkulu
Masquarade in Item; Okonko Masquarade in Igbere; Ekpe dance in Arochukwu; the
Bende and Ohafia war dance; and the Egwu Ukwu (waist dance) of Isiala Ngwa.

Festivals, Arts and Crafts

Each community in Abia State has different festivals celebrated in honour of its
gods and goddesses, or to mark important events. The beginning of the planting
season as well as the harvest season is celebrated annually. The New Yam festival,
celebrated as thanksgiving to God (Chukwu) by everyone, is pervasive in Igbo land.
Works of art produced in the state include carved doors, stools, walking sticks,
traditional flutes, mortars, gongs and pestles. One work of art particularly worthy of
note is the traditional "Akwete" cloth of Ukwa East.

An outline of the Igbo cultural heritage will be incomplete without a word or two
of the Igbo traditional hospitality to visitors. This is reflected in the presentation of
kolanuts to visitors. The kolanut signifies that the visitors are heartily welcome. The
rituals of the presentation of the kolanut are consummated with the offering of
prayers and thanksgiving or request to the supreme God and other deities for the
protection of the visitor

Health Care Delivery

The Abia State Ministry of Health, through the Health Management Board, is
responsible for health-care. The health-care system comprises twelve general
hospitals, two specialist hospitals, one psychiatric hospital, two dental centers, two
schools of nursing, three schools of midwifery, one school of psychiatric, one school of
health technology, sixty-three health centers, fifteen maternities, thirty-two
dispensaries, six sub-dispensaries, four destitute homes, one remand home and three
homes for the care of the handicapped.
Tourism and Recreation

Abia State has a number of areas with immense scenic attraction. A 1992
brochure on "Tourism in Abia State" lists the following tourist attractions:

- Arochukwu Long Juju

- Azumini Blue River in Ukwa

- National War Museum in Umuahia

The rich cultural heritage of Abia State also lends itself to the promotion of
tourism. The main centers of cultural attraction are the famous traditional "Akwete"
cloth weaving in Ukwa East LGA pools which attract visitors from within and outside
the state.

Industries in Abia State

Aba LGA has more than 200 large-scale, medium, and small-scale industries.
They include the state government owned International Glass Industry, Metallurgical
Complex, and Enyimba Hotel (still under construction). Others include Nigerian
Breweries PLC, Lever Brothers PLC, Paterson Zochonis (PZ) CFAO, Niger Motors, UTC
Textile Mills, and a number of pharmaceutical establishments. The Aba LGA also has
an animal feed project at Ariaria. A number of shoe and garment industries are also
located in Aba.

In Bende LGA are the following: Samek Industries located at Alayi which
manufactures asbestos pipes, the Pioneer Oil Mill at Umuimenyi, owned by ADC;
Ojiugo Bakery Enterprises; Oil Palm Mills, Item; Oceanic Paper Mill; Chiba Farms; local
government block molding industry; and cassava grating mills; rice mills; and a small-
scale roofing industry at the leper colony. Other industries sited in Abia State include
the following:

The modern ceramic industry owned by Imo, Abia and the Federal Government;
In Umuahia is located a privately owned plastic polythene industry;
Golden Guinea Breweries; Empire Carpet Industries; Bread Industries; Feed mills and
sawmills; Aba Hotels, and the Modern Palace Hotel.

There are also transport companies, block industries, pineapple industry; snuff
industry; beverage industry; (Abia foods); and a palm wine industry. At Owerrinta,
there is a recycling plant and a packaging industry (Smurfit) as well as Allied Farms in
Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state. In Ukwa Local Government Area,
there is a cloth weaving industry in the Ndoki district especially among the people of
Akwete, Ohanku and Ohanso communities. Shell Petroleum Company has oil flow
stations at Owaza in this local government with over seventy oil wells.

Institution of Higher Learning

1 Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000 Uturu.

2. Abia State University Teaching hospital, Aba, Abia State

2. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

3. College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu.

4. Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

5. National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike

6. The Forestry Research Institute, Eastern Station, Umudike.

7. Technical College, Ania, Ohafia.

8. UmuNnato General Hospital & Nursing Education, Alayi

Other Schools in Abia State


The Abia State Government places priority on education. It runs over 800
primary schools, 160 secondary schools, one teacher training college and five
technical colleges. There is also a College of Education (Technical) at Arochukwu.
Other higher institutions in the state are the Abia State University at Uturu in
Isuikwuato LGA, and the Abia State Polytechnic at Aba. In addition, the government
provides a staff training school at Umunnato in Bende LGA. The Federal Government
has sited a Federal University of Agriculture at Umudike, Ikwuano LGA. Other
educational institutions include Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Abariba, Aba and
Umuahia. A School of Midwifery is attached to the Methodist Hospital, Amachara,
while the School of Health Technology at Aba trains various categories of health staff
(i.e health superintendents, rural health superintendents, community midwives,
health assistants and community health assistants). A School of Psychiatric Nursing is
located in Mgboko (Obingwa LGA). A Youth Opportunity Centre at Umueleghele in
Isiala Ngwa LGA has been established to enable school dropouts and unemployed
youths acquire vocational skills. Vocational training for the disabled is provided by the
Marist Brother's Hopeville Rehabilitation Complex at Uturu and Umuahia. Facilities
there include workshops for making shoes, wheels and prostheses.

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